Google has recently introduced a new feature in its Merchant Center, aimed at enriching the browsing experience for shoppers. Still in its beta phase, this new metric is a component for getting your Top Quality Badge. While it may not significantly impact earning the badge, it’s good to start working on an implementation for retailers to enhance this aspect of their product presentation when Google uses this metric as part of the badge requirements.
Understanding how to reach an excellent score
To achieve an excellent score in this new browsing experience metric, retailers must focus on two key elements: image quality and quantity.
Image Quality:
- Resolution Matters: Google sets a high bar for image quality, considering images above 1048 pixels as high-resolution. (Google Merchant Center shows 1048; the official documentation says 1024.)
- Optimization Techniques: Retailers can optimize their website images by adding robots meta tags with max-image-size: large. This simple yet effective tag allows Google to select the highest-quality images, reducing manual effort automatically.
- Integration with Merchant Center: Ensuring that all products on your website are also listed in your Merchant Center account is vital. This integration allows Google to automatically upgrade to higher-quality images, a boon for those initially uploaded with lower resolution. (Do not rely on Google’s WebCrawler as your data feed solution.)
Image Quantity:
- The Power of Multiple Images: Google recommends 5 to 8 images per product. This range is not arbitrary; it’s rooted in enhancing the customer’s visual journey. Multiple images from various angles provide a comprehensive view, enabling customers to make informed purchase decisions. It’s a strategy that boosts the browsing experience and builds trust and transparency.
Should You Focus On This?
Creating new images for existing products is very time-consuming. And would focus on new products. However, if you have less than 100 products, taking new pictures of all your products is worth the effort.
In the competitive digital marketplace, the visual representation of products plays a pivotal role in attracting and retaining customers. High-quality, abundant images can significantly influence purchase decisions, reduce return rates, and increase overall customer satisfaction. By adhering to Google’s new metric standards, retailers can enhance their chances of earning the Top Quality Badge and, more importantly, provide a superior shopping experience that resonates with modern consumers.
The impact on the Top Quality Badge and overall product visibility in Google searches is becoming more pronounced. Therefore, early adoption and continuous image quality and quantity refinement are prudent strategies for forward-thinking retailers.