Google have announced several updates to their Google Taxonomy which will directly affect Google Shopping. These updates will come into force on 15th September 2015.
Google Product Taxonomy Update
For those of you not familiar with the Google Taxonomy, it is a tree of categories which define where a product belongs and is used in the google_product_category field within the Google shopping feed. You can view the taxonomy here
In almost all areas the taxonomy has been reworked.
- It will no longer have subcategories for Coats & Jackets, Shirts & Tops, Trousers, Shorts, Swimwear, Handbags, Shoes, Medicine & Drugs, Video Game Console Accessories and Books.
- Most of the categories under Activewear will now be included with their non-active counterparts, for example, Active Skirts will now be found under Skirts.
- There are more subcategories for Food, Beverages & Tobacco and Mature.
- There are revised paths for Arts & Crafts, Décor, Hardware, Sporting Goods and Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories
Many new category strings have also been added. One good example of this is our client Castors Online. We maintain and manage Google Shopping for them and while previously there was no option for the product ‘castors,’ the client now has a feed with no missing fields:
Hardware > Hardware Accessories > Castors
“I would like to pass on our thanks for the help and advice you have provided with the changes with Google shopping feed. It has been a huge advantage having the feed maintained by yourselves. The assistance we received regarding the display of VAT on the site and also on the shopping feed which has now been implemented with your help has seen a real increase in sales and ROI. We are also delighted that you have been able to amend the taxonomy setting now Google have added the setting for our product. Good Job Well Done!”
Russ Jones, Managing Director, P & L Industrial Equipment Ltd
What do you need to do?
These changes can be made at any time but will not be enforced until 15th September. Google Support have advised, “After the deadline, non-compliant items in your product data might be disapproved and removed from Google Shopping.” So don’t leave this to chance – make sure you are on top of this.
Starting today Digital Marketing clients with teclan will have these changes rolled out over the next two months as matter of course. Google Shopping is one channel out of a vast array of channels we manage for our clients on a daily basis. Contact us today 01463 898 043 on how we can grow your business!
We care about your business. Our success is entirely based on your success.