New debugging dashboard for the Google Content API for Shopping

Today we're announcing the API dashboard in Google Merchant Center, which makes it easier for online merchants who use the Google Content API for Shopping to debug their API requests.

If you’re an API user, you can now view a comprehensive timeline and list of errors that occurred while making requests to the API, sorted by the number of times the errors occurred for faster prioritization. For each error, the dashboard also displays example request and response pairs, making it easier to locate and fix errors in your requests.

To access the new API dashboard, log into your Google Merchant Center account and click on the ‘API Dashboard’ tab.

Posted by Thomas Kotzmann and Paul Brauner, Google Content API for Shopping team

Smartphones and Tablets Influence Consumer Purchasing Decisions on Mobile, Online and in Store

(Cross-posted on the Google Mobile Ads and Google Retail Blogs)

Retailers are largely focused on how consumers are shopping across channels and devices. We know consumers love their mobile and tablet devices, but we are just beginning to develop a strong understanding of how they engage with these devices as they make their purchase decisions. To gain greater insight into this key behavior, we partnered with Ipsos during the 2011 holiday shopping season to study online shoppers. We uncovered a number of interesting consumer behaviors across desktop computers, smartphones and tablets. The powerful data we uncovered can drive best practices for advertisers at every holiday and year round.

The first key mobile insight every advertiser should know is that consumers use their smartphones at many different points in their purchase path. 41% of those who used their mobile phones to help with shopping said they made a purchase directly on their smartphone. 46% said they researched an item on their smartphone then went to a store to make their purchase. 37% said they researched an item on their smartphone then made their purchase online.

Another key mobile insight that emerged is that consumers used all three devices throughout the research process, but some activities were more popular on specific devices. Consumers who owned tablets read product reviews and looked for product information more from their tablet devices than from their desktop computer or smartphone. This is likely due to the combination of the large screen and portability of the device that enables consumers to use it more often and in more places. Consumers are carrying tablets with them to the couch, while in the kitchen, and even to bed.

Not surprisingly, more consumers used their smartphones to contact a retailer. With the natural calling ability of phones and many click-to-call phone numbers on websites and in ads, smartphones make it easy to contact retailers, whether to see if the store has the product in stock, get directions or find store hours.

While the 2011 holiday season is now firmly behind us, it’s clear that smartphones and tablets are only going to become a bigger part of the consumer shopping experience. Among consumers that used their devices to shop last year, 80% of smartphone shoppers and 70% of tablet users said they used their device more frequently this year.

To stay ahead of this shift in consumer behavior, advertisers need to make sure they have a mobile optimized site, make it easy for customers to reach them with click-to-call and deliver a seamless experience between online and offline in-store. It’s the advertisers who engage with their customers across all three devices that will have a distinct advantage in 2012.

To learn more about consumer shopping behavior across the desktop computer, smartphone and tablet and view a full report on Post Holiday Learnings for 2012.

Posted by Dai Pham, Google Mobile Ads Marketing

Protecting your payments with Google Wallet

Over the last few days we've received questions and concerns about issues related to the security of Google Wallet. People are asking if Google Wallet is safe enough for mobile phone payments. The simple answer to this question is yes. In fact, Google Wallet offers advantages over the plastic cards and folded wallets in use today.

First, Google Wallet is protected by a PIN — as well as the phone’s lock screen, if a user sets that option. But sometimes users choose to disable important security mechanisms in order to gain system-level “root” access to their phone; we strongly discourage doing so if you plan to use Google Wallet because the product is not supported on rooted phones. That’s why in most cases, rooting your phone will cause your Google Wallet data to be automatically wiped from the device.

Second, we also take concrete actions to help protect our users. For example, to address an issue that could have allowed unauthorized use of an existing prepaid card balance if someone recovered a lost phone without a screen lock, tonight we temporarily disabled provisioning of prepaid cards. We took this step as a precaution until we issue a permanent fix soon.

And just like with any other credit card, you can get support when you need it. We provide toll-free assistance in case you lose your phone or someone manages to make an unauthorized transaction.

Mobile payments are going to become more common in the coming years, and we will learn much more as we continue to develop Google Wallet. In the meantime, you can be confident that the digital wallet you carry provides defenses that plastic and leather simply don’t.

