google shopping data feed updates

[InvincibleRecordings]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

Hoping not to hijack your thread but I have a question relating to this discussion. Much of what you say goes over my head, but of course I am concerned about not getting listed given the problems mentioned. In our 5.5 site we only have 1 standard image per product and always have units on hand in our inventory. We uses Bill's Template Data Feed to create the file for google. On July 15th we received this message from google:

463 of 471 items inserted
Uploaded at: July 15, 2011 12:04:00 AM PDT
Processed at: July 15, 2011 12:22:12 AM PDT
For more details on the status of your data feed, go to http://www.google.com/merchants/show...ry?fid=2151726

Does this mean we have nothing to worry about or is this just giving me false hope?

[Datagg]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

Regarding products with no required attributes or that are custom/hand made. Here is an exemption form
... http://www.google.com/support/mercha...e_id_exemption

That is what I filled our for both my companies a couple of months ago and we were told via returned letter that we have been accepted for exemption. I hope this still stands true for today's requirements... I will pray it is, as it is impossible to come up with the requirements they are demanding.

[jsisk]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

Hoping not to hijack your thread but I have a question relating to this discussion. Much of what you say goes over my head, but of course I am concerned about not getting listed given the problems mentioned. In our 5.5 site we only have 1 standard image per product and always have units on hand in our inventory. We uses Bill's Template Data Feed to create the file for google. On July 15th we received this message from google:

Does this mean we have nothing to worry about or is this just giving me false hope?

Flip one of your CD's over and look on the back. If there is a UPC, that is what Google is looking for as a Unique Product Identifier. If there isn't, apply for an exemption with Google.

Two observations so far.

First: Google has not removed items without these indentifiers as they said they would. (unless they changed the deadline) With unique items like yours, there is a good chance they will continue to display them in the shopping results because it looks like you are the only seller submitting a feed. (showing no results for a search term is the kiss of death for a search engine and Google knows that) Our products were on there long before we started submitting datafeeds. Their spider put them there.

Second: (I see you are selling on Amazon) Amazon will always outrank you in the search results and they seem to be exempt from supplying UPI's or Google is just using the number they assign to your listing. After six months of selling on Amazon, our product links to our website (both in the web results and Google shopping) are now way below our products links to Amazon. Big problem. Web sales keep dropping, Amazon sales keep climbing, total sales are lower. So now we sell less and pay Amazon commission on a large percentage of sales.

Back to your question...

A couple of your listings got kicked out. Go into your Google account and see why. My guess is that a couple of your titles are too long. Just shorten the ones listed in the error report in the Google merchant center and your next feed should be fine.

[wcw]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

The deadline for the changes referenced in this thread is Sept 22. They were just announced a week ago so something you applied for 2 months ago may not relate to these latest changes. Then again, they might. You should probably check with Google before this happens, "Starting September 22, accounts that do not comply with the new requirements will be suspended."

[Mark Hood]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

I'm really thinking solving price problems is going to be difficult when auto generating variants. It would be really nice if when auto generate happened it would copy cost and price. I'm not sure how it can be handled when people are using custom fields for this.

[Datagg]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

The deadline for the changes referenced in this thread is Sept 22. They were just announced a week ago so something you applied for 2 months ago may not relate to these latest changes. Then again, they might. You should probably check with Google before this happens, "Starting September 22, accounts that do not comply with the new requirements will be suspended."

Thanks Bill... I just wrote the big "G" back on those exemption letters they approved me for awhile back to confirm or deny they are still in effect. They got back to me within a few days the first time around, I hope they will again as there is a ticket case for them and that is where they went. I will keep all informed on what happens.

[Datagg]

Re: Facebook Like Button - Non Short Link

Got replies back from Support. They confirmed Both my sites are Exempted from the "Unique Product Identifier Requirement" as they stated a couple of month ago. However, they further state:

In light of the recent changes announced to the feed specifications, we have made image_link a required attribute. Please know that moving forward your items need to have an image_link attribute to process. Additionally, we encourage you to submit up to 10 additional product images through ‘additional_image_link’ attribute. This will also improve the visual representation of your products. Please note that having 10 images is only a recommendation, however, you should have at least one image for every item.

So what seemed like a must have of 10 images earlier now is "up to 10" according to the above... 1 is a requirement, more is an option. So it would appear we are good to go.

Please note, this is based on my stores particular circumstances, as such the possibility is there your situation may vary.

