Google Shopping is one of the most important marketing tools of recent times in the digital world. It launched on 12 December 2002.
Google Shopping is a website that aggregates the search for an item across different pages, comparing results and prices. It makes buying easier by showing the selected product across the various pages on the platform. Results include an image, the title, the sale price and the e-commerce name.
Do you want to sell your products on Google Shopping?
If you want to sell using Google Shopping, you need a barcode for each product. Google Shopping is one of the first tools many users turn to when searching for products to buy online.
In Spain almost 30% of total sales happen through these pages, so it's important that your product appears among the first results. Using price comparison sites like Google Shopping is proven to significantly increase sales.
Do you need a barcode to sell on Google Shopping?
Google announced that most products wanting to use its online advertising through Google Shopping must have a barcode. This makes it easier to compare identical products, as the number of online sellers —and therefore competition— keeps growing.
There are some exceptions for certain products that still don't have codes: spare parts, OEM parts, store-brand products, made-to-order products (e.g. custom t-shirts, artwork, handmade goods), books published before the ISBN code (set as an ISO standard in 1970), vintage products or antiques, and pre-order products. For more information on exceptional cases, see Google's "tips for specific products".
What types of barcodes are used on Google Shopping?
Google Shopping requests GTINs (Global Trade Item Number), an important element that identifies a specific product and defines its characteristics worldwide. In Europe the EAN code (European Article Number) is usually used —the 13-digit barcode you see on product labels. EAN was adopted by most countries except the US and Canada, which use the 12-digit UPC (Universal Product Code).
What is an EAN and a UPC barcode?
EAN and UPC barcodes are line systems with 13 digits (EAN) and 12 digits (UPC). EAN has a 1-6-6 structure: country of origin, manufacturer number (six digits) and product identifier (six digits).
How do barcodes work on Google Shopping?
These digits identify a specific product for sale, since each code is unique. They're omnidirectional —readable by any scanner in any direction— and enable worldwide marketing as well as more thorough inventory with easy access and dispatch of items.
How to get a barcode for Google Shopping?
Getting a barcode to sell your products is easy: just contact specialised companies that meet the worldwide regulations and follow these steps:
- Order the codes according to the number of products you want to sell.
- Pay for the order; the confirmation is sent to your email.
- The barcodes are emailed to you in graphic format, ready to print.
In what format do you get Google Shopping codes?
- JPEG — the most used; compresses images and is easily read by any computer.
- TIFF — used when the image needs a transparent background.
- EPS — high quality and versatility, preferred by many graphic designers.
What are the payment methods to get EAN and UPC codes?
To pay, only contact details and a credit card are needed; no product information is required. You can also pay via PayPal and bank transfer. For more information, contact us.