Update [February 14, 2012 / 8:30 pm PST]:

Yesterday afternoon, we restored the ability to issue new prepaid cards to the Wallet. In addition, we issued a fix that prevents an existing prepaid card from being re-provisioned to another user. While we’re not aware of any abuse of prepaid cards or the Wallet PIN resulting from these recent reports, we took this step as a precaution to ensure the security of our Wallet customers. If you are unable to access your previous prepaid card balance for any reason, please contact our toll-free support for assistance.

Posted by Osama Bedier, Vice President, Google Wallet and Payments

And that makes 40! Google Offers launches in Oklahoma City and Omaha

Today, Google Offers is rolling out in two new locations, Oklahoma City and Omaha. Not only are we excited to bring high-quality, personalized deals to these awesome cities, but today’s announcement also marks a special milestone for us: In just 251 days, Google Offers has gone from one to 40 cities across the U.S.!


In the eight months since our launch in Portland, we’ve worked with locally loved businesses and popular national brands to bring you the very best deals out there. And we’re continuing this M.O. with two great offers for our newest cities. Here’s the scoop:


Oklahoma City: $10 for $20 of American fare at Louie’s Grill and Bar
Besides your own living room, few places are comfortable enough to kick back with a plate of queso-smothered nachos while watching the big game. Enter Louie’s Grill and Bar, where the service is friendly, the food sticks to your ribs and nothing on the menu is over $10. With today’s inaugural Google Offer in OKC, enjoy $10 for $20 of American-fare at one of Louie’s Grill and Bar’s twelve locations in the Oklahoma City area.

Dig in to a 100% Angus burger ($8) at Louie’s Grill and Bar

Omaha: $8 for one ticket to an upcoming Nebraska Huskers Men’s Basketball game
Sure, shouting at the TV seems satisfying, but there’s nothing like lending your lungs to a crowd thousands deep. Join thousands of fans to watch the Nebraska Huskers take on their rivals in the Big Ten: $8 gets you one ticket to see the Huskers take on the Illinois Fighting Illini ($20 value) on February 18th OR the Iowa Hawkeyes on February 29th ($15 value). Don’t miss out: these are the big games before the Big Ten Tournament!

Cheer on Big Red in the new Devaney Center!

Check out www.google.com/offers to learn more and subscribe to Google Offers! Also be sure to check out our Google Offers mobile app for Android so you can get access to great deals on the go.


Posted by Eric Rosenblum, Director of Product Management, Google Offers

Valentine’s Day deals you’ll love, for the one you love, from Google Offers

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the thoughts of some turn to romance and celebrating that special someone in your life. The thoughts of others turn to the sometimes arduous and often expensive task of buying a gift that truly conveys what that someone means to you. Relax, Google Offers is here to help with three national deals that form the triumvirate of Valentine’s Day - flowers, jewelry, and chocolate.

Flowers from 1-800-Flowers
In 1976, Jim McCann opened his first 1-800-Flowers store (then called “Flora Plenty”) and in the 35 years since launch, 1-800-Flowers has been delivering smiles ever since. And boy, do they have an offer for you today: you can send two dozen fresh roses delivered to the door of your choice -- perfect for Valentine’s Day, or just because. 1-800-Flowers will even include a beautiful, crystal clear vase and free standard shipping. All this for only for $44.99. That’s 43% off! What a bunch of hopeless romantics...

Jewelry from Gemvara.com
From its customer service, to its selection, to its focus on personalization, Gemvara is changing the way its customers shop for jewelry online. And to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, the company is taking some of the intimidation out of buying jewelry by offering $50 for $150 toward custom jewelry at Gemvara.com-- a whopping 66% off. Starting tomorrow (2/2), at 5 a.m. PST, customize necklaces, earrings and rings online, mix ’n’ match gemstones & precious metals and have it shipped - at no extra cost. Be sure to place your order at Gemvara.com by February 5 (this Sunday!) in order to have it delivered by February 14th.

Chocolate from Chuao Chocolatier
Starting Friday (2/3), at 5 a.m. PST, Chuao Chocolatier (pronounced chew-WOW) will finalize the triple threat of Valentine’s Day deals with one not to be trifled (or is it truffled?) with. The first Venezuelan Chocolatier based in the United States, which specializes in all-natural “fusion chocolate,” will offer an online deal for $12 for $24 of artisan chocolate. And this isn’t your grandma’s chocolate box - Chuao offers unusual flavor combinations such as Spiced Napa Valley Cabernet, a combination of California raisin fondue, Napa Valley cabernet, caramel and spices in rich dark chocolate; and Rosemary Salt Caramel, a salt butter caramel infused with rosemary in creamy milk chocolate. Yum!

