Finally figured out Google Merchant

[vkmcewen]

After many derivations, I found the attributes needed to best use Google Merchant.

My goals:
1. Be listed within the 'Compare Prices' grouping if possible, to increase exposure. The tricky part: I couldn't have too many attributes or Google would list my item separately.
2. For items not common enough to be in the above group, I wanted to have our item listed with our images, which are better than the stock photos most people use (hopefully increasing our click-throughs).

Necessary items (Field & Alias listed if applicable):
1. (url_link) link

2. (name) title

3. (extended_description) description

4. (image_link) image_link : This is the main image, NOT the thumbnail.

5. id : This is the ID/SKU. The appearance of this number varies on Google, so I made sure mine matched what they had. For example, some had just the number, others had a manufacturer name abbreviation prefix before the numbers.

6. price

7. (manufacturer) brand : I searched on Google to make sure the wording I used is the same as theirs.

8. (constant) condition

9. (expiration-date) expiration_date :I sometimes have to alter this by a day or so, as it occasionally is set too far in the future.

10. (mfgid) gtin : This is the MFG ID, I customized the name of this one, as I thought it was confusing. Also, I searched to make sure the numbers I was using was the same as the ones on Google.

Any changes I made usually too 1-2 days to show up.

I am going to start figuring out how to add shipping & tax info for the new requirements.

Hope this helps someone out there--Google was tricky for me!
:)

[kem]

I am going to start figuring out how to add shipping & tax info for the new requirements.

Hope this helps someone out there--Google was tricky for me!
:)

Thanks! To add shipping, tax, enter it in the Merchant Center, under Settings

[soly1210]

where do you put the characteristics

where do you put the characteristics of the products so that they match up with what is on google search?

[kem]

Are you asking about where to put the "attributes" such as "home and garden > outdoor"?

[vkmcewen]

I want to make sure I understand your question. Are you asking how to upload your feed to Google Merchant?

Do you already have a Google Merchant account?

[gabearroyo918]

Sample of what it should look like?

Can you copy and paste what the feed should look like. I having trouble uploading the feed to google.

[kem]

Can you copy and paste what the feed should look like. I having trouble uploading the feed to google.

The copy/paste may not display properly here. If you'd like my copy, just send me a pm.

[vkmcewen]

It's a tab delimited txt file. I open it in excel and make any changes needed.

My actual feed file (with one product) is attached.

[vkmcewen]

My Google settings

Here's a screenshot of my settings also. Hope this helps! :)

[kem]

It's a tab delimited txt file. I open it in excel and make any changes needed.

My actual feed file (with one product) is attached.

If you use a Mac, one more step is needed. I use textwrangler. Copy & paste from excel into TextWrangler and save as ANSI-8, windows (CRLF).

I wanted to have product attributes per google list. So, I used an Extra Field with each product to make it a "Product Type". Changed "category separated" to ">" so that the product type was separated by >.

[gabearroyo918]

Thank!!!! THAT REALLY WORKED!

you guys rock!!!

[gigahertz6]

Here's a screenshot of my settings also. Hope this helps! :)

hi vkmcewen,

thanks for the screenshot! I have a couple of questions if you would be so kind as to answer.

1) what is "extra_field_4" used for?
2) I didn't see "expiration_date" in the dropdown list. Is this a custom field you've added?

thanks,

Bryon

[vkmcewen]

My attachment "googlefeed.jpeg" should have a category for expiration date, and I chose that from one of the options in 3dCart. I don't have an extra field. I think you were looking at kem's file, and they used that for Product Type. :)

[vkmcewen]

I just double-checked and on the customize page, in the 'Add New Field' drop-down menu, there should be an 'expiration-date' option.

[gigahertz6]

I just double-checked and on the customize page, in the 'Add New Field' drop-down menu, there should be an 'expiration-date' option.

Thank you so much for the QUICK response vkm! I have gone through that dropdown menu for "add new field" and I swear it's not listed. Any thoughts?