Tech giant Google is adding a nifty ratings program for online shopping experiences in the form of a ‘Trusted Store’ badge, helping shoppers get more insight into seller performance based on past activity.
In this article we will be going over:
- What the Google Shopping Scorecard Program is
- How the Google Shopping Scorecard Program works
- How to view your merchant performance on Google
- How to improve your merchant performance
The Google Shopping Scorecard Program
In their online shopping quests, shoppers discover new brands each and every day. Prior to making a purchase, these shoppers want to know that they’re spending their money wisely with a business they can trust. But how are shoppers able to tell if they can trust a new brand? To reward merchants for above average customer service and to assist in building reputation with potential buyers, Google is introducing the Shopping Experience Scorecard program.
How Does the Google Shopping Scorecard program work?
Merchants who provide “excellent shipping and returns services” for example, may earn a badge that indicates they’re a Trusted Store. This badge will appear alongside their free product listings on the Google Shopping tab.
Merchants are able to receive a Trusted Store badge based on their performance across metrics relative to other merchants, including shipping speed, return costs, return windows and more.
How to view your merchant performance on Google
To view your performance for each metric as well as your overall score, follow the below steps:
- Sign in to your Merchant Center account.
- From the navigation menu, click Growth.
- Click Shopping experience scorecard.
It’s important to note that in order to earn a badge, you need to perform well relative to other merchants in the all of the required metrics.
Let’s take a look at how you can improve your performance to better your chances of earning a Trusted Store badge.
How to improve your merchant performance
| Metric | Description | Set up links (Listings) | Set up links (Buy on Google) |
| Average delivery time | Information you’ve shared about how many days it should take customers to receive their orders | API Merchant Center | API Merchant Center |
| Average shipping cost | Information you’ve shared about the cost for customers to receive orders (excluding item cost) | API Merchant Center | API Merchant Center |
| Average return window | Information you’ve shared about the number of days customers have to return an item | API Merchant Center | API Merchant Center |
| Average return cost | Information you’ve shared about costs for customers to return and restock an item | API Merchant Center | API Merchant Center |
