How to Set Your Shipping and Return Policies with Google Search Console
As an online merchant, managing your shipping and return policies is crucial for providing a positive customer experience. Traditionally, this involved configuring these policies on your website, which could be time-consuming and challenging to update. However, Google has recently introduced a new feature in Google Search Console that allows you to set your shipping and return policies directly within the platform.
How does it work?
To get started, you need to login to your Google Search Console settings page. This can be done by clicking on the gears icon or accessing the settings page directly. Once you’re on the settings page, click on “shopping” and then select “shipping and returns.”
If you have already associated your site with Merchant Center, you can easily check the status of your policies and make changes within Google Search Console.
Setting up shipping policies
Under the “Shopping” section, choose “Shipping and returns.” Then, navigate to the Shipping tab and click on “Add shipping policy.” You will need to select the country to which this policy applies and enter the estimated delivery times for your customers. Additionally, you can set up your shipping costs by choosing from options such as flat rate, free over a certain amount, or other.
Once you have filled in the necessary details, click “Submit.” Repeat these steps for each country you ship to.
Adding return policies
Similar to setting up shipping policies, you will find the option to add return policies under the “Shopping” section in Google Search Console. Click on the Returns tab and select “Add return policy.” Just like with shipping policies, you need to specify the country this policy applies to.
Next, enter the web address where customers can read your return policy. You will also need to define the return window, which is the number of days customers have to make a return. Lastly, set up your return cost by choosing from options such as flat rate, free returns, or a percentage of the product price.
Click “Submit” to save your return policy. Repeat these steps for each country you ship to.
Editing or deleting policies
If you need to make changes to your existing policies, Google Search Console makes it easy to edit or delete them. Simply navigate to the “Shopping” section and choose “Shipping and returns.” You will see a list of your policies, and by clicking on the more icon, you can select either “Edit” or “Delete.”
Keep in mind that shipping details are automatically approved right away, while return policies are manually verified by Google and can take approximately 10 to 13 days to be approved. Once you have submitted your return policy details, they will be marked as “pending” until Google verifies them.
Why is this important?
If you have previously used other methods to communicate your e-commerce site’s shipping and returns details, this new feature in Google Search Console offers a more convenient and centralized way to manage them. It allows you to easily update and modify your policies without having to make changes on your website directly.
It’s important to note that the shipping and return policies set in Google Search Console take precedence over any configuration made on your website, including product-level merchant listing markup. This ensures that the information displayed to customers is accurate and up to date.
In conclusion, setting your shipping and return policies through Google Search Console is a game-changer for online merchants. It simplifies the process of managing these policies and provides a centralized platform for making updates. By taking advantage of this feature, you can enhance the customer experience and streamline your e-commerce operations.
