Organizing product data for Google Shopping can be a hassle sometimes. Individually storing the information and adding images, GTINs, IDs, etc., can take years to finish. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to resolve this problem—it’s Google Shopping feed automation.
Feed automation is a way to use tools and applications that automate the process of creating and adding product data. It helps eliminate laborious tasks and boosts efficiency while handling product feeds.
In this guide, we explore Google Shopping Feed Automation in more detail and learn ways to create and use it.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
What Is Google Shopping Feed Automation?
Google Shopping feed automation is the process of automatically managing and updating your product feed for Google Shopping. This involves using software tools or services that streamline the creation, optimization, and submission of your product data feed to Google Merchant Center.
The goal is to ensure that your product listings on Google Shopping are accurate, up-to-date, meet all feed requirements, and are optimized for search queries.
The process for feed automation is simple. You can use Google’s method (adding a file directly into the Google Merchant Center, explained below) or install a product feed management app to do the job for you.
For example, you can use an app for product feed management (such as AdNabu or GoDataFeed) that handles and automates product data on your Shopify store and integrates it with Google Merchant Center so that you can easily run Search Ads, Display Ads, YouTube Ads, etc.
Key Components of Feed Automation
Let’s explore the key components of feed automation:
- Automatic Data Syncing: Automation tools continuously sync product data from the merchant’s e-commerce platform (like Shopify) to Google Merchant Center, ensuring that any changes in product information are reflected in real-time.
- Error Detection and Correction: These tools automatically detect and correct errors in the product feed, helping to avoid disapprovals or suspensions from Google Shopping.
- Optimization Features: Automation software often includes features to optimize product titles, descriptions, and other attributes to improve ad performance.
- Scheduled Updates: Regularly scheduled updates ensure that product information, such as pricing and stock levels, remains current without manual input.
Prerequisites For Feed Automation
Before we dive into automating the product feed, let’s see what you need to set up –
Google Account & Google Merchant Center
Ensure your Google Account and Merchant Center are set and ready for automation.
First, make sure you have a Google Account, which must be linked to the Google Merchant Center.
While setting up a Google Merchant Center account, you need to add the following:
- Your business name
- Country of operation
- Time zone
Having these details prepared will streamline the process of automation.
Also, if need be, ensure your multi-client account (also called an advanced account) and sub-accounts are ready.
| Note: You need to create a multi-client account before creating a sub-account |
Verify and Claim Your Website’s URL
To link product data to your Merchant Center account, verify and claim a specific URL. Only one Merchant Center account can claim each URL, confirming administrative access to the website.
Set Up Tax & Shipping Settings
Ensure that the taxes and shipping settings are ready.
Integrate Google Merchant Center With An E-commerce Platform
Lastly, ensure that your Google Merchant Center is connected to an e-commerce platform like Shopify or WooCommerce.
For example, if you’re a Shopify merchant, you can easily connect Google Merchant Center with your Shopify admin and sync your product listings from Shopify to the Merchant Center.
Applications also help with automation for different e-commerce platforms and with connecting your e-commerce store with Google Merchant Center.
Now that the prerequisites are ready let’s examine how automated feeds can be used to build product data.
Using Automated Feeds On Google Merchant Center
Automated feeds simplify sending your product information to Google.
This helps customers discover details about your products across different Google platforms, expanding your reach to new customers worldwide.
These feeds use website crawl, a feature that extracts current product details from your site using structured data and sitemap info.
To make the website crawl work, ensure you add schema.org structured data markup to all product landing pages on your online store’s website.
| Note: This methodology is applicable to Google Merchant Center Classic. |
Product Feed Attributes
For automated feeds, you need the following requirements –
You can also provide additional attributes:
- GTIN [gtin]
- brand [brand]
- MPN [mpn]
- size [size]
- color [color]
- description [description]
- condition [condition]
Now, Google has provided two ways to configure and manage the product feeds: Standard Experience and Alternative Experience.
Standard Experience
| Difficulty Level: | High 📈 |
| Popularity: | Moderate 😐 |
After you add the schema.org data markup to your website, you’ll see “website crawl” appear on your Merchant Center account. This will occur when you are creating a new primary feed. Next, follow these steps:
- To access your Merchant Center account, go to the Products section in the left-hand navigation panel and click on Feeds.
- Select the Product Feeds tab located at the top of the page.
- Choose to create a new primary feed.
- Set up your feed configuration and opt for “website crawl” as the input method.
Alternative Experience
| Difficulty Level: | High 📈 |
| Popularity: | Moderate 😐 |
This method is suitable for merchants with different requirements. Here is how you can configure it:
Like in the Standard Experience, after integrating schema.org structured data markup into every product landing page on your website and verifying your website URL, your product details will be automatically integrated into your Merchant Center.
You can control which data is included using the Feeds tab.
Next, follow these steps:
- In your Merchant Center, go to the Products menu on the left. Then, select Feeds.
