The Google Shopping Product Feed All Mandatory Attributes at a Glance

Product Feed: Basics

• Your data feed contains all relevant

information about your products.

• Each and every product has its own

set of attributes that define how it is

handled within Google Shopping.

• Needs to be pushed into your

Google Merchant Center.

What Happens When I Have Errors in my Product Feed?

• You might end up getting your entire

product range banned from Google

Shopping if you don't follow their rules.

• Affected product in your feed will not be

shown in Google Shopping Ads !

Product Feed Formats

Feed Formats

Three different formats are allowed:

TXT XML JSON

I Think I’ll use .txt - Can You Tell me More Details?

• Easy to use.

• Can be created with any texteditor (like Microsoft Excel or Google Spreadsheets).

• highly prone to errors.

• hard to maintain if you have

many products.

.TXT

Example: TXT

.XML

I'd Rather Play it Safe and use XML then…

• It is an advantage if you have a lot a products with many attributes.

• Shopping Platforms allow you to download an ready to use XML-list of your products.

• You can use the Google Shopping API.

• can get extremely tedious with many items.

Example: XML

<item> <g:id>1198</g:id> <g:title>MotoRoller Vespa Helmet</g:title> <g:description> The helmet is vented by 15 airholes, has padded chin-straps and fits every head comfortably. </g:description> <g:link>https://www.example.com/kadoo/scooter/helmet</g:link> <g:availability>in stock</g:availability> <g:price>287.49 EUR</g:price> <g:brand>Kadoo</g:brand> <g:color>orange</g:color> <g:size>M</g:size> </item>

.JSON

Seems like that JSON is the best solution!

• Same advantages as XML.

• More lightweight than XML.

• can get extremely tedious with many items.

Example: JSON

{ "item": { "id": "1198", "title": "MotoRoller Vespa Helmet", "description": "The helmet is vented by 15 airholes, has padded chin-straps and fits every head comfortably", "link": "https://www.example.com/kadoo/scooter/helmet", "availability": "in stock", "price": { "value": "287.49", "currency": "EUR" }, "brand": "Kadoo", "color": "orange", "size": "M" } }

What’s Inside The Feed?

Your Ad is Made of Attributes From the Feed!

• Every Product inside your Product Feed has attributes which describes it

Image Attribute

Title Attribute

Price AttributeLink Attribute

All Mandatory Attributes at a Glance

• ID

• Title

• Description

• Google Product

Category

• Link

• Image Link

• Condition

• Availability

• Price

• GTIN

• Brand

All attributes are mandatory, don’t use the same ID

within the same Google Merchant account!

!

Some Countries Do Not Support Certain Attributes

• There are Country specifications

for some attributes.

• If your website is multilingual, use

one single feed for each language.

• Identifications can then be

reused in each feed version .

• Within one single feed the

identifications still have to be

unique.

The Mandatory Attributes In Detail

Attribute: ID

The ID is the product's unique identification

TYPE SYNTAX

Character Limits: 50 Text Tab: tddy123uk

Type: StringXML: <g:id>tddy123uk</g:id>

API JSON: 'id': 'tddy123uk'

API XML: <id>tddy123uk</id>

Several feeds for following multilingual countries needed:

In case you offer a payment plan for tablets and smartphones add the words 'with payment plan' to the title:

The product title shown in your ad

Attribute: Title

TYPE SYNTAX

Character Limits: 50 Text Tab: Scooter City Driver Helmet

Type: StringXML: <title>Scooter City Driver Helmet<title>

API JSON: 'title': ‘Scooter City Driver Helmet'

API XML: <title>Scooter City Driver Helmet<title>

Example:

Attribute: Title

TYPE

Character Limits: 5,000

Type: String

Describe all relevant and most characteristic visual attributes of the item

Attribute: Description

SYNTAX

Text Tab: Solid red, queen-sized bed sheets made from 100% woven polyester 300 thread count fabric. Set includes one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and two standard pillowcases. Machine washable; extra deep fitted pockets.

API JSON: 'description': 'Solid red, queen-sized bed sheets made from 100% woven polyester 300 thread count fabric. Set includes one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and two standard pillowcases. Machine washable; extra deep fitted pockets.'

