Google will soon begin notifying site owners through Search Console if their billing pages are unclear.
This will become a key concern for site owners with the release of the new version of Chrome next month.
Following the upcoming update to the Google Chrome browser, pages with unclear billing and subscription forms will display a warning to users.
Visitors will have the option to proceed despite the warning or return to the previous page.
Google’s objective with this change is to help users make more informed decisions when signing up for mobile-based subscription services.
What is an Unclear Subscription Page?
An unclear subscription page typically requires users to enter their mobile phone information without clearly indicating that a charge will be applied to their bill.
For example, it may not be immediately apparent that a user will incur a charge after subscribing with their phone number.
Google aims to alert Chrome users about such subscription pages.
Mobile Billing Charges Best Practices
Google has established new best practices for mobile billing charges. Pages must comply with these to avoid warnings in Chrome.
The new best practices include:
- Visible and obvious billing information: Subscription details should not be hidden or omitted.
- Costs displayed to customers before accepting the terms: It should be clear what users will be charged for subscribing.
- Easily understandable fee structure: The service cost must be straightforward and easy to understand.
If Google identifies subscription pages that do not adhere to these best practices, a notification will be sent through Search Console.
Site owners will then need to make necessary changes and submit an appeal.
Google will remove the warning in Chrome after reviewing the changes.
Site owners have no cause for concern if their billing pages guide users through a clear and comprehensible billing process.