[1873Peacemaker]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

We too had received an exemption from Google as recent as June 9. After inquiring with Google support as Dan had done we received the following:

Thank you for your email.

Please know that the exemption is for the Unique ID requirement. As you're aware we have made a number of changes to the Google Product Search Feed Specification and Policies to support this effort.

Please visit our Help Center at
http://www.google.com/support/mercha...&answer=188494
for more information on the new feed specification changes. 

Please make sure you have updated your data feeds per the new specifications before September 22, 2011, to prevent account disapprovals.

I have a headache.

[wcw]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

Are they saying you do not have to have a different ID (and picture) for each different color? This is like giving out exemptions for the Obamacare requirements.

[Datagg]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

Are they saying you do not have to have a different ID (and picture) for each different color? This is like giving out exemptions for the Obamacare requirements.

Yeap, not required..Suggested, yet not a must have situation.

[jsisk]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

Here is an example of what the large corporations spend with Google in a 30 day period:

List of Top Adwords Spenders
Progressive.com $450,000
Expedia.com $424,000
Target.com $399,000
GEICO.com $360,000
Shopping.AOL.com $325,000

Google shopping is/used to be an opportunity for small business to get some free traffic. Now the requirements are pushing out the small business in favor of Google's biggest customers.

Make the requirements for your "Free" shopping portal so data intensive that only your best paying customers with million dollar IT budgets can afford to get the "FREE" advertising.

I love the last one: Shopping.AOL.com - so AOL buy $300k in traffic from Google to send them to an AOL branded comparison shopping site run by Shopzilla, Nextag, or PriceGrabber (AOL website states that the shopping is third party) and earns enough commision to pay the $300k bill from Google. No wonder CPC clicks are so grossly overpriced.

If it's a different color, it must be a different item. Change the name a little and create more search engine food.

[wcw]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

The Template Data Feed update for the new Google requirements is coming along nicely. I think I have addressed all of the issues. Here is a sample feed emporiumplus.com/testgoogle.txt

The header row shows you the data that is being included. You'll notice several of the new requirements.

The biggest impact is the requirement for multiple unique IDs for each variant if the products are apparel. Some have received exemptions for this. From their instructions "Required for all apparel items in the 'Apparel & Accessories' product category in feeds that target the US. Recommended for other countries and product categories (might become required in the future)." They use "color" as an example variant. The product called "bogus" which can be seen at http://www.emporiumplus.com/BOGUS.html has multiple variants. If you look at the test feed you will see how BOGUS displays the data. You get the same description, item group id, and url link for each. But the image, weight, code, price and availability status changes based on the variant data.

Another feature is the ability to have 2-10 additional images. Scroll down to Power Search and you will see the additional image list near the end of the line. See https://www.emporiumplus.com/1AA00058.html for how those images display using the attribute machine.

If you can think of anything else, let me know before I finalize this update.

[wcw]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

Template Data Feed v5.0650 has been released. This update incorporates the upcoming Sept Google requirements; e.g. variant unique ids, prices, weights, multiple images, availability. If you have attribute inventory variants, the TDF will export each variant to a separate line in the data feed. You can have a unique image for each variant. You can also export multiple images for regular products which have multiple views. The updated usage doc lists the tokens and also has an example of the template in the FAQ at http://www.emporiumplus.com/v5/exprodf.htm

I've released this well in advance of the new Google Sept 2011 requirements due to their threat to remove your feed if you don't comply. Some of the new requirements are going to take some stores many hours to get up to speed. I would not wait until the last minute before you update and get your data in order. As hurricane season is upon us (we are currently within Emily's cone of uncertainty) it might be a good idea not to delay updating as extended power failure could affect our access and support system.

If you don't have Template Data Feed (TDF), you can get it at http://www.emporiumplus.com/1AA00220.html If you have an older version of TDF and want to update to the newest version, you can do that at http://www.emporiumplus.com/1AA00220U.html If it has been less than 60 days since you got the TDF, you can get a free update by emailing me with your order number and domain it was ordered for.

[1873Peacemaker]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

Bill, I am sure all of us are saying thanks right now knowing we couldn't do this without your hard work and brilliance.

[wcw]

Re: google shopping data feed updates

Thanks. This was the biggest single event update I've ever done on one module. And it was not even because of a Miva Merchant API changes; it was for Google changes. When you intertwine code between a module, core Merchant and some other 3rd party dependency, things can get out of hand. I bet you can't guess why I never did a USPS or UPS module. :-(