XML: <description>Solid red, queen-sized bed sheets made from 100% woven polyester 300 thread count fabric. Set includes one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and two standard pillowcases. Machine washable; extra deep fitted pockets.</description>

API XML: <description>Solid red, queen-sized bed sheets made from 100% woven polyester 300 thread count fabric. Set includes one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and two standard pillowcases. Machine washable; extra deep fitted pockets.</description>

Attribute: Description

Describe all relevant and most characteristic visual attributes of the item

Attribute: Description

Example:

TYPE SYNTAX

Predefined values from Google's product taxonomy: the ID or the full path of the product

category.

Text Tab: 2271 or Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Dresses

XML: <g:google_product_category>2271</g:google_product_category>

API JSON: 'googleProductCategory': '2271''

API XML: <google_product_category>2271</google_product_category>

Attribute: Google Product Category

Describes the category of your item.

• Only use predefined categories as

specified here Google product taxonomy!

• If your product matches several

categories, choose the one that represents

your product best. Remember to specify

the category by its full path!

Attribute: Google Product Category

Guidelines

Products that belong to the following categories have to be specified more closely than the highest-level

category.

• 1604 or 'Apparel & Accessories > Clothing'

• 187 or 'Apparel & Accessories > Shoes'

• 178 or 'Apparel & Accessories > Clothing Accessories > Sunglasses'

• 3032 or 'Apparel & Accessories > Handbags, Wallets & Cases > Handbags'

• 201 or 'Apparel & Accessories > Jewelry > Watches'

• 784 or 'Media > Books'

• 839 or 'Media > DVDs & Videos'

• 855 or 'Media > Music'

• 1279 or 'Software > Video Game Software'

Attribute: Google Product Category

Additional category information

PRODUCT CATEGORY

beverage with alcohol

499676 or 'Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Beverages > Alcoholic Beverages' or any of its subcategories3577 or 'Arts & Entertainment > Hobbies & Creative Arts > Homebrewing & Winemaking Supplies' or any of its subcategories

sets and bundles choose the category according to the main product

smartphones with subsidized price

267 or 'Electronics > Communications > Telephony > Mobile Phones'

tablets with subsidized price

4745 or 'Electronics > Computers > Tablet Computers'

gift cards 53 or 'Arts & Entertainment > Party & Celebration > Gift Giving > Gift Cards & Certificates'

Attribute: Google Product Category

TYPE SYNTAX

Character Limits: 2,000

Text Tab: http://www.example.com/asp/sp.asp?cat=12&id=1030

XML: <link>http://www.example.com/asp/sp.asp?cat=12&id=1030</link>

API JSON: 'link': ‘http://www.example.com/asp/sp.asp?cat=12&id=1030'

API XML: <link>http://www.example.com/asp/sp.asp?cat=12&id=1030</link>

URL: this must include the 'http://' or 'https://' portion

Attribute: Link

Describes the category of your item.

This attribute is the URL to the main image for your product, which users see first on product detail pages.

TYPE SYNTAX

Text Tab: http://www.example.com/image1.jpg

Character Limits: 2,000XML: <g:image_link>http://www.example.com/image1.jpg </g:image_link>

API JSON: 'imageLink': 'http://www.example.com/image1.jpg'

API XML: <image_link>http://www.example.com/image1.jpg</image_link>

URL: must start with 'http://' or 'https://'

Attribute: Image Link

GUIDELINES

Image Requirements

Format: GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP or TIFF

Image size: 100 x 100 pixels (250 x 250 pixels for apparel products)

File size: 64 megapixels and 4MB respectively

Image Content

Google recommends that the product itself should take 75% to 90% of the full image on a solid white, gray or light colored background. The image should show your product with the color, pattern and material that match the title and description. Otherwise your product might be declined.

Forbidden Image Content

You are not allowed to use placeholder and incorrect product images as well as ones that include borders or promotional elements. Also avoid overlays like watermarks and logos!

Attribute: Image Link

Attribute: Image Link

Example: Shortened View in Google Shopping.

Attribute: Image Link

Example: Detail View in Google Shopping.

TYPE SYNTAX

[new]: If you promote products that are brand-new and delivered in the original packing.

