Google Commerce Search
Google powered search is now available to ecommerce sites via Google Commerce Search .
What is Google Commerce Search?
Essentially, google commerce search is a hosted search solution that allows customers to search your entire database of products. This database is submitted via the google base product feed - formerly known as Froogle. (I guess few americans got the double entendre of 'frugle' so they dropped that name and changed it to google product search .)
Where Google Commerce Search differs from general product search in that the search facility just targets your own products, the search interface is extensivley customisable, you have the option of creating promotions and special offers, and the product plugs into google analytics so you can see what people are looking for, and other aspecs of user behaviour. Whats more, if you have a google checkout merchant account, you no longer even need your own ecommerce website to start selling stuff online. All you need is the create the product feed and submit product images.
Sounds too good to be true! - whats the catch?
Ok two small problems with google commerce search:
1. I've yet to see a site impliment it with a nice looking interface. All examples I've seen uses the spartan google interface type design - alhtough the same thing can be said of regular shopping cart systems link Actinic.
2. there's the small matter of cost. At present the pricing says "starting at $50,000 per year" - now you need to be selling shedloads of stuff before that becomes financially viable. most businesses that have that kind of capital can afford a very well featured ecommerce site for themselves. I could make about 15 - 20 fully featured ecommerce sites for that kind of money, including dedicated server, SSL, hosting costs, domain registration and support, so it's difficult to see what sort of benefit this system gives you and who is going to be taking it up.