How to Create a Google Shopping Feed to Boost Your E-Commerce Sales?

Google Shopping is a powerful platform that helps e-commerce businesses showcase their products directly on Google’s search results. An optimized Google Shopping feed makes it easier for new clients to find your products through relevant searches. Sales and traffic are both increased by it. 

This Google Shopping product feed includes all the essential details, including images, titles, prices, and availability, which makes it easier for customers to find what they need. It is important to set up an accurate and well-structured feed to ensure better performance of the product, whether you are using Google Shopping Feed, Shopify, or any other such platform.

In this article, we will discuss the importance of Google Shopping data feeds, how to create one, and tips for optimization to maximize sales.

What is Google Shopping Feed?

A feed is a data source that is a spreadsheet file. The Google Shopping feed is a structured data file that contains important information about your product. The key attributes are image, title, prices, availability, description, and a few more. Google displays relevant products to users when they search on Google Shopping. This feed for Google Shopping boosts visibility and helps retailers display their products at the very top of the search results. 

Benefits of Google Shopping Feed

• It displays your products in Google Shopping results.
• Well-optimized product listings attract more clicks from potential buyers.
• Google matches your products with relevant user searches and improves discoverability.
• The feed automatically displays products based on search queries, unlike traditional Google Ads.
• High-quality images and structured product data help shoppers make informed decisions.
• Your products appear across all devices. This gives an easy shopping experience.
• Real-time synchronization gives accurate pricing and stock availability.
• Google Shopping feed, Shopify integration, and other platforms help to maximize returns on ad spend.
• Structured data and relevant product details enhance visibility in Google’s organic search.
• Enables competitive pricing strategies and seasonal offers to attract buyers.

Steps to create a Google Shopping Feed

To create a Google Shopping Data Feed, follow the following steps:

Create a Google Merchant Account 

Before creating a Google Shopping Feed, you need a Google Merchant Centre account. 

To create this account, go to Google Merchant Center and sign in with your Google account. Enter your information, which includes name, country, and website URL. You have to agree to Google’s terms and conditions. 

Pull Data from Your Website

You can create a new feed or upload a product from your website. You have to specify a country of sale and the language in which the information about your product is written. Name your primary feed, choose how you’d like to input data, and select locations on Google where you wish to display your product. ‘Free listings’ will appear as an option.  

These options are when you have to upload your product to Google’s Merchant Center.

Google Merchant Center supports various feed formats:

• Google Sheets – recommended for small businesses
• XML or TXT File – Used for larger product catalogs.
• E-commerce Platform Integration – Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, etc.

Upload Product 

Go to the ‘Products’ tab by clicking + sign. Upload all the necessary information. Your Google Shopping Feed must contain the following attributes:

• ID: which is a unique product identifier (SKU, UPC)
• Title: product name (must use relevant keywords)
• Description: detailed product information
• Link:  Product URL (must match landing page)
• Image Link: URL of the high-quality product image
• Price: Product price in the correct currency
• Availability: “In stock”, “Out of stock”, or “Pre-order”

Link a Google Sheets doc with a Google Merchant Centre Account

You can upload an entire feed that contains all the required information. There will be more streamlined management of product feed than sharing individual products. Keep a Google Sheets document with all the product information. 

• Create a new feed by clicking on the ‘feeds’ tab. 
• Click on ‘Google Sheets’
• Go to the option ‘Generate Template’
• A template in sheets will be generated on which you can insert production information. 
• Give Google access to this
• You can manually fetch the feed or schedule it
• You can also upload your Google Shopping Feed using the content API

Content API upload automatically pushes all the updated information to Google in real time. You do not have to make hassle to upload it manually or schedule the fetch. 

Optimize Your Google Shopping Feed for Maximum Sales

A well-optimized Google Shopping feed is important for e-commerce success. It helps you to showcase your products to appear in relevant searches, drive traffic, and increase conversions. Google relies on structured data to match user searches with relevant products. If your Google Shopping Data Feeds contain accurate, keyword-rich, and high-quality data, your products are more likely to appear in front of the right audience. Here are a few tips by which you can optimize your Google shopping feed:

1. Optimize Product Titles 

Your product title is the most important element of your Google Shopping feed Shopify, or any other e-commerce platform. Google uses it to match search queries with relevant products.

