Addressing inaccurate product pricing in Google search: Mueller’s guidance
John Mueller, Google’s Senior Search Analyst, recently provided insights on addressing inaccurate product pricing in Google search results, in a SEO Q&A video session. According to Mueller, incorrect pricing data most often stems from the data obtained from your website by Google.
Emphasizing on the significance of accurate structured data, especially concerning pricing, he advised businesses to verify data accuracy on their sites using Google’s Search Console’s structured data testing tool.
If pricing inaccuracies persist even after rectifying the data, it may be due to Google having to reprocess cached information. In such cases, the updates may require some time to take effect. Mueller also encouraged website owners to report any discrepancies via Google’s feedback tool.
In spite of these measures, if the erroneous prices are still visible, visitors might view cached information that Google is yet to reprocess. Mueller also urged website owners to report deviations via Google’s feedback tool to ensure accuracy of data in search results.
Achieving correct prices in organic text results for products through direct price data submission can significantly enhance customer satisfaction and reduce incorrect pricing instances. Mueller suggested this could help foster customer trust and potentially lead to improved business outcomes.
He recommended the use of tools enabling businesses to upload product data for Shopping ads, free listings, among others. These tools allow businesses to manage their inventory details, adjust prices, modify product descriptions or even add new items.
Mitigating inaccurate pricing in Google search
A highly transparent approach, it enables businesses to efficiently respond to the rapidly changing business environment and customize their product presentation according to different customer demographics.
During the same session, Mueller also discussed the issue of incorrect currency display in rich results. This happens when nearly identical content across different regional sites is recognized as duplicate by systems. He suggested making the content more region-specific to allow accurate currency displays in rich results and recommended the use of hreflang tags to guide Google to understand the site’s targeted region.
Businesses can address this by having region-specific, unique content, direct price submission methods for pricing data and geo-targeting strategies to deliver relevant content. Employing dynamic pricing models allowing businesses to adjust prices based on demand, competition, and local economic conditions can also be beneficial. Furthermore, businesses should adhere to regional laws regarding price display and data submission.
Accurate product pricing in organic search results and correct currency in rich results significantly impact user experience and a brand’s reputation. Inaccurate pricing details may cause mistrust and potential customer loss. Timely error rectification, regular checks and correct currency conversions can avoid customer confusion and enhance customer trust.