Google product search upcoming changes

[gene88]

Is this being addressed??

Hello,

Thank you for participating in Google Shopping. According to our records, you're currently using the Google Base Data API to submit your product listings to Google Product Search. On December 17, 2010, we announced the retirement of the Google Base Data API and transition to the new Google Content API for Shopping (http://googlemerchantblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-shopping-apis-and-deprecation-of.html).

Starting from June 1st, 2011, it will no longer be possible to submit content using the Google Base Data API. In order for you items to continue appearing in Google Product Search results without interruption, we encourage you to start transitioning to the new Content API as soon as possible.

The following resources will guide you through the transition:

Content API documentation: http://code.google.com/apis/shopping/content/
Google Base Data API Deprecation FAQ: http://code.google.com/apis/base/faq_depr.html
Migrating to the Content APIs for Shopping: https://code.google.com/apis/shopping/content/migration-overview.html
Google Content API for Shopping developers forum: https://groups.google.com/group/google-content-api-for-shopping

Sincerely,

The Google Merchant Center Team

[ShopSite Nicole]

We are aware of the upcoming changes Google is planning to make and we are looking in to it. Please note: there is still the FTP option which can be used with Google Product Search.

-ShopSite Nicole

[CarolA]

Nicole - I've only used Merchandising -> Google Services -> Product Search -> Send Feed, to send my products to Google Shopping. If you're saying this will no longer work starting June 1 and we need to use the "FTP option", I have no idea what that is. Can you provide more information? We get quite a bit of traffic from our google products. Thanks.

[ShopSite Nicole]

The URL below will take you to our help documentation where you can read more about how to use the FTP method:
http://www.shopsite.com/help/current/en-US/sc/pro/froogle.configure.html

-ShopSite Nicole

[CarolA]

Thanks Nicole. I appreciate the help, but I'm following the directions in your help page, and the options in the google merchant center are just not the same as what's described in your help. There is no link to "register a new bulk upload file". I did try "new data feed", and there is an "item type" drop-down, but products is not an option. It has "events and activities, jobs, vehicles, or custom type". Thanks.

[gene88]

Another note from Google today,

Hello,

Thank you for participating in Google Product Search. We are reaching out to you to inform you about important changes we’re making to our Product Search attribute requirements for unique identifiers and tax and shipping information.

Starting May 3rd, 2011, we’ll require your product listings to include at least two of the three unique identifiers (Brand, MPN, GTIN). In order to provide as much information as possible to our users, we need your help in matching your products to our "product pages", where users are able to view useful data such as product specifications or reviews. While these attributes will not be required for your data feed to process correctly, they may prevent your items from appearing in Product Search results if not included. For more details, including what specific identifiers you should include for each category of item, please see our Help Center at http://www.google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=160161

Starting June 6th, 2011, we’ll also require your product listings to include tax and shipping information to provide buyers with important price information. This information will be required at either the account or item level (in the “tax” or “shipping” attribute) in order for your items to process and appear in Google Product Search results. For instructions on how to include tax and shipping information, please visit http://www.google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=160162

Please update your account settings or data feeds as soon as possible to ensure that you are complying with these new requirements by the dates specified above. For more information about these changes, please visit our Google Merchant blog at http://googlemerchantblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/changes-for-google-product-search.html

Sincerely,

The Google Product Search Team