Projections say nearly 2 billion people are expected to purchase goods and services online this year. And price comparison options remain important. If your business offers online shopping options, you probably know how much shoppers value finding a great deal.
If you want to really reach price conscious consumers online, make it easy for them to compare your products with similar items by listing them on price comparison sites. Check out a variety of these sites and apps currently available. Some connect to search engines or other platforms, and others just crawl the web for the best deals. Learn what you need to know about price comparison sites and reaching customers on these platforms.
Criteria for Choosing the Ideal Price Comparison Site: Our Methodology
Selecting the right price comparison site for your online products is crucial to boost your business’s visibility and sales. To help you make an informed choice, we’ve developed a comprehensive set of criteria, ranked on a scale of importance from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest importance and 1 being the lowest:
- Data Accuracy (5/5):
- Accurate product data and pricing information is paramount. Choose a site known for its up-to-date and precise data.
- Wide Network of Retailers (5/5):
- A site that aggregates products from a vast network of retailers offers more options for your customers, increasing the likelihood of sales.
- User-Friendly Interface (4/5):
- An intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface is essential for a positive user experience. Customers should find it effortless to search and compare products.
- Mobile Accessibility (4/5):
- In today’s mobile-driven world, a price comparison site should have a mobile-responsive design or dedicated mobile apps for on-the-go shopping.
- Customer Reviews and Ratings (3/5):
- Customer feedback can influence purchasing decisions. Consider a site that displays product reviews and ratings prominently.
- Integration Capabilities (4/5):
- Ensure the site integrates smoothly with your e-commerce platform, allowing seamless updates of product listings and pricing.
- Cost (3/5):
- Evaluate the pricing structure for listing your products on the comparison site. It should align with your budget and offer a good return on investment.
- Traffic and User Base (5/5):
- Higher traffic and a larger user base can translate into more potential customers viewing your products. Opt for sites with a significant online presence.
- Analytics and Insights (4/5):
- Access to analytics and insights about your product’s performance on the site can help refine your marketing and pricing strategies.
- Customer Support (4/5):
- Responsive customer support is vital if you encounter issues or have questions about your product listings. Ensure support channels are available.
Best Price Comparison Sites
Google Shopping
Online shoppers already turn to Google to look for specific types of products. So get listed on Google Shopping and your product automatically comes up alongside options from other stores right on the search page. To get listed, you need to register your online shop in Google’s Merchant Center and then a feed of your products will be listed. They also offer options for advertising and promoting certain products.
Amazon Product Ads
Even if you sell your products on your own ecommerce site, listing on Amazon can help you gain visibility for your products when people search for similar items. You can easily set up an Amazon store and use it as your primary ecommerce destination or just a supplementary one. Then you can invest in product ads to get your products featured prominently.
PriceGrabber
PriceGrabber is a price comparison site that includes product listings across a ton of different categories. Customers can search for a specific item or browse more general listings. To get your products featured, you need to sign up for a Connexity cost-per-click listings network account.
CamelCamelCamel
CamelCamelCamel is a price comparison engine that mainly focuses on Amazon listings. It even lets customers get alerts when prices drop on certain items and see the history of price changes. If you have products listed on Amazon, they’ll automatically be available for shoppers to use CamelCamelCamel’s functionality.
BuyVia
BuyVia is a deals site that allows shoppers to compare prices on products, access coupons and find deals on the items they’re shopping for. The company also offers mobile apps in the App Store and Google Play. The team scours for deals across Google Shopping and other platforms. But you can also request a deal for specific products on the website or app.
Shopping.com
Shopping.com is a price comparison site that lets consumers view products in a particular category or search for specific items from top brands. To join, you can sign up for an eBay Commerce Network merchant account and then connect your store.
Pronto
Pronto offers a search engine that is specifically for products. Consumers search for a particular item and find product listings so they can compare prices and other features. The site crawls through ecommerce shops to find these items. So focus on SEO for your shop get included in these searches.
ShopSavvy
ShopSavvy is a mobile app that lets shoppers scan bar codes of certain items and then compare those items to other products in local stores and online. The products are largely added by users. But ShopSavvy also uses a back-end system called PriceNark. You can connect your store to that engine to give your products more visibility.
PricePirates
PricePirates allows customers to search for products, compare prices and find deals on a variety of items. The site crawls through various ecommerce platforms to find these listings. Specifically, it includes many options from top marketplace platforms like Amazon and eBay.
Shopzilla
Shopzilla offers deals and price comparison tools to help shoppers find value on a variety of products. They also provide a merchant services option for businesses. Get your products included in the site by signing up with Connexity.
Bizrate
Bizrate provides price comparison options along with shopping guides and weekly promotions. The site also uses Connexity for its merchant services option. Sign up with them to learn more about being featured.
Bing Shopping Campaigns
Though Bing lags behind Google in popularity as search engine, it still offers a fair amount of visibility for products. When people search for an item on Bing, your item appears next to others like it. And you can purchase ads from Microsoft to increase visibility for your products in searches.
