Googlebase changes today?

[deniser]

Isn't today the day when Googlebase changes so that products without product attributes no longer show in the shopping results?

I have one website with a particular type of clothing product. I applied for an exemption a few months ago and they wrote back saying they needed more examples of the product categories they were in.

I tried to reply but being a no reply email address it bounced back.

I then resubmitted my application for exemption a few weeks ago and have heard nothing at all (other sites' exemptions have arrived in the meantime). I then reapplied about a week ago and have still heard nothing.

This morning I was interested to know what was happening to the shopping results (as we are fairly dependent on them for this new site) and there are no shopping results showing at all.

Anyone know what is happening or has noticed anything strange with Googlebase results?

 

[aquarium plant food UK]

So far so good for us, no changes that I can see, but still early days. We are the same, in that we need the traffic coming in from Google Shopping. I will be keeping a close eye on it now, I had forgotten about it (been worrying about it for weeks) until I read your post

 

[Dollybean]

We were granted an exemption a few months ago when Google did their last batch of tinkering - checked shopping today for a few of our key words and we're still there. Our daily feed is about to be processed, so will check again in the a.m and see if there's any change.

 

[freshpurple]

Ah, thanks for the reminder - I thought our feed should be OK, but it's good to check!

As an aside, does anyone have any tips/tricks that they're willing to share about getting products ranking in Google Shopping - ours do appear eventually, but not much joy in getting to the higher positions....

 

[UKSBD]

Ah, thanks for the reminder - I thought our feed should be OK, but it's good to check!

As an aside, does anyone have any tips/tricks that they're willing to share about getting products ranking in Google Shopping - ours do appear eventually, but not much joy in getting to the higher positions....

Get someone you know who is also using merchant centre to add some of your products to their website using the exact same Brand and MPN

When Google picks this up your products will go in the Compare feature that appear to outrank individual listings

 

[lesliedocherty]

One of the changes was you cant advertise items that are out of stock, some of my competition still do it, is there any way to report them as google have said they will take down the feed of people doing it

 

[Raw Rob]

One of the changes was you cant advertise items that are out of stock, some of my competition still do it, is there any way to report them as google have said they will take down the feed of people doing it

Do you have a link to that info? This is what I have found:

"Availability: We’d like a user to be able to find your products even when they are out of stock. For this reason, the [availability] status of all your items will be required."

http://googlemerchantblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/important-changes-to-google-product.html

Rob

 

[UKSBD]

A table of what is required or recommended is here,
http://www.google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=1344057

 

[webstore]

Isn't today the day when Googlebase changes so that products without product attributes no longer show in the shopping results?

Correct - but its not just about product attributes - its about identifiers and a whole lot more !

We manage a large number Google Product Search accounts via Google Merchant Center on behalf of our clients and we are starting to get emails from Google headed Your items are at risk of being suspended from Google Product Search saying our clients have 7-days to comply with the new requirements after which their products may no longer appear in Google Product Search.

Fortunately, for our clients we have written the code to reflect the required changes.

For more details on new Google requirements see below:-

Summary of Attribute Requirements =
google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=1344057

Products Feed Specification =
google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=188494

Unique Product Identifiers =
google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=160161

Submitting Clothing Products =
google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=1347943

The Google Product Category Attribute =
google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=160081

 

[Bill1954]

I'm a wee bit concerned that the "shopping" link no longer appears on the google homepage next to the maps, images, etc links. Instead it is hidden behind one of Googles nasty "more" links. They are doing this as well inside the "compare prices" links where they will say there are maybe 12 stores but they will list six and the rest are behind a "see all stores" link.
Not good Google, if you want your trained dogs to jump through hoops you need to give them some reward.

 

[UKSBD]

Google Shopping has a whole new look coming to it soon using the image search technology from Like.

I wouldn't be surprised if it gets a whole new standalone section or guides people towards a boutiques.com style site.

 

[lesliedocherty]

How quickly do google get back to you regarding applying for exemptions when theres no EAN number

 

[wight services]

Took them about 3 days when I applied a couple of weeks back.