Visit www.google.com/offers to learn more and subscribe to Google Offers so you don't miss out on these great deals. Also, you can always find deals from Google Offers on-the-go with the Google Offers app on Android.


Posted by Shazia Makhdumi, Sr. Product Marketing Manager, Google Offers

Google Offers grows partnerships; brings expanded collection of deals to five additional markets

Starting today, those of you in Boston, Chicago, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., can now enjoy more daily deals from your favorite daily deal sites in one single place, just as those in New York and San Francisco.

Google Offers, which is now live in 38 cities across the U.S., is continuing to build momentum by partnering with three new deal provider partners, including CrowdSavings, SpaRahRah!™, and LocalWineEvents.com. These partners join Google’s growing roster of specialized deal providers that promote their deals through the Google Offers platform. Our new partners help us bring a greater variety of unique deals to Google Offers customers, giving you more reasons to treat yourself and your friends to a great deal.

And if you take the Google Offers personalization quiz, we’ll only send you the offers that best match your interests each day, so you only get the deals you want, and not the ones you don’t. All your offers will be personalized to you in one email and they are accessible through the web or on your mobile phone.

Subscribe and learn more about Google Offers by visiting: www.google.com/offers. And if you are a deal provider and are interested in partnering with Google, please get in touch with us via our partner program form.

Posted by Peet Sasaki, Software Engineer, Google Offers

Google Offers Keeps Momentum in 2012: Five New Cities Launch Today

2011 was quite a year for Google Offers. In only six months (since we first launched in Portland) we introduced amazing deals from beloved local business in 33 cities in the U.S., launched national deals and released our first mobile app.

Well, good news deal lovers! We’re keeping up the momentum and 2012 is going to be just as exciting. As of today, Google Offers is available in five new cities including: Charlotte, Kansas City, Milwaukee, San Antonio and Tampa.

Here are the details about our debut deals in these terrific locations:

Charlotte: $11 for a beer tasting, growler bottle, souvenir glass & soft pretzel at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery ($22 value)
If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself—this is the force behind
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Born of the belief that every town should have fresh local beer,
the talented brewers churn out premium all-natural lagers and ales weekly. After tasting such fresh beer, your happy hours are sure to be even happier—$11 gets you a beer tasting, growler bottle, souvenir glass and a soft pretzel at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery ($22 value).

Kansas City: $5 for $10 of food and drink at Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque Restaurant
Some say Washington and Jefferson, others claim Adams and Franklin, but Kansas City’s vote for favorite founding fathers goes to Charlie and Arthur Bryant, veterans of the KC barbecue revolution. Cast your ballot at Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, where $5 gets you $10 toward their iconic menu.

Milwaukee: $5 for $12 toward burgers, brews & more at Sobelman’s Pub & Grill
In a city where the state domesticated animal is the dairy cow, residents have an innate ability to seek out great cheeseburgers. Follow your instinct to Sobelman’s Pub & Grill, where our first Milwaukee Google Offer is: $5 for $12 toward award-winning burgers and more. Lines often stretch out the door at the original West Saint Paul joint, so luckily you can also use this Google Offer to get mouth-watering burgers at the new Sobelman's Eastside Grill and Sobelman’s @Marquette.

San Antonio: $10 for $20 of fine sandwiches, pasta, steaks & more at Liberty Bar
Though “beauty and charm” was not likely the mantra of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica, they’ve given their stamp of approval to Liberty Bar’s current residence in their old convent. Salmon-colored paint or not, you’re headed for a “quintessentially San Antonio spot” where $10 gets you $20 of “excellent, eclectic eats,” according to Zagat.

Tampa: $5 for $10 of Greek cuisine at Louis Pappas Market Cafe
With a menu full of secret family recipes and cafes with friendly and quick service, it’s no surprise that the Louis Pappas Market Cafe family restaurants have seen over eighty years of success in Florida. For $5, today’s Google Offers gets you $10 towards delicious Greek cuisine at any of the cafe’s four locations: Palma Ceia, Citrus Park, Lakeland and Clearwater. Be sure to try the popular “Greek-a-dilla”—a crispy flat bread full of meat, melted feta and cheddar jack cheeses, served with tzatziki.

