Requirements

To get started with Codisto's Google Channel all you need is a Google account (e.g. Gmail account) and a Google Merchant Center account. 

If you don’t have a Google account or Google Merchant Center account, you can create both accounts for free using the following links:

Step #1: Create a new Google account

Step #2: Create a Google Merchant Center account

Once you connect to Google with Codisto using your Google account and Google Merchant Center account, Codisto automatically syncs your existing product catalog data from your online store to your Google Merchant Center, and if necessary, Codisto will automatically create a Google Ads account (depending on the Google product being used).

If you already have a Google Merchant Center (GMC) or Google Ads (GAD) account, you can simply link them instead of creating new accounts.  Codisto supports multi-account configurations.

Google channel overview

Here is a diagrammatic overview of Codisto's Google Channel:

Google Product	Surfaces across Google				Product Listing Ads (PLAs) & Smart Shopping Campaigns & Local Inventory Ads (LIA)& Display ads
Google account(s) required	Google Merchant Center (GMC)				GMC+Ads (GAD)
Actions required	Sync products with GMC				Sync products with GMC + launch/manage Smart Shopping campaign
Listing type	Standard			Enhanced	Standard
Where	Google Search Network				Top of Google Search Network  + Display Network, YouTube and Gmail
	Google search (rich snippet)	Google Images	Google Lens	Google Shopping tab
Paid/free	Free				Paid
Buy on Google available	No			Currently USA/France	No

Organic Listings with "Surfaces Across Google"

Once you have connected your online store catalog to Google with Codisto and populated your product details to Google Merchant Center, your products will be eligible to be shown on Google as part of the Surface Across Google program. 

For your listings to be shown on the Google Shopping tab and to publish Buy on Google listings (where available), you will need to meet Google's additional requirements by sending additional product information into merchant center to create enhanced listings. You can map these fields using the values in your existing product catalog.

You can learn more about Surfaces Across Google here.

Paid Listing Ads with Google Smart Shopping Campaigns

In addition to organic product listings on Google through the Surfaces Across Google program, you can reach additional customers with paid Product Listing Ads by connecting or creating (Codisto can do this automatically for you) a Google Ads account and starting an automated Google Smart Shopping Campaign.

Once you have your products populated in Google Merchant Center with a connect Google Ads account, all you need to do to start a Google Smart Shopping campaign is set your daily budget for ad spend, and your products will automatically be listed as Product Listing Ads across Google.

You can learn more about Product Listing Ads and Google Smart Shopping Campaigns here.