Try Before You Buy: New Google Tool Brings Your Products to Life

When browsing Google Search, Google Shopping, or Google Images, shoppers can look at a product listing for a piece of clothing they’re interested in and select the “try it on” button. For this to work, they’ll need to upload a full-length photo of themselves, which Google’s AI can use to generate an image of them wearing the item in question.

Additionally, shoppers can keep track of their previous looks, or share their specific try-ons with their family or friends if they’d like a second opinion.

If you’re interested in letting customers try on your clothing products, double-check that your store is eligible and you’re following Google’s official guidance first. Below, I’ve summarized the key information you need to know:

• Eligibility: To be eligible, your store must have a shopping feed on Google (you can create one through your Google Merchant Center account) and be displaying free listings across Google search.
• Product types: Right now, Google only shows products that are tops, bottoms, and dresses. Shoes, lingerie, bathing suits, and accessories are not yet supported by the try-on tool.
• Product photo guidelines: Your product photos must be at least 512 x 512 pixels (1024 pixels or higher is ideal).

To increase product visibility in Google search results and get customers trying on your clothes, your product pages must be SEO-friendly too. Each page should target keywords that shoppers are looking for, while your product listings should also have great navigation and link to other relevant pages to spark further engagement.

Though the AI-powered technology is impressive, Google’s try-on tool isn’t without its flaws, with the search engine acknowledging that it can make mistakes. For example, a clothing item might not be accurately represented on different body types, and the AI tool might leave out smaller, more intricate details in clothing.

If your business finds this off-putting, you can opt out at any time via your Merchant Center account. You’ll need to access “Help center and support” and then select “Contact us” to tell Google that you don’t want your products to be featured.

However, with AI in ecommerce becoming more commonplace, it may still be worth using the tool to increase your sales. Since shoppers no longer need to be in a physical store to try on your clothes, a wider range of Google users will be able to engage with your products, no matter where they are in the US. This could increase engagement with your store and help you acquire more customers over time.