Check out www.google.com/offers to learn more and subscribe to Google Offers in your city to be among the first to know about the latest and greatest national and local deals, relevant to you.

Posted by Eric Rosenblum, Director of Product Management, Google Offers

Google Offers to feature a week of Zagat’s top-rated eateries in Washington, D.C.

Since the launch of Google Offers in Washington, D.C. this past September, we’ve partnered with a diverse list of restaurants all over the city, putting their unique fare in the hands (and mouths) of local foodies. We’re kicking off 2012 by showcasing several of the top Zagat rated restaurants in the D.C. community. Our goal is to continue to connect D.C. residents with local staples and foster the discovery of hidden gems.

Starting January 23, if you’re a Google Offers subscriber in Washington, D.C., we’ll send you an email featuring a special deal for a Zagat rated restaurant. If you’re not a subscriber to Google Offers in Washington, D.C. make sure you sign up so you won’t miss out on these fantastic offers. Here’s a sneak peak:

• Kaz Sushi Bistro: Zagat calls Chef Kazuhiro Okochi’s hotspot “one of DC’s most inventive and approachable sushi restaurants.” Using only the freshest ingredients (and most cutting edge techniques), Chef Okochi prepares unique cuisine that keeps foodies coming back for more. See for yourself: $15 gets you $30 of refined Japanese fare.
• Kushi: Named Washington Post Editors’ Pick, this Japanese gastropub features authentic cuisine in a casual, modern atmosphere. Step outside of your comfort zone for Japanese delicacies like wood grilled eringi mushrooms and miso marinated black cod: $30 gets you $60 toward Japanese fare.
• Marvin: Featured by Zagat as a “place to see and be seen,” Marvin combines Southern-fried cooking with a continental twist. Sample soul food inspired by Marvin Gaye, the Prince of Soul himself: $80 gets you a five-course prix fixe meal—including beer and wine flight. Plus, expect a surprise if you attend the exclusive Google Offers event on February 23!
• Nage: Dive into a gourmet meal at Nage, where surf-inspired food is prepared using classic French technique. And see what Zagat, Food Network Magazine and The Washington Post are raving about for yourself: $20 gets you $40 of upscale bistro fare at this centrally-located hidden gem.
• Zaytinya: Called DC’s “Most Popular Restaurant” by Zagat, Zaytinya has earned accolades everywhere from The Washington Post to the Washingtonian to the James Beard Foundation. Taste Mediterranean like a true gourmet with superstar chef José Andrés’ modern mezze: it’s $45 for the Chef’s Winter Tasting menu at this Gallery Place hotspot. Plus, for every Google Offer purchased, Zaytinya and José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup will donate $20 to World Central Kitchen to help end hunger.

The Google Offers D.C. team has worked hand in hand with these restaurants to bring you these great deals. We hope you enjoy this week of offers for top Zagat rated restaurants and take full advantage of the incredible food scene that our nation’s capital has to offer.

To subscribe to Google Offers in Washington, D.C. and other locations across the U.S., please visit: www.google.com/offers. And check out our free Google Offers app for Android to find and buy great deals on the go.

Posted by Guli Zhu, Business Analyst, Google Offers

Google is going 'Big' at NRF 2012

In just a few days, we’ll be in New York to take part in the National Retail Federation’s 101st Annual Convention & EXPO-- A.k.a: Retail’s BIG Show. We’re excited to be at the show again this year and look forward to showcasing Google’s Commerce products including Google Wallet, Google Offers, Google Shopper, Google Catalogs, Google Product Search, Google Trusted Stores, Google Commerce Search, Offer Extensions, Product Listing Ads and more.

Come visit us on the EXPO floor at booth number 2375, between January 16-17, to meet with the Google team and learn how our tools can help you attract new customers, connect with shoppers in new ways and drive growth for your business.

We hope to see you next week at the show.

Posted by Keren Michelson, Google Wallet Marketing

Together Google Offers and NYC Bakery, Fat Witch, deliver a sweet deal

Located in New York's Chelsea Market, Fat Witch Bakery has been wowing customers and critics for more than 20 years with its all-natural brownies. Owner Patricia Helding worked as a Wall Street trader before launching her celebrated line of "witches.” Since then, Helding's bakery has grown to become a local, and national, favorite having been profiled on Oprah's "Favorite Things," the Food Network, and Good Morning America in recent years.