YahooShopping
Yahoo is another search engine that offers a shopping option that makes it easy for consumers to compare prices from different vendors. Yahoo Shopping connects to PriceGrabber. So once you sign up for an account on that site, you can easily get your products listed on Yahoo as well.
Become
Check out Become another search based price comparison tool. Become offers a fairly bare bones service, and simply crawls various platforms to find products related to a particular search. Just focus on SEO and improve your chances of getting your products in front of customers.
ShopMania
ShopMania offers a wide array of online tools for shoppers. They browse by category, search for specific items, and view special deals. Get your products featured. Just sign up for an account on the website and update information about your shop. The site also provides merchants with seller tools and the option to set up a storefront on their Facebook pages.
Building a Strong Product Listing: Tips for Price Comparison Success
Creating an effective product listing on price comparison sites is crucial for attracting potential customers. Here are some tips to help you build compelling product listings:
- High-Quality Images: Include clear, high-resolution images of your products from multiple angles. High-quality visuals can significantly impact purchase decisions.
- Detailed Product Descriptions: Write informative and concise product descriptions that highlight key features, benefits, and specifications. Help customers understand what sets your product apart.
- Accurate Pricing: Ensure that the prices listed on the comparison site are accurate and up-to-date. Inaccurate pricing can lead to customer dissatisfaction.
- Competitive Pricing Strategy: Research your competitors’ prices and consider offering competitive pricing to attract budget-conscious shoppers.
- Customer Reviews and Ratings: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and ratings on the comparison site. Positive feedback builds trust and credibility.
- Clear Shipping Information: Provide transparent shipping details, including estimated delivery times and any shipping costs. Clarity can prevent cart abandonment.
- Product Variations: If your product comes in different variations (e.g., sizes, colors), clearly list and differentiate them to help customers find their preferred options.
- Promotions and Discounts: Highlight any ongoing promotions, discounts, or special offers. Deals can entice customers to make a purchase.
- Availability Status: Keep your product availability status accurate. Inform customers if a product is out of stock or available for pre-order.
- SEO Optimization: Optimize your product titles and descriptions with relevant keywords to improve visibility on search engines and within the comparison site itself.
- User-Friendly URL: Customize your product’s URL on the comparison site to make it more user-friendly and memorable.
- Mobile Optimization: Ensure that your product listing is mobile-responsive, as many users shop on smartphones and tablets.
- Contact Information: Provide clear contact information, such as a customer support email or phone number, in case shoppers have questions.
- Return and Refund Policy: Communicate your return and refund policy to build trust. Transparency in handling returns can reassure potential buyers.
- Customer Assistance: Be responsive to customer inquiries and assist them promptly. Positive interactions can lead to higher conversion rates.
Tips for Price Comparison Success | Description |
---|---|
High-Quality Images | Include clear, high-resolution images of your products from multiple angles. |
Detailed Product Descriptions | Write informative and concise product descriptions highlighting key features and benefits. |
Accurate Pricing | Ensure listed prices are accurate and up-to-date to prevent customer dissatisfaction. |
Competitive Pricing Strategy | Research competitors' prices and offer competitive pricing to attract budget-conscious shoppers. |
Customer Reviews and Ratings | Encourage positive reviews and ratings from satisfied customers to build trust and credibility. |
Clear Shipping Information | Provide transparent shipping details, including delivery times and costs, to prevent cart abandonment. |
Product Variations | Clearly list and differentiate product variations (e.g., sizes, colors) for customer convenience. |
Promotions and Discounts | Highlight ongoing promotions, discounts, or special offers to entice customers to purchase. |
Availability Status | Keep product availability status accurate, whether in stock or available for pre-order. |
SEO Optimization | Optimize titles and descriptions with relevant keywords for better visibility on search engines and the comparison site. |
User-Friendly URL | Customize product URLs on the comparison site to make them user-friendly and memorable. |
Mobile Optimization | Ensure product listings are mobile-responsive to cater to users shopping on smartphones and tablets. |
Contact Information | Provide clear contact information (e.g., support email or phone number) for customer inquiries. |
Return and Refund Policy | Communicate your return and refund policy transparently to build trust with potential buyers. |
Customer Assistance | Be responsive to customer inquiries, offering prompt assistance to enhance conversion rates. |
Conclusion
In a rapidly evolving digital marketplace where nearly 2 billion people are expected to shop online this year, price-conscious consumers seek exceptional deals. Listing your products on price comparison sites is an invaluable strategy to cater to this growing audience.
To ensure your business maximizes its visibility and sales potential on these platforms, we’ve provided a comprehensive set of criteria to choose the ideal price comparison site. These criteria, ranging from data accuracy to customer support, form the foundation of your decision-making process. By carefully evaluating these factors and understanding their importance, you can make informed choices that drive your business forward.
Additionally, we’ve outlined essential tips for creating compelling product listings on these platforms. From high-quality images to responsive customer assistance, each element plays a vital role in attracting potential customers and boosting your competitive edge.
Incorporating these strategies and criteria into your approach will empower your business to thrive in the dynamic world of online shopping. By embracing the power of price comparison sites and optimizing your product listings, you’re poised for success in meeting the demands of the modern, price-savvy consumer.
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