In a bid to ramp up its online shopping business to compete with Amazon, Google is testing shopping links under YouTube videos.
The test feature displays product prices and recommendations under videos playing on the site, making it easier for viewers to buy them on Google.
The test advertisements first popped up under Nike videos and clicking on them redirected users to the Google Express marketplace to complete the purchase, The Information recently reported.
Shopping via platforms is expected to become the standard, with Instagram already working on Shop feature for its users, who can buy products of pages created by the brands. Even in India, we have seen platforms like Hotstar pushing the Buy Option for partner products, accessed via their websites.
The feature seems to be rapidly adding retailers to its Google Express marketplace, which, the search engine giant plans to re-brand as Google Shopping, according to two sources familiar with the business.
The search engine giant began testing the feature ahead of its Google Marketing Live event which is scheduled to be held on 14 May, where the company is expected to announce over 10 new digital marketing products.
Amazon's growing advertisement business could have prompted Google to start focusing on other revenue streams since ads are a key source of its income, the report added.
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