• Use relevant keywords naturally within the title.
• Follow this format: Brand + Product Type + Key Features (Size, Color, Material, Model, etc.).
• Follow Google Rule 
• Make every character count
• You can also automate using Google Product Title optimization
• Keep titles concise and descriptive (it is recommended that a maximum of 150 characters).
• For Example: Nike Air Max 90 Sneakers – Black, Size 10.
• Do not write the title in ALL CAPS

2. Write optimized Product Descriptions

A strong product description helps shoppers understand your product. It also improves search rankings in Google Shopping apps and ads.

• Must Include relevant keywords naturally.
• Highlight key benefits, materials, and unique features.

Do not use promotional text like ‘best offer’ or ‘buy now’ in your product descriptions. It should be informative yet concise. You should follow the recommended character which is 150-500. 

3. Use High-Quality Product Images

Product image is the first thing that the shopper sees. Google prioritizes listings with high-resolution images in the Google Shopping product feed.

• Use a clean and white background for clarity.
• Keep the pixels of the image 1000×1000.
• Do not use watermarks, logos, and promotional text.
• Show multiple angles as it enhances the product’s appeal.

4. Write Accurate Product Data and Pricing

Your feed for Google Shopping must always reflect accurate pricing and stock availability. Google penalizes mismatched information, which can lead to disapprovals.

• Regularly update prices and stock levels.
• Match the product price in the feed with your website.
• Use automated feed management tools for real-time updates.

Competitive pricing plays an important role in any e-commerce branding. Dynamic solutions are available to assist in keeping up with the pricing changes in the retail industry. 

5. Choose the Correct Google Product Category

Choose the right Google Product Category as it improves search relevance.

• You can use Google’s official product taxonomy for accurate classification.
• Be as specific as possible (e.g., “Men’s Running Shoes” instead of “Shoes”).
• Update categories regularly for seasonal products.

6. Custom Labels for Campaign Optimization

Google Shopping apps allow you to create custom labels to segment products. 

Paying the same Cost per Acquisition (CPA) for all products can hurt profits. If you know your profit margins, you can create custom labels to adjust bids based on profitability.

To set it up:

1. Merge your main feed with margin data. If margin data isn’t available, use item_cost to estimate it.
2. Create margin-based labels (e.g., low, medium, high).
3. Use custom labels to adjust bids for different product groups.

This method helps you spend efficiently and maximize returns.

7. Use GTIN

The Global Trade Item Number or GTIN is an important part of the optimization process. Manufacturers provide valid GTINs. These are not the required attributes, but they play an important role in optimization.

• You’ll see an increase in your impression
• It keeps counterfeit items out of the market.
• GTIN gives you a placement within searches like ‘Best’ and ‘Top’

Google extracts your ad from the supplier’s catalog using the GTIN, then puts it up for auction against other resellers of the same product. The advertising will take preference over feed optimizations and default to the supplier’s catalog attributes.

8. Use Regular Expressions with Data Feeds

Regular Expressions (RegEx) may seem complex, but they are easy to learn. RegEx is a pattern of characters used for searching and replacing text. It helps in data feed optimization by matching multiple characters with a single command. This saves time and improves accuracy. You can use RegEx to:

• Remove duplicate words in product titles.
• Fix multiple size variations at once.
• Delete extra spaces between words.

RegEx makes managing Google Shopping feeds faster and more efficient.

9. Sales with Merchant Promotions

Sales and promotions encourage shoppers to buy and improve click-through rates (CTR). Google studies show that promotions can increase conversion rates by 28%. For instance, if you’re offering 25% off t-shirts for spring break use the promo code SAVE25. Here’s how to apply it to your shopping ads:

1. Create a promotion_id in your Google Shopping feed and assign it to the discounted products.
2. Go to your Google Merchant Center and navigate to the Promotions tab.
3. Create your promotion, specifying:
   • Start and end dates
   • Eligible products
   • Use of a promo code

If you don’t see the Promotions tab, fill out the Merchant Promotions form first. Promotions can run for 3-4 months without updates which makes them ideal for long-term offers like free shipping or seasonal discounts.

Final Thoughts

A well-optimized Google Shopping feed is key to increasing sales and visibility. It helps your products appear in relevant searches and attract potential customers. Your Google Shopping product feed must be accurate and up to date. Use high-quality images, clear product titles, and detailed descriptions. 

Keep pricing and stock levels consistent with your website to avoid disapprovals. If you use Google Shopping Feed Shopify or other platforms, integrate automation tools for real-time updates. A strong feed for Google Shopping increases CTR, conversions, and sales.