Check out Google Checkout!

Posted by Laura Bergells

December 29, 2006

If you sell stuff on the web, check out Google Checkout.

Important warning to Adwords Advertisers: If you are an Adwords Advertiser and you are NOT using Google Checkout, expect to see your click through rate decrease and your total payments increase over the next few months.

Here is why:

Google gives its Adwords advertisers a free Google Checkout badge on their AdWords ads. This is really helping those Adwords ads stand out from the competition.

For example, here’s what it looks like when I did a search for “realtor list” (yellow highlighting added):

google checkout

The little badge is bound to increase click-throughs, as it makes the advertiser stand out a little more.

And here’s an important note: I noticed when I searched the same term the next day, the position of the ad went up.

google check out day

Now, among other factors, that could be an indication of a higher-click through rate. (Yes, they could have paid more from one day to the other, too. But I kinda doubt it.)

So think about it: how will “the badge” program affect the CTR (click through rate) of non-Google checkout users who invest in Adwords?

Pretty darn poorly….until searchers burn out on seeing the little badge, of course!

So think about it. If you are a Google Adwords advertiser, and you are NOT using Google Checkout, expect to see your click through rate plummet for at least a few months.

And of course, you will be paying much more for fewer clicks.

Final Note: If you are an Adwords Advertisers, check out Google Checkout, pronto!

Aside from the Adwords boost, you get three other big benefits.

1. Earn customer trust. You can associate your site with the powerful and trustworthy Google brand name.
2. Free processing. You can process sales for free until the end of 2007.
3. Increase conversions. A fast, secure checkout process helps you sell more.

Google lists quite a few more benefits, as well. But you get the drift.

If you’re an Adwords advertiser, get going!