Patricia Helding, Owner, Fat Witch Bakery

Since opening the bakery in 1991, Patricia has never implemented a traditional paid advertising campaign because the “brownies speak for themselves.” However, with hopes to expand her brick and mortar business this year, Patricia has been looking for new ways to drive increased awareness for her brand as well as attract new customers. So, when the Google Offers sales team approached Patricia about running an deal, she jumped at the chance.

“I’m a big Google fan to begin with, so it was a natural move to run a Google Offer. And Google has a huge reach. Everyone in the world uses Google. I like that people from all over can walk into the store and use a Google Offer to experience our brownies,” said Helding.

Together, Patricia and the Google team crafted an offer that accurately matched the Fat Witch brand and business model. In July 2011, the bakery ran its Google Offer: $20 worth of brownies, gifts and more for only $10.

In addition to the increased brand exposure Fat Witch garnered on the Google Offers site, the deal was also promoted on Google’s social media channels and sent to subscribers in New York City via email. "All I had to do was cover the cost of baking,” recalled Helding.

Popular “witches” include the classic chocolate Fat Witch and the Blonde Baby -- think chocolate chip cookie in a brownie form -- (pictured)

And the results were so sweet! In just 24 hours more than 400 Fat Witch offers were sold and traffic into the bakery increased by 10%. “Our number one reason for running a Google Offer was to attract new customers, as well as reward our loyal customers with a great deal,” said Helding. “I would say the majority of people who came into the store to redeem the offer were new to Fat Witch and had never tried our brownies before. We also saw a lot of people come in for our “witching hour” from 5-8pm where brownies are half off.”

Helding is eager to keep growing her business. “Absolutely I'd do another offer with Google. I think it's a great concept. We don't lose money and the offer drove store traffic and really got our brand out there.”

If you’re a merchant and are interested in running a Google Offer, please visit google.com/offers/business.

Posted by Yoshiko Ono, Account Manager, Google Offers

Let’s play some games!

I’m a huge gamer at heart. And because of this, I love working with Google In-App Payments and helping developers make money from their awesome games. Many of us will be spending the holidays at home enjoying family time and some rest and relaxation. What better way to rest and unwind than with some awesome games that you can play in the browser instantly? Below are some of my favorite games that showcase how developers are utilizing the web platform and creating immersive, monetizable games.




Bastion
Bastion is a story-driven action RPG with beautiful 2D visuals. You control ‘the kid’ (protagonist) with your keyboard and mouse, navigating him around the world to collect pieces and rebuild the bastion. The action is intense and rewarding, and the RPG elements addictive. If you haven’t already purchased the full game, check out the first area for free before buying the full game.

Cordy
Cordy is an adorable puzzle platformer. The goal is to complete a level as quickly as possible while collecting all of the items and enough energy to charge/unlock the exit. It’s gorgeous, fast-paced, and fun to play. Try it for free and you can upgrade to the full version in-game.









Fieldrunners
I’ve been addicted to Fieldrunners (and tower defense games in general) for years, and now it’s available in the browser. Personally, playing in the browser totally fixes my fat finger issues with tower placement. For those of you that have never tried tower defense games, the goal is to prevent enemies from reaching their goal by building a maze of towers that damage them.










GT Academy
Motorsports has always been one of my hobbies, and GT Academy is great because it’s a browser-based racing sim. You can progress through your career achieving better licenses and unlocking faster cars. Once you’ve honed your keyboard driving skills, challenge other players in online multiplayer.









Dragons of Atlantis
I honestly can’t define why this game is so addictive, but I keep going back over and over. Dragons of Atlantis is an empire game where you build your cities, develop your armies, establish alliances, and raid other empires. If you haven’t tried this game, run through the tutorial and you’ll be thoroughly hooked.









Angry Birds
It’s the classic Angry Birds that everyone loves, but with new holiday-themed levels to challenge you. Check out the latest HTML5 Angry Birds.








In addition to the games highlighted here, there are more great games to be found in Chrome Web Store and on Google+. After your holiday feast, have some fun and take a look at what you can now do within your browser.

Posted by Peng Ying, Developer Advocate