Putting Google checkout buttons on your website

Google Checkout created a complete furore when it was launched, as it was branded a 'Paypal killer' and seen as another step towards Google's world dominance.

However, in my view, it's a product that has failed to deliver on the hype, even though I would have have no problem using it on any of my websites in e-commerce situations.

I'd always recommend Paypal in preference, but in some situations - usually a simple 'Buy now' set up - Google Checkout is perfectly fine to use and gives your customers a different payment option if they don't have a Paypal account.

Inside Google Checkout

The first thing I found is that if you already hold a Google Checkout buyer’s account, you have to ‘upgrade’ this to enable you to add buttons to websites.

It was a very simple process which involved linking Google to a bank account.

They deposited a small amount into my business account, I in turn had to record what that amount was to confirm that I am the owner of that bank account.

It’s a standard online process, and I reckon it took 5 days for the small Google deposit to show up in my bank account.

So ‘hint one’ is, don’t expect to be able to get buttons on your website on day one, it takes a little time to validate accounts before you can use the system.

Once you’re in, the interface is simple enough to use.

Your options are:

- Send an invoice through email

- Use a pre-integrated cart

- Buy Now buttons

- Integrate yourself using the API (advanced!)

For the sake of this post, I’m going to look only at using ‘Buy now’ buttons as that will be the most common use of Google Checkout for new and small businesses.

The practical bit

Interestingly, with Google Checkout, the options for customisation are extremely limited.

I’m amazed that bearing in mind this service has had some time now to bed in now, they haven’t done more with it.

You pretty well have only one button option - ‘Buy Now’ - no ‘Donate’ or ‘Pay Now’ like you get with Paypal.

The ‘Buttons with options’ is a nice touch, in which you can create a dropdown menu for,say, T-shirt sizes.

Otherwise you simply have to complete ‘Item name’, ‘Item description’ and ‘Price and you’re done.

So in this example, I’m wanting to create a simple ‘Donate’ button as I did on my Paypal buttons page.

I don’t have ‘Donate now’ as an option, so this is the best I could do in Google - I even had to set a donation level, rather than leaving it up to the individual, which is a) a bit cheeky b) too limited.

Feel free to click on the button to see how it works … you won’t have to sign your life (or any money!) away on the first click, but it will show you what the buttons look like in use.

Notice how, the minute you click on the button, you’re taken to Google’s secure payment area ... look for the padlock as confirmation that this is going to be a secure transaction.

Services like this are gold dust for small websites wanting to take occasional payments, but not wanting to get embroiled in horrible online security measures.

If you’re a small business, use credited third party systems in the first instance and wait until the money starts pouring in before you even consider integrating customised online security systems into your own site.

It’s a complex issue which requires (costly) expert advice.

The jury’s out for Google Checkout

So, my verdict on Google buttons?

Was Google put off by the outcry when Google Checkout was launched?

It feels like we haven’t move beyond basic launch options here, and the service desperately needs some additional services.

It’s as easy to use as Paypal buttons, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use it for a simple ‘Buy now’ option on a website either instead of Paypal or, my preference, in addition to Paypal.

It’s extremely easy to use, there’s just very little to it at the moment.

So come on Google, get developing, enhancing and modifying in the way you usually do so well and let’s get this service beefed up a bit!

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