SOP 218: How to Set up Google Shopping Product Feed
Goal:
To feed product data to your Google Merchant Center account.
Ideal Outcome:
You successfully create and upload your product data to your Google Merchant Center.
Prerequisites or requirements:
If you’re new to Google Merchant Center, you will need the following tasks to be completed before using this SOP:
- Set up a Google Merchant Center (SOP 213 – web version)
- Familiarize yourself with the type of feeds available. (refer to types of feeds)
- You must adhere to Google’s formats before feeding your product data to your Google Merchant Center. (Refer to file formats)
- It is recommended to use Google Excel Sheets instead of Microsoft Excel saved as “Tab-separated values (.tsv, current sheet)”. (Refer to how to convert spreadsheet)
- You will need to create a new primary feed Excel sheet. Click on the ready-made Google Excel sheet (Template 068 – web version). Copy it into your Gmail business account. A few examples are given in excel for your reference. Key in your product information according to the attributes.
If you already use Google Merchant Center, you will need the following tasks to be completed before using this SOP:
- If you already have a primary feed previously set up, use the ready-made supplemental feed Google Excel sheet (Template 069 – web version). Copy it into your Gmail business account.
Why this is important:
When you add your product data to your Google Merchant Center, it enables you to run shopping advertising and promote your products across Google's various platforms. The Google Shopping data feed is crucial to the success of your Google shopping campaigns.
Where this is done:
In Google Merchant Center and Google Excel.
When is this done:
Whenever there are new updates to your products.
Who does this:
The business owner/manager or the local/agency digital marketer.
Preparing the data feed
- If you are a new user, you will need to create a new primary data feed in Google Excel. Please refer to the Primary feed Google Excel sheet.
- In the Google Excel sheet, go to “File” and click “Make a copy”.
4. Next, you will need to fill out your product attributes such as ID, Title, Description, Price, Condition, Link, Availability, and Image link. A few examples are illustrated below.
If you already have a primary feed previously set up and would like to add data that are missing from your primary feed, follow the same steps above and fill out the Supplemental feed Google Excel sheet (Template 069 - web version)
How to set up a new primary feed
- Sign in to your Google Merchant Center here. Choose the appropriate Gmail account and log in with your password. Click “Next”.
6. Next, select a language.
How to set up a supplemental feed
- Sign in to your Google Merchant Center here. Choose a Gmail account and log in with your password. Click “Next”.
Troubleshoot your data feeds
- Go to your Google Merchant Center and click “Diagnostics” under “Products”.