Google mobilizes shopping experience

Just in time for the holidays, Google is revamping its Google Shopping online marketplace to make it more mobile-friendly.



In a blog post, Google explains that mobile shopping-related searches now exceed desktop-based shopping-related searches, meaning online shopping has shifted from a “marathon” to “moments.” To help better capture mobile consumers at the moment they are looking to buy a product, Google is now displaying the most commonly searched categories in response to broad search terms.



According to Google, 40% of shopping searches are based on broad terms, rather than specific products, so displaying categories will help mobile consumers in more quickly discovering and exploring merchandise. In addition, Google will organize results for more specific shopping searches by features, brand and price.



When a consumer sees a shopping search result that interests them, they can tap the product image to obtain images, reviews, product info, videos and other content. And when a consumer searches for a specific item, Google Shopping will deliver more purchase-focused results, such as what retail partners have it in stock. This includes stock levels at nearby stores, with a map.



Google is definitely adjusting its product search functionality to reflect the realities of the modern omnichannel consumer by both optimizing Google Shopping searches for mobile users and also making the experience more conducive to completing a purchase in a nearby store.