Shoppers may soon be able to message merchants via Google Shopping

Google is testing a new messaging feature that would allow customers to send messages to the customer service email address provided in your Google Merchant Center account. Google has invited select merchants to participate in this pilot via email.

We’ve reached out to Google and will update this article as more details become available. Tip of the hat to Kirk Williams for bringing this to our attention.

Why we care. Providing potential customers with a way to contact retailers via Google Shopping may increase the value of the platform for both merchants and customers. Winning over more shoppers and retailers will also help strengthen Google as a shopping destination, helping it compete with the likes of Amazon, eBay and other marketplaces.

The company has not announced when (or whether) this feature will become widely available.

What Google said in the email. “We’re excited to announce a new messaging pilot to help you connect with customers and improve your sales through Google Shopping,” Google wrote in the email. “This optional feature will allow customers to send messages to the customer service email address you’ve provided in your Merchant Center account.”

“We anticipate that questions will typically be about product availability or specifications, and believe that this will improve customer trust and traffic to your site,” the company also said.

Merchants that have received this email can opt into the pilot by completing the associated questionnaire.

About The Author

George Nguyen is an editor for Search Engine Land, covering organic and paid search. His background is in journalism and content marketing. Prior to entering the industry, he worked as a radio personality, writer, podcast host and public school teacher.