We started publishing these reports to our clients from the beginning of September 2015, as a result of the revised Google Shopping requirements for products and categories.
Based on feedback, this post will summarise answers to common questions, how we deal with the resulting data quality problems and what clients should do to fix any issues arising. This page will be updated regularly.
1. Designated Brand Errors
Products within Designated Brands must have a valid GTIN which in the UK represents the product barcode (EAN) or UPC in the USA. Products lacking EANs will be automatically disapproved by Google, so Feed Manager will report these product IDs as errors and these products will not be uploaded to any channel.
Client action: Apply valid barcodes to affected products, either within your system, or alternatively send us the information by SKU and we will apply the values to the products within our Optimizer module.
2. Invalid GTINs
Products with invalid EAN values are processed by our platform, but those EAN values are not used in the Google submission.
Client action: Remove all identified bad values from your product database. Apply valid barcodes to affected products, either within your system, or alternatively send us the information by SKU and we will apply the values to the products within our Optimizer module.
3. Products Lacking GTINs
Products which are in a category requiring GTIN. At present these are limited to products within Media (eg Books and DVDs) and Software. The former have their own code systems (ISBN and MUZE values), but these are treated as GTINs by Google in the same way as EANs. As with 1 above, these products must have a valid GTIN. Any without will be automatically disapproved by Google, so Feed Manager will report these product IDs as errors and these products will not be uploaded to any channel.
Client action: Apply valid GTIN values to affected products, either within your system, or alternatively send us the information by SKU and we will apply the values to the products within our Optimizer module.
4. Products Lacking Mandatory Values
Products lacking sku, image link, price or landing page URLs. These products lack mandatory minimum values, so Feed Manager will report these product IDs as errors and these products will not be uploaded to any channel.
Client action: Apply valid values within your system, or alternatively remove the products from the source file we process
5. “Missing Image” Locations
The Image URL points to your Missing Image location. This is where we know your feed includes products with an image link which in real terms signifies that relevant products only have a placeholder or default image. Feed Manager will report these product IDs as errors and these products will not be uploaded to any channel.
Client action: Apply valid values within your system, or alternatively remove the products from the source file we process
6. Categories Requiring Additional Attributes
Google requires a value for all fields – Colour, Size, Gender and Age – for products in this Category. These are all mandatory values for Clothing and Accessories products. Feed Manager will report these product IDs as errors and these products will not be uploaded to any channel.
Client action: Apply valid values within your system, or talk to us about optimization options around the source data.
