Google Trusted Stores – It’s Worth Looking Into
Google is rolling out a new service for ecommerce merchants…
Google Trusted Stores
It could be the end-all and be-all of trust seal programs… Or it could be another beta offering Google dismantles in a year or two.
Whatever the outcome, it would be foolish for SMB ecommerce merchants to ignore it.
Google Trusted Stores
Google recently launched this new service and has a blog post describing Google Trusted Stores. In a nutshell, the program hopes to separate the great online merchants from the mediocre and bad.
Google will award a “badge” to online stores that consistently offer:
- On-time shipping
- Excellent customer service
- Easy dispute resolution
Merchants will have to share data about shipments with Google, and Google will poll customers for their experience with your company when problems arise.
It’s worth a shot
Although the program is in its infancy, and not much is known about the nitty-gritty at this point, I’d recommend filling out the form at Google to be considered for this program. There’s nothing to lose, and if you’re selected early, it’s another way to stand out from the crowd.
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To put it another way… If you know you’re awesome at what you sell, but you’re having a hard time telling the world, this might be the way to do it!
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It sounds interesting. It provides new alternative of online stores. Let’s see if people would prefer trusted store than ebay and the like.
There is no end to businesses that are tying to convince you that if you use their security seal, their logo, etc., that customers will trust you and order more.
Those of us who use Stone Edge Order Manager had a big discussion about this in the chat group and seriously questioned the effect. Merchants found that sales didn’t seem to be affected one way or another.
Whether someone with the horsepower of Google can pull this off is a question to be answered. It can be a lot of work keeping track of merchants and their shipping data for the assurance to mean anything. Then again, customers have to know if a “Google Trusted Store” is a reliable monitor.
Not mentioned anywhere here or their website is the cost.
Thanks for the insight Bob. I agree, a security seal can be overrated for many websites, especially some of the lesser known ones.
However, if you sell a lot to new customers that find you via a search, comparison engine, etc… and they do not know your company, a well known logo such as Google or McAfee can help re-assure a wary first time buyer. If it tips the scales for a handful of orders, it can more than pay for itself.
If you hear about pricing for this new Google project, let us know.
Google is the first to measure customer service and shipping time accuracy. JustBats.com is in the program. We must send them data and they grab our UPS and FED EX shipping delivery dates and compare the results. For eCommerce companies who have made Customer Service and Fast Shipping a priority, like we have, this gives us the potential to yell from the mountain top with Google’s backing. The badge will begin to appear in our PPC ads. Maybe the Stone Edge guys will remember when Google added the Checkout badge to PPC ads. It did drive more leads. Trusted Stores will too. Just think, if you are in Vermont and need shoes, Google will be able to tell you can get those shoes to you most reliably and the fastest. No one is doing this now. Go get em Google!!!
Mike,
Thanks for the detailed feedback! Sounds like it’s a great program Google is rolling out. Of course you have to be a “superstar” merchant to be successful in the program, but like you said, if you are, it’s a very effective way to stand out in the crowd.
Let us know if it helps with more business once things get rolling on the Google end.