Increase Sales with Google Tools: A Guide for Small Business Owners
“Why aren’t my products showing up online?”
“Is there a way to get more customers without paying for ads?”
If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. Visibility online is crucial for growing sales. But what if you could reach more customers, boost sales, and improve your online presence without breaking the bank? You can—with Google’s free tools. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how small business owners like you can use Google Business Profile and Google Merchant Center to increase sales, list products for free, and even set up an e-commerce store.
Ready to take control of your online presence? Let’s explore how these tools can help you grow your business.
Google Business Profile: Be Found Where It Matters
Ever Googled a business to check its opening hours or address? That’s the power of Google Business Profile. With this tool, your business can show up in Google Search results and on Google Maps—two places where millions of people look for products and services every day.
But here’s where the magic happens: Google Business Profile doesn’t just help people find you. It also lets you interact with them. You can post updates, showcase new products, and respond to reviews. And responding to reviews is key—71% of consumers say they’re more likely to purchase from a business that replies to feedback.
When someone looks for a product or service online, they expect to find all the information they need quickly. So if your business hours or contact details are missing or outdated, you might lose a potential customer. Worse yet, if your competitors have a stronger online presence, they could steal the sale.
Action Step:
Take control of your online presence by creating or claiming your Google Business Profile. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s completely free. Just head to the Google Business Profile page, sign in with your business account, and follow the steps to get your business verified.
Google Merchant Center: Showcase Your Products for Free
Imagine your products showing up when people search for what you sell—without paying a dime. That’s exactly what Google Merchant Center offers. This tool allows you to list your products for free across various Google platforms, including Google Shopping, Google Images, and even Google Lens.
It’s a no-brainer for small business owners with physical products to sell. Whether you run a boutique, an online store, or sell handcrafted goods, Google Merchant Center gives your products the visibility they deserve. And best of all, this visibility can lead directly to sales.
It’s important to note that Google Merchant Center is designed for physical products, not services. If you offer services like home repairs, consulting, or teaching, Merchant Center won’t apply to you—but don’t worry, there are other tools that can help, such as Google Ads.
One powerful feature of Google Merchant Center is local inventory ads. These ads showcase your products to customers who are searching nearby. So if someone in your neighborhood is looking for a product you sell, they can see that it’s available locally—leading to more foot traffic and local sales.
Action Step:
Set up your Google Merchant Center account. Once your account is verified, you can upload your product catalog and start listing your items for free. Be sure your products are accurately described and that you meet Google’s requirements for secure online checkout and visible return policies.
Setting Up an E-commerce Store: Your Own Digital Shop
In addition to listing your products on Google Merchant Center, another way to increase sales is by setting up your own e-commerce store. Think of it as opening a shop—but online. With an e-commerce store, you can sell your products 24/7 to customers across the globe.
You don’t need to be a tech expert to get started, either. Many platforms, such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, integrate seamlessly with Google Merchant Center. These platforms allow you to set up an online store with easy-to-use templates, secure payment processing, and even tools for shipping and inventory management.
An online store also allows you to control the entire customer journey. From browsing to checkout, you can create an experience tailored to your brand. Plus, you can offer features like customer reviews, wish lists, and personalized product recommendations.
But the biggest benefit of having your own e-commerce store? You own the customer relationship. While Google Merchant Center helps get your products in front of customers, an e-commerce store lets you collect valuable customer data, such as emails and purchasing preferences. This information can be used to build a loyal customer base through email marketing and personalized offers.
Action Step:
If you don’t already have an e-commerce store, consider setting one up. Start small by choosing a platform that integrates with Google Merchant Center. Once your store is live, connect it to your Google account and begin selling online.
Optimize for Mobile: Meet Your Customers Where They Are
Did you know that 84% of people use their phones to shop online? This means that if your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you could be losing a huge chunk of potential sales. Whether customers are looking for your business information or browsing your products, they expect your website to be fast and easy to navigate on their phones.
This is where mobile optimization comes in. Google offers tools like Mobile-Friendly Test and PageSpeed Insights to help you ensure that your site performs well on mobile devices. These tools analyze your site’s speed and usability, showing you exactly where improvements can be made.
Speed is especially critical—Google research shows that a delay of just one second in page load time can decrease conversions by 7%. So, if your website is sluggish, that’s money walking out the door.
Measure Your Success: Tracking Performance with Google Tools
Once you’ve got your Google Business Profile, Merchant Center, and e-commerce store up and running, it’s time to track your success. Google Analytics and Google Search Console are powerful tools that give you insights into how customers are interacting with your business online.
With Google Analytics, you can see which products are selling the best, where your customers are coming from, and even what devices they’re using to shop. Google Search Console helps you understand how your business is performing in Google Search—what keywords people are using to find you and what improvements you can make to rank higher.
These insights are invaluable for adjusting your marketing strategy. For instance, if you notice that most of your website traffic comes from mobile devices, you can invest more in mobile advertising or improve your mobile site further.
Action Step:
Connect your website and Google Merchant Center to Google Analytics and Google Search Console. Regularly check your reports to see what’s working and where improvements can be made.
Start Using Google Tools to Grow Your Sales
Google offers a wealth of tools designed to help small businesses grow their sales online—and the best part is, many of them are free. From improving your visibility with Google Business Profile to listing products for free on Google Merchant Center and optimizing your website for mobile users, you can start seeing real results quickly.
By taking control of your online presence, showcasing your products, and making your website easy to navigate, you’ll create a smoother path for customers to discover and purchase from your business.
Want to see how it’s done? Watch our full webinar on YouTube and you’ll get a step-by-step walkthrough of everything we’ve covered here, with actionable tips to take your business to the next level.
Watch now and boost your sales with Google Tools!
Your success is just a click away!