The retail sector has been moving away from bricks and mortar for some-time, long before the current global pandemic. Digital commerce has firmly entrenched itself into the lives of consumers as they settle themselves into the comfort of their couches at home to shop more conveniently. And therein lies a massive opportunity for businesses to connect.

The current lockdown, shopping restrictions and limited movement has certainly accelerated online shopping in the country beyond early adopters but right now marketing budgets are lean. Understanding the challenges that businesses are facing, Google has advanced its plans to make it free for merchants to list & sell products on Google. From today, search results on the Google Shopping tab will not only have Paid Google Shopping listings but include free listings, helping businesses better connect with consumers, regardless of whether they advertise on Google or not. With over 3.5 million searches on Google every day, many retailers have the items people need in stock and ready to ship but are less discoverable online in the user’s moment of intent.

This really is a game-changer for retailers (irrespective of your size) and means free exposure to millions of people who come to Google every day for their online shopping needs. For shoppers, it means more products from more stores from the comfort of your couch. For advertisers, this means paid campaigns can now be augmented with free listings to grow your reach. If you’re an existing user of Merchant Center and spending money on Google Shopping ads or you are looking for advice as a new user of Merchant Center, SearchKings™ Africa, a Global Google Premier Partner, can assist you to seamlessly onboard your business today.

This is not an easy time for businesses and it’s initiatives like this that really show brand purpose. Let us help you connect with your customers when they need you most and accelerate digital transformation in your business.

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