[used]: Use this condition value if you promote products that have already been used. This is the case if the packaging is not in the original state.

[refurbished]: You can use this type if your products are new, covered by a warranty and delivered in original or other packaging. If you promote refurbished products they have to comply with the Google Shopping regulations.

Text Tab: used

XML: <g:condition>used</g:condition>

API JSON: 'condition': 'used'

API XML: <condition>used</condition>

Attribute: Condition

This tribute defines the condition or state of the product.

TYPE SYNTAX

[preorder]: Use this type in case you want the user to be able to order products in advance. This type exists exclusively for products that are not released yet. To let the user know when the item is available for delivery use the attribute availability date.

[in stock]: Use this type for items that you can guarantee availability for and that can be delivered without delay.

[out of stock]: Use this type if you are not accepting orders temporarily as this might be the case if the item is currently not for sale.

Text Tab: in stock

XML: <g:availability>in stock</g:availability>

API JSON: 'availability': 'in stock’

API XML: <availability>in stock</availability>

Attribute: Availability

Describes the status of an item such as 'preorder', 'in stock' or 'out of stock'.

TYPE SYNTAX

Type: Number Text Tab: 15.00 USD

XML: <g:price>15.00 USD</g:price>

API JSON: 'price': { 'value': '15.00', 'currency': 'USD' }

API XML: <price currency="USD">15.00</price>

Attribute: Price

Defines the price of the product.

GUIDELINES

Requirements

• Must be fixed

• Has to match the product on the corresponding landing page

• The price has to include shipping and taxes (according to local tax receivables).

• If a minimum order value is required you have to highlight this information on your landing page

and in your title.

Sales and products for free

Need to be tagged with the attribute ‘sale price’ Offering products for free (price = '0') is prohibited on Google Shopping

Tax Include the tax in the price for all target countries except for the USA, Canada, India and Japan.

Currency and Delivery

The price must include currency information according to the ISO 4217 standard. If several currencies are used on the landing pages, the price has to be shown in the target country’s currency by default. It must be possible to deliver the product to every target country.

Bulk quantities Bulk quantities have to be tagged with the total price for the minimum quantity the user can buy.

Attribute: Price

COUNTRY SPECIFICATION

Tax: Set the price without taxes Payment Plan: When using payment by installments for tablets and smartphones use the regular attribute ‘price’. Afterwards expend the title attribute by the words ‘with payment plan’. valued by 'installment'.

Set the price without taxes

Set the price without taxes

When using payment by installments for tablets and smartphones use the attribute 'rate' valued by 'installment'. datafeeds in Japan have to include tax information

Attribute: Price

Country specifications.

Attribute: Price

Example: Shortened View in Google Shopping.

Attribute: Price

Example: Detail View in Google Shopping.

TYPE SYNTAX

Character Limits: 70Text Tab: Acme

XML: <g:brand>Acme</g:brand>

API JSON: 'brand': 'Acme'

API XML: <brand>Acme</brand>

Type: String

Attribute: Brand

Defines the price of the product.

Attribute: GTIN

This tribute is the global trade item number of your item.

• Used to submit global trade item

numbers

• Include UPC, EAN, JAN or ISBN

• Further information about the rules can

be found in the Unique Product

Identifier Rules

Important: You have to use this

attribute to submit global trade item

numbers. The 'gtin' attributes

include UPC, EAN, JAN and ISBN,

which are explained in guidelines

and country specifications. For more

information look at the Unique

Product Identifier Rules.

!

TYPE SYNTAX

Character Limits: 50 Text Tab: 3234567890126

XML: <g:gtin>3234567890126</g:gtin>

API JSON: 'gtin': ‘3234567890126'

API XML: <gtin>3234567890126</gtin>

Type: 8-, 12-, 13-, or 14-digit number

Attribute: GTIN

COUNTRY SPECIFICATION

The North American trade number is the 12-digit UPC. You must convert 8-digit UPC-E codes to their 12-digit version. The North American trade number is the 12-digit UPC. You must convert 8-digit UPC-E codes to their 12-digit version.

The European trade number is the 13-digit EAN.

The Japanese trade number is the 8 or 13-digit JAN.

Attribute: GTIN

Country specifications.

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