The primary benefit of using OutSearch as your CSS provider is a saving of up to 20% of your CPC's within the UK and the EU on Google Shopping Ads and PMax campaigns that utilise the Google Shopping network.
This makes your budgets significantly more effective than using Google itself to participate in Google Shopping auctions. You effectively gain an additional 20% of traffic and sales for no increase in your budget, across Shopping Ads - giving you a huge competitive advantage.
Unlike campaigns run directly through Google Shopping, CSS partners pass on the full bid amount to the auction without Google taking its standard profit margin. Over time, this cost-saving advantage can significantly enhance the profitability of your marketing campaigns.
A CSS partner affords you greater control over your Google Shopping strategy, allowing you to fine-tune campaigns based on your business goals. Many CSS providers offer additional tools, insights, and support that are not available through Google's default Merchant Centre. This enables more precise bidding strategies, advanced reporting, and performance optimisation.
By partnering with a CSS provider like OutSearch, online retailers can expand their product visibility across multiple platforms while still appearing in Google Shopping results. Results appear as served 'by OutSearch' instead of 'by Google'. CSS partners also run their own comparison shopping sites, meaning your products can be displayed across additional shopping search fascias at no extra cost to you.
Many CSS partners offer dedicated support teams with in-depth knowledge of Google Shopping, helping retailers troubleshoot issues, optimise feed quality, and implement best practices.
What Is A Comparison Shopping Service (CSS)?
A Comparison Shopping Service (CSS) is a platform that allows retailers to list and advertise their products across multiple shopping comparison sites, including Google Shopping. Instead of advertising directly and solely through Google's Merchant Centre, retailers can engage with a CSS provider to manage and optimise their Shopping Ads. CSS providers are a must have for E-Commerce businesses looking to maximise their ROAS or CPA metrics.
A CSS provider advertises multiple product listings or data feeds from many different retailers, submitting them to Google Shopping on the client's behalf.
Unlike Google's standard Shopping campaigns where Google take a profit margin from the initial CPC bid, a CSS provider saves you money by ensuring that the full google shopping CPC bid goes into the auction.
Who Can Benefit And How?
E-commerce businesses based in the UK and EU can benefit from this saving, as a result of an anti-competitiveness ruling that led Google to release their monopoly on comparison shopping search, compelling them to open up their Shopping Search to third parties.
Whilst a CSS partner can be of benefit to virtually all E-Commerce businesses, the decision depends on a few factors such as advertising budget, current CPC's, and business goals.
For E-Commerce businesses looking to reduce their CPC's and increase Ad efficiency, a CSS partner is often a smart choice.
7 x Advantages Of Using OutSearch's CSS Solution
Why is OutSearch's CSS solution better than competitors such as ProductHero, Productcaster or other alternative CSS providers?
- Affordable and cheaper monthly fees
- Expert support & strategic guidance
- Easy set-up and on-boarding process
- No fixed yearly contract
- Increased product visibility on our CSS Site
- Work directly with our E-commerce and PPC Experts
- No affiliate commissions or other such platform fees.
- Remain in full control of your Google data feeds
Has Using A CSS Become Essential For E-Commerce?
It has now become almost mandatory for E-commerce business owners to utilise a CSS provider in order to remain relevant in today's ultra-competitive e-commerce market.
With the rising costs of customer acquisition and intense competition online, using a CSS solution is a must have for e-commerce businesses.
With a 20% cost saving leading to lower costs per click and higher profitability, retailers gain a sizable benefit in Google Shopping auctions over competitors who are not yet using a CSS partner. In fact, using a CSS solution often just keeps you on a level playing field with others. The added competitive advantage comes down to the level of control you have, and how strong your chosen agency partner is. That's where OutSearch can help.
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