Google Checkout Receives Significant Upgrades

March 20, 2009

If you sell products, or services on your website then one of the most challenging steps is implementing the necessary code for ‘checking out’. If you want to take the easy way, but more expensive approach you can just hire someone to set it up for you. However, if you want to save some money and try it yourself Google Checkout might be something you should look into.

So, why am I writing about Google Checkout now? This week, they’ve added a couple of features that have taken it from ‘nifty add-on’, to something that can have a great impact on a site.

If you’re not sure what Google Checkout is I’ll briefly explain. If you’ve ever bought something off Amazon, or any other retailer then you have to go through a checkout process. Google has taken this and simplified it in a way that people with smaller sites can integrate it into their structure.

As I mentioned before, Google Checkout has seen a couple of significant upgrades that greatly increase its value to users. First, they’ve simplified the installation process, to the point you don’t even really need to know a lot of code to do it. Before the upgrade you had to insert the Checkout code directly into your PHP files. Now, they’ve set it up so that when you install Google Checkout it finds where it needs to insert itself.

The second addition, and one I think could take Google Checkout into the next level is allowing subscription selling. If you’re selling something that will have a recurring charge, then Google Checkout will implement it with they’re latest beta build.

If you want to checkout some more about Google Checkout, visit the official blog.

Has anyone used Google Checkout before? If so, what did you think of the service? Is it worth saving money by hiring someone to set it up?