- Click on the Product Feeds tab at the top of the page. On the “Product feeds” tab, locate the “Website” feed.
- You can toggle the “Website” feed on or off:
- Turned on: Products from your website will be added to your Merchant Center.
- Turned off: Products from your website will not be added automatically, and existing crawled products will be removed.
Keep the following points in mind:
- Adding or removing products via the “Website” feed in the Merchant Center may take 4-8 hours to complete.
- If you have other data sources (like file-based data feeds), the “Website” feed will not duplicate products and will only include additional products found on your website.
Managing Automatically Added Data
After you’ve set up and used the automated feeds, you must know how you can manage these feeds and take control of them:
For Standard Experience: For this experience, do the following:
- Once automated feeds are enabled with the “website crawl” input method, you can track your product data in the Merchant Center from the “All products” page.
- Address data quality issues using the “Diagnostics” page.
- Review improvement suggestions on the “Opportunities” page.
- Your data will update periodically based on the traffic Google sends to your website.
For Alternative Experience: For this experience, do the following:
- You can monitor your product data in your Merchant Center account from the “All products” page.
- Address data quality issues using the “Diagnostics” page.
- Review improvement suggestions on the “Opportunities” page.
- Your data will update regularly based on the traffic your website receives from Google.
| Also read: A Quick Guide To Price Drop: Google Shopping |
Using E-commerce Tools To Manage Feed Automation
Integrating an e-commerce platform with a Merchant Center can do wonders for your online store. You can sync your product feed and run different types of campaigns across Google Display Network.
In order to manage feed automation, several platforms provide feed management tools that simplify the automation process and enhance productivity. These tools not only work as an extra pair of hands, but they also improve your feeds and boost sales significantly.
Here’s a list of some of the top apps that help with the automation of feeds:
1. AdNabu
| Difficulty Level: | Easy 📉 |
| Popularity: | High [Recommended] 😀 |
| Platform Compatibility: | Shopify |
AdNabu is a ‘Built For Shopify’ product feed management app that removes the strain of manually adding product feeds to Google Merchant Center. Instead, the app is programmed to automatically sync the product feed from Shopify to Google Merchant Center. It also helps merchants create feeds on Google Merchant Center and updates them every 24 hours. These feeds created for Merchant Center are in line with the platform’s requirements. The app is regularly updated when the requirements change.
The app also provides a customization option for product syncing. Instead of 24 hours, merchants can opt for hourly or instant updates (note that this depends on their pricing plan).
So, the app handles the automation and removes the burden of following vast steps to create and sync your product feed across platforms. Any changes you make will be reflected in the Merchant Center. Your product data is transmitted to the Google Merchant Center in the appropriate format, meeting all requirements and limitations for each data attribute.
AdNabu also uses AI optimization to automate feed management and helps optimize product titles, descriptions, attributes, etc. All product data can be AI-generated or has AI suggestions.
It offers a free trial for 14 days, and the pricing starts at $29.99/month (includes yearly plans, too) with access to
- Data Feed URLs for top marketplaces.
- Instant Shopify Sync to Google Merchant Center.
- Unlimited keyword suggestions fed via Google Keyword Planner.
- Blocklist
- Product review integration
- Feed rules
- Customer support has vast knowledge & is available 24/7 to help customers with any type of issues they have.
How Does This Benefit The Merchant?
- This process ensures that your product listings are accurate and have no errors in them.
- It eliminates the double effort of creating product feeds separately on Shopify and Google Merchant Center, boosting productivity by eliminating manual work.
- Accurate product data facilitates effective ad campaigns, allowing users to have access to the latest details.
- Correct data across feeds ensures your ads ranking improves.
2. DataFeedWatch
| Difficulty Level: | Easy 📉 |
| Popularity: | High [Recommended] 😀 |
| Platform Compatibility: | Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento (Adobe Commerce), PrestaShop, and more. |
DataFeedWatch is another product feed management that helps with feed automation and offers a refined product feed. All channel specifications are pre-loaded, ensuring your data feeds are automatically generated in the right format.
Your product data is transmitted to the Google Merchant Center in the appropriate format, meeting all requirements and limitations for each data attribute.
The app syncs all product data from the store with the Google Merchant Center multiple times daily, capturing critical updates such as product availability, pricing adjustments, additions, removals, and more.
It uses automated mapping that maps data accurately across platforms.
How Does This Benefit The Merchant?
- This maintains feeds without any errors and keeps the data up-to-date.
- It ensures that your product feed properly syncs with the Merchant Center.
- It provides a detailed report for any errors or discrepancies and ensures that your product feed is free of errors before syncing with the Merchant Center.
3. GoDataFeed
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate 📊 |
| Popularity: | Moderate 😐 |
| Platform Compatibility: | Amazon, Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento (Adobe Commerce), WooCommerce, Shopware, and more. |
GoDataFeed is another feed management app that helps with feed automation. The app helps integrate your product feed with Google Merchant Center. It also allows integration with Google Ads, Google Shopping Order Sync, and more Google channels.
