Google Offers

Google Offers

Screenshot of Google Offers beta
Type of site
 Electronic commerce deal-of-the-day
Available in English and others
Owner Google
Website www.google.com/offers
Commercial Yes
Registration None
Launched May 26, 2011[1]

Google Offers was a service offering discounts and coupons. Initially, it was a deal of the day website similar to Groupon, but it since changed focus. Rather than a small number of prepaid offers, it instead offered many smaller discounts. It additionally integrated with both Google Maps and Google Wallet for mobile offers.[2] In 2014 Google announced it would be shutting the service down.

History

In 2011, Google began to drop hints of entering the Offers market. Nate Tyler, a Google spokesman, stated that the company is "communicating with small businesses to enlist their support and participation in a test of a prepaid offers/vouchers program. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort at Google to make new products … that connect businesses with customers in new ways."[3] Users receive an e-mail with a local deal of the day. They then have the opportunity to buy that deal within a specific time limit (usually 24 hours). Unlike Groupon, an offer on Google Offers is valid regardless of how many people take it.[4][5] Google Offers is powered by Google Checkout and integrates with Google Wallet.[1] It will also include Facebook, Twitter, Google Reader, Google Buzz and e-mail sharing options.[6] Google Offers development information was leaked after a failed attempt by Google to buy Groupon for US$6 billion in December 2010.[7]

On April 21, 2011, via Google Places Facebook page, it was announced that "Offers BETA is coming", and provided a link to a signup page listing a few select cities, with the first beta city being Portland, Oregon.[8][9]

On May 26, 2011, the service was officially launched; the first offer was on June 1, for Floyd's Coffee Shop in Portland.[1] During its first month, the most popular deal was $20 worth of Powell's Books merchandise for $10: "5,000 Powell’s vouchers sold out in a matter of hours."[10] That deal's price turned out to be Google Offers' median offer price for the month.[10]

On July 12, 2011, service was expanded to New York and the San Francisco Bay Area.[11]

On July 4, 2012, Google Offers Chrome extension was launched.[12] This extension has been "retired".[13]

On March 6, 2013, offer extensions in AdWords was launched, allowing businesses to distribute promotions through their AdWords campaigns. These offers are discoverable when a user searches for a business, brand, product, or service. They save the offer to their Google Account from the Search ad and then redeem in-store or online.[14]

In March 2014 Google announced that it would be shutting the service down.[15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Panzarino, Matthew (May 26, 2011). "Google launches local deal service Google Offers". The Next Web. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  2. ↑ Discover offers with Google and save on the go July 10, 2013.
  3. ↑ Efrati, Amir (January 22, 2011). "Google to Test Daily Deals That Challenge Groupon". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  4. ↑ Musil, Steven (May 31, 2011). "Google Offers to launch tomorrow in Portland, Ore.". CNET News. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  5. ↑ Eaton, Kit (June 1, 2011). "iFive: Google Offers Debut, Cell Phones And Cancer, Nokia Shuts Online Stores, Schmidt On Macs vs. PCs, Lodsys Sues Developers". Fast Company. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  6. ↑ Parr, Ben (January 20, 2011). "Google to Launch Groupon Competitor [EXCLUSIVE]". Mashable. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  7. ↑ Parr, Ben (November 30, 2010). "Google May Acquire Groupon for $6 Billion, and It Would Be Worth Every Penny". Mashable. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  8. ↑ Google Places on Facebook. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Google Offers Help". Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  10. 1 2 Agrawal, Rocky (July 4, 2011). "Google Offers Versus Groupon: The Portland Throwdown". TechCrunch. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  11. ↑ Tuesday, July 12th, 2011 (2011-07-12). "Google Offers Beta Expanded From Portland To New York And The SF Bay Area". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  12. ↑ "Google Commerce: Get Google Offers straight from your browser with the new Google Offers Chrome extension". Googlecommerce.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  13. ↑ https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-offers/bkkjbnhjaonjphadkbmdfnhdegmgpefl?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon
  14. ↑ "Enhanced campaigns: Improving online and offline results with location bid adjustments and offer extensions - Inside AdWords". Adwords.blogspot.com. 2013-03-06. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  15. ↑ http://blumenthals.com/blog/2014/03/05/google-shuts-down-self-serve-offers-product/
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