Google has unveiled a fresh shopping deals search feature powered by the extensive Google Shopping Graph, a dataset encompassing global shopping information. This release is accompanied by several updates to Chrome, enhancing its focus on shopping.
Portals were prominent in the late 1990s, with AOL as a prime example. Still, they lost popularity shortly after Google introduced its minimalist search box, eliminating the clutter associated with web portals from that era.
While Google doesn’t explicitly label it as a shopping portal, if we define it as a webpage that consolidates shopping data from the entire internet and offers users easy navigation, Google’s latest search feature fits the description of a shopping portal.
Additionally, Google has introduced updates to Chrome for both mobile and desktop platforms, reconfiguring them into web browsers with a heightened focus on shopping.
The key enhancements include a novel method for users to bookmark products into a designated shopping list folder and the capability to monitor prices, accompanied by what Google refers to as “price insights” — a novel feature now available in the desktop version of Chrome.
Google points out that eight out of ten shoppers express apprehension about securing the best deals on holiday gifts.
The primary aim of these newly introduced features is to offer users twice as many opportunities to discover favorable deals on the products they are seeking.
Google is introducing many new features, including:
- The Google Shopping Graph drives search improvements.
- A fresh deals page is accessible through Google Search.
- Enhanced capabilities on Chrome for uncovering discounts throughout the web.
- The introduction of a Price Insights tab within the desktop version of Chrome.
- Expanded options for monitoring prices from various merchants offering the same products.
Introducing the New Google Search Deals Hub
The fresh shopping feature is accessible through a simple search for “Shop Deals,” leading consumers to a novel search hub dedicated to shopping deals, resembling a portal.
Users can now visit the newly created “Shop Deals” destination, where they can discover the most competitive prices for products across ten distinct categories. These deals encompass discounts, sales, and promotional offers. The ten product categories showcased in the carousel include:
- Electronics
- Women’s Apparel
- Men’s Apparel
- Home & Garden
- Toys & Games
- Sports & Outdoors
- Health & Beauty
- Travel & Luggage
- Baby & Kids
- Pet Supplies
The “Shop Deals” page is structured as follows:
- A navigational menu providing access to the ten shopping categories.
- A carousel highlighting deals from specific stores.
- A list of particular deals, arranged in rows, further categorized into more specific shopping subcategories.
As an example, here are some of the granular shopping deal categories:
- Shirts & Tops
- Cell Phones
- Toys
- Pants
- Kitchen Appliances
- Handbags
- TVs
- Skin Care
Users can click on a link marked “More categories” to access additional shopping categories.
According to Google:
“You can navigate through carousels of deals categorized by your preferences, considering your typical shopping interests when logged into Google. You can also discover popular stores offering deals on the products you’re interested in.
Spot a product that catches your eye? Click on the product to learn more or visit the merchant’s website for additional information.”
Fresh Shopping Enhancements for Chrome on Mobile and Desktop
When opening a new tab, users can view deals on products they’ve previously browsed in the “resume browsing” card.
In addition, a new “Discount tag icon” is positioned within the Chrome address bar. This icon reveals available coupon codes from shopping sites being visited by Chrome users. Merchants can control the placement of these shopping coupon codes within search results through their settings in the Merchant Center.
Shopping Insights Feature
Additionally, it has been announced that the Chrome Shopping Insights feature is expanding to Chrome Desktop.
In Chrome, you will now notice a “Shopping insights” label in the address bar. Clicking on it will reveal a new side panel section featuring typical prices, a price history graph covering the past 90 days, and an option to track price drops on any ecommerce store selling the same product.
According to Google’s announcement:
“We often face a common dilemma when shopping: We’ve found the perfect gift, but a lingering question remains – will the price drop after I make the purchase? More than a quarter of people admit to delaying holiday gift-giving due to concerns about potential price reductions. To address this, we’re introducing our price insights features, already accessible on Search, to Chrome on desktop.
When these insights are available on a shopping website, you’ll spot a “Shopping insights” label in the Chrome address bar. Clicking it opens a new section in the Chrome side panel, presenting the product’s typical price range and a price history graph spanning up to the last 90 days.”
Google’s Price Insights support page provides clarification on this feature:
“Price insights for a product can be found on the shopping product page.
It indicates whether a product’s price is currently low, typical, or high and provides a historical overview of how its price has fluctuated in recent months.
Our determination of a product’s typical price is derived from data gathered from sellers across the internet, encompassing information beyond the options available solely on Google Shopping.”
Shopping Bell for Price Alerts
In the latest update, the mobile version of Chrome introduces a shopping bell icon located next to a product’s name. This bell icon enables users to receive price alerts if the product’s price drops on any retailer’s website, irrespective of the specific retailer being browsed.
Key Points to Remember
Google’s core mission is to arrange the world’s information and ensure universal accessibility and usefulness.
This mission aligns with the fact that eight out of ten consumers express concerns about the prices of holiday gifts.
Merchants may have reservations about Google directing their shoppers to alternative retailers.
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