Google Test Feed

[VinceS]

Google Merchant Center now has a "Test Data Feed" option that will edit your data feed for errors prior to submitting them for inclusion. SS does not appear to have this option available yet. Highly recommend adding this to a release BTW.

How might I take advantage of this manually?

[Jim]

If you are using the latest version of ShopSite there should be no need to test your Google feed, since we have tested that the implementation submits a proper feed. As long as you have configured your products to have the proper data for the feed there should not be any issues. (Assuming Google doesn't make changes to their specifications). There may be some use for testing a Google feed if you are using an old version of ShopSite and you have tweaked your fields to match Googles latest requirements. However, if you keep your version of ShopSite current there shouldn't be issues.

[VinceS]

Well Jim I beg to differ.
There is a huge reason to test the feed first. Yes SS may configure the feed properly for Google's required data but SS doesn't do things like check for incorrect, missing or duplicate UPC codes, or broken image links, or embedded promotional verbiage (yes if you say "FREE SHIPPING" in the More Information Text, that is a violation). And these are just a few of the "Critical Errors" that can get you suspended.

To give you an example: I sent a feed with UPC codes given to me by the manufacturer. Turns out they were incorrect - leading zeroes had been truncated somewhere in the mix. Google caught this. SS would not have.

That's what Googles Test Feed does, it identifies any error that may cause the feed to be disapproved BEFORE you send it for approval. You can do this as many times as you like without any ramifications or consequences. With the way Google is police-ing the merchant accounts, the threat of suspension is very real. I caution everyone to be very careful what they send in a feed.

My Google Merchant Account is still suspended. I sent an "empty" feed of just ten products (down from 20,000+) hoping to get back in good graces with the almighty Google Gods. Have no clue if or when I might get off their - list.

[VinceS]

HI Jim
I never heard back from you. I'd still like to be able to send my feed up manually and let Google Test Feed pre-edit my data without the
ugly consequences.

[Jim]

When you attempt to send a feed to Google ShopSite saves the feed file on the server where your store located. If you change the settings you have for your Google FTP or API account so that it is invalid, the feed will fail when the attempt is made to send it to Google but the file will still be created. You can get a copy of the feed that ShopSite generated by going to Merchandising > Google Services > Product Search and click on the date link following Feed Last Submitted:. Save a copy of that page and then you can then manually send the feed to the Google Test Feed. When you are ready to send your actual feed change the account settings for the FTP or API back to your valid info.

[VinceS]

Excellent! Thank you

[whitehorse]

I just did a test run like you said, and since I'm not totally configured for google search, the feed was not sent, like you said, and like you said, I am able to view the feed ss was ready to send. Thanks, now,
The feed doen't show a upc or other mfg code. Do I need to have "show upc" enabled for the product for it to be included in the feed, or will it not show because I have version 10?
Should I create additional attributes for the product to include all the fields google wants in the feed?

[robm]

If you don't have the latest version of ShopSite, v11 SP1, you can use extra product fields for additional attributes, and then just name the extra product field to match the name Google requires, like UPC or MPN.

Rob

[whitehorse]

Ok, Thanks, seems like I need to create;
tax amount, availability, MPN, and shipping charges..

[whitehorse]

If you don't have the latest version of ShopSite, v11 SP1, you can use extra product fields for additional attributes, and then just name the extra product field to match the name Google requires, like UPC or MPN.

Rob

but still, if I "show upc" in product menu, will that make it show in the product feed, or do I need to create a additional attribure for that?

[whitehorse]

Sorry, I've saying upc, i'm actually wondering about the sku. (I'm assuming the sku will suffice as 1 of the 2 choices we have to include for (upc,mpn,other amnufacturer part number)

[robm]

We have a blog post about how to format an extra product field for UPC/MPN/GTIN and submit it to Google:

http://www.lexiconn.com/blog/2010/08/new-google-product-search-requirements/

Hope that helps to clarify how to do this with an older version of ShopSite.

Rob

[whitehorse]

I did the test run as mentioned above, not having my google product feed account accurately configured (Nice trick, by the way)...
I added a extra field -MPN = to my product info, and published it, but it doesn't show up in the product feed shop site created (see below)

<?xml version='1.0'?>
<feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:g="http://base.google.com/ns/1.0"
xmlns:batch="http://schemas.google.com/gdata/batch">
<title type="text">http://www.uniquelyhorse.com/store/index.html Batch Feed</title>
<category scheme="http://base.google.com/categories/itemtypes" term="products"/>
<entry>
<g:id>PID#1</g:id>
<g:expiration_date>2012-03-26</g:expiration_date>
<title><![CDATA[459-1]]></title>
<g:price>19.95</g:price>
<g:image_link>http://www.uniquelyhorse.com/store/media/Supplements/Calming/ss_size3/SmallMareMagic.jpg</g:image_link>
<link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.uniquelyhorse.com/store/page2.html#1'/>
<g:product_type><![CDATA[Horse Calming Supplement]]></g:product_type>
<g:payment_accepted>Visa</g:payment_accepted>
<g:payment_accepted>MasterCard</g:payment_accepted>
<g:payment_accepted>Discover</g:payment_accepted>
<g:payment_accepted>AmericanExpress</g:payment_accepted>
<g:payment_notes>
PayPal
</g:payment_notes>
<g:condition>New</g:condition>
<g:brand><![CDATA[Mare Magic]]></g:brand>
<summary><![CDATA[]]></summary>
<g:currency>USD</g:currency>
</entry>

</feed>

Unless...what is the <summary><![CDATA[]]></summary> ...all about? - does that include all the extra fields we created?

Brian

[robm]

Brian,

Did you enable it to be passed to Google under:
Merchandising -> Google -> Product Search -> Configure -> "checkbox checked for extra product field"
?

The "summary" field is usually the description of the product, which should not be blank.

Rob

[whitehorse]

No, I hadn't. That fixed it, THANKS