How Does This Benefit The Merchant?
- Syncing product feeds ensures uniformity across all platforms where you are integrating.
- Accurate data means correct product listings are being used to run ad campaigns on Google Shopping.
- Automation speeds up your tasks and boosts productivity.
4. Clever
| Difficulty Level: | Easy 📉 |
| Popularity: | Moderate 😐 |
| Platform Compatibility: | Shopify, Microsoft Ads, Instagram Ads, Google Ads, and more. |
The Clever app offers efficient tools to boost your online advertising. Their feed optimization tools polish your product feed for Google, ensuring your ads effectively target the appropriate audience.
Clever’s integration with Shopify simplifies the management of Google Shopping campaigns by optimizing your Shopify feed and overseeing your Google Merchant Center account. As a Google CSS partner, Clever also provides advantages such as lower advertising costs and enhanced visibility on Google Shopping.
How Does This Benefit The Merchant?
- Provides smooth integration with Google Ads and Google Shopping to streamline campaign management efficiently.
- Syncs the correct information to Google Merchant Center, ensuring that your product feeds remain uniform on both platforms.
5. Flexify
| Difficulty Level: | Easy 📉 |
| Popularity: | Moderate 😐 |
| Platform Capability: | Shopify |
Flexify, another feed management tool for Shopify users, helps merchants improve their product data for Facebook and Google channels. It’s especially useful for those who need to provide detailed and high-quality product information to increase sales on these platforms.
Flexify works smoothly with Shopify’s Google sales channel. This integration with the sales channel maintains your current feed setups while using advanced features to manage your product feeds and ads effectively on Google Merchant Center and Google Ads.
How Does This Benefit The Merchant?
- The app focuses on optimizing product data for Google Shopping. This improves the shopping experience for customers.
- It provides simple customization of product details, offering more flexibility in how products are displayed.
Conclusion
To summarize, Google Shopping feed automation ensures that your product feeds are added quickly using automated methodologies. This helps you manage your work more efficiently and keeps your product feeds up-to-date at all times.
So, time to jump into the realm of understanding feed automation and using it to take your online business to new heights.
FAQs
What is Google Shopping Feed Automation?
Google Shopping Feed Automation refers to the process of automatically generating and managing product feeds that are submitted to Google Shopping. This involves using software tools to streamline the creation, updating, and optimization of product data feeds to ensure they meet Google’s requirements and are always up-to-date.
Why is Google Shopping Feed Automation important for Shopify stores?
Google Shopping Feed Automation is crucial for Shopify stores because it saves time, reduces errors, and ensures that product listings are accurate and optimized. This leads to better visibility on Google Shopping, potentially driving more traffic and sales.
How does Google Shopping Feed Automation work with Shopify?
Google Shopping Feed Automation for Shopify works by connecting your Shopify store to a feed management tool or app. These tools automatically pull product data from your store, format it according to Google’s specifications, and submit the feed to Google Merchant Center on a regular basis.
What are the benefits of using automated tools for Google Shopping feeds?
Automated tools for Google Shopping feeds offer several benefits, including time savings, improved data accuracy, real-time updates, enhanced product visibility, and the ability to manage large inventories more efficiently.
Can Google Shopping Feed Automation improve my product listings’ performance?
Yes, Google Shopping Feed Automation can improve your product listings’ performance by ensuring that your product data is always accurate, up-to-date, and optimized for search. This can lead to better rankings in Google Shopping results and higher click-through rates.
What are some popular tools for Google Shopping Feed Automation on Shopify?
Popular tools for Google Shopping Feed Automation on Shopify include apps like AdNabu, Google Shopping by Shopify, Feedonomics, DataFeedWatch, and GoDataFeed. These tools offer various features to help streamline and optimize your feed management.
How do I set up Google Shopping Feed Automation for my Shopify store?
To set up Google Shopping Feed Automation for your Shopify store, choose a suitable feed management tool, install it from the Shopify App Store, connect it to your Google Merchant Center account, and configure the settings to automate feed updates and submissions.
What data fields are typically included in a Google Shopping feed?
A Google Shopping feed typically includes data fields such as product ID, title, description, link, image link, price, availability, brand, GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), and MPN (Manufacturer Part Number).
How often should my Google Shopping feed be updated?
Your Google Shopping feed should be updated regularly to reflect any changes in your product inventory, pricing, or availability. Automated feed tools can be configured to update feeds daily or even more frequently to ensure data accuracy.
Are there any common issues to watch out for with Google Shopping Feed Automation?
Common issues with Google Shopping Feed Automation include incorrect data formatting, missing required attributes, and mismatched product information between your feed and website. Regular monitoring and using a reliable feed management tool can help mitigate these issues.
Check Out These Related Articles:
