Introduction to Google Search Shipping Policy Markup
Google Search now supports organization-level shipping policy markup, which allows ecommerce websites to provide a code-based way to surface delivery costs and transit times in Search and knowledge panels. This feature enables online stores to give their customers a better shopping experience by providing them with accurate and up-to-date shipping information.
What’s New in Shipping Policy Markup
Google has added new documentation that describes ShippingService, which lets ecommerce websites define costs and delivery windows by product weight, dimensions, order value, or destination. A standard policy lives under Organization via the hasShippingService property, while product-specific overrides use OfferShippingDetails under Offer and support a smaller set of fields.
How to Implement Shipping Policy Markup
To implement shipping policy markup, Google recommends placing the shipping policy markup on a single page. Each ShippingService includes one or more ShippingConditions objects that specify when rates apply. If several apply to a product, Google uses the lowest cost and shows the associated speed. Fixed fees can be set with MonetaryAmount, and percentage-based fees with ShippingRateSettings. Transit times use ServicePeriod and can include businessDays and handling cutoff times.
Destination Granularity
Destination granularity supports country codes (ISO 3166-1), optional region codes (US, Australia, Japan only), and postal codes in the US, Canada, and Australia. However, it’s essential not to provide both a region and postal code for the same condition.
Order of Precedence
If you combine markup with other Google shipping configurations, Google applies an order of precedence. For example, when both markup and Search Console shipping settings are present, Google will use the Search Console settings. Google also notes that Content API for Shopping is the strongest source in this hierarchy.
Benefits of Shipping Policy Markup
This feature gives ecommerce websites a markup-only path to publish shipping policies that Search can read, which may help keep details current even before products appear in feeds. If you already manage delivery settings in Merchant Center or Search Console, you can keep doing that; just be aware those sources can override page markup when both exist.
Looking Ahead
As with other rich results, your markup must follow Google’s structured data policies, Search Essentials, and the technical guidelines in the documentation for it to be eligible for use in Search.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Google’s shipping policy markup is a valuable feature for ecommerce websites that want to provide their customers with accurate and up-to-date shipping information. By following the guidelines and implementing the markup correctly, online stores can improve their customers’ shopping experience and increase their chances of appearing in Search and knowledge panels. With its flexibility and ease of use, shipping policy markup is an essential tool for any ecommerce website that wants to stay ahead of the competition.