 

[aquarium plant food UK]

Yeah not long, both my exemptions were within 48 hours.

 

[lesliedocherty]

do you apply for exemptions for indiviual products or for the feed.

if its individual products, do you make a request for each product on its own or all together

 

[yazswebdesign]

Isn't today the day when Googlebase changes so that products without product attributes no longer show in the shopping results?

I have one website with a particular type of clothing product. I applied for an exemption a few months ago and they wrote back saying they needed more examples of the product categories they were in.

I tried to reply but being a no reply email address it bounced back.

I then resubmitted my application for exemption a few weeks ago and have heard nothing at all (other sites' exemptions have arrived in the meantime). I then reapplied about a week ago and have still heard nothing.

This morning I was interested to know what was happening to the shopping results (as we are fairly dependent on them for this new site) and there are no shopping results showing at all.

Anyone know what is happening or has noticed anything strange with Googlebase results?

They notified me about 2 weeks ago saying my products have been removed

 

[ITsoldUK]

They notified me about 2 weeks ago saying my products have been removed

Was that for spamming by chance?

Having looked at your front page, I would say yup....

 

[wight services]

do you apply for exemptions for indiviual products or for the feed.

if its individual products, do you make a request for each product on its own or all together

As all of my products required exemption, I just filled in the form and gave 3 examples as suggested, and explained why.

If you have some that require exemption and some that don't, I would list the individual items or categories.

 

[aquarium plant food UK]

We applied twice, both times with each item listed, we got this reply back the second time.

Thank you for requesting an exemption for unique product identifiers.
We're sending this email to inform you that your exemption has been
approved. Your items will not be affected by this requirement. However,
items may continue to be flagged in the data quality tab even after your
account is exempted from the unique product identifier requirement.

Additionally, please continue including valid unique product identifiers
in your data feed for all items which have them.

Please know that exemption is provided at an account level, and you need
not apply for every item/data feed.

 

[zutou]

We manage a large number Google Product Search accounts via Google Merchant Center on behalf of our clients and we are starting to get emails from Google headed Your items are at risk of being suspended from Google Product Search saying our clients have 7-days to comply with the new requirements after which their products may no longer appear in Google Product Search.

does that mean you have to backup the search items yourself ,if that it will be
trouble !

 

[lesliedocherty]

We applied twice, both times with each item listed, we got this reply back the second time.

Ah, good to know, many thanks

 

[deniser]

This is really odd. I just looked again and my exemption has still not been granted and our products on one site are more prominent than ever. For every search term we have one product on the front page of Google shopping. There seems to be one entry per retailer.

Maybe they are going through them category by category and leaving clothing until last because of the fact that most are going to be exempt?

 

[deniser]

This is really odd. I just looked again and my exemption has still not been granted and our products on one site are more prominent than ever. For every search term we have one product on the front page of Google shopping. There seems to be one entry per retailer.

Maybe they are going through them category by category and leaving clothing until last because of the fact that most are going to be exempt?

 

[UKSBD]

You don't have to set the MPN for clothing, so as long as you name the brand you don't need an exemption.

 

[deniser]

You don't have to set the MPN for clothing, so as long as you name the brand you don't need an exemption.

That's not my understanding.

 

[UKSBD]

This tells you what is required and what is recommended

http://www.google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=1344057

Brand is required but MPN and GTIN are only recommended for clothing.

This page tells you the same thing
http://www.google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=160161

Clothing only requires Brand, so if you have the Brand you don't need an exemption. (they also provide a definition of clothing)

 

[deniser]

This tells you what is required and what is recommended

http://www.google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=1344057

Brand is required but MPN and GTIN are only recommended for clothing.

This page tells you the same thing
http://www.google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=160161

Clothing only requires Brand, so if you have the Brand you don't need an exemption. (they also provide a definition of clothing)

I am reading the same pages as you but not interpreting it in the same way. It says, if you don't have unique codes for each product, and it gives the example of EAN, ISBN, etc. you must apply for an exemption.

I have an exemption for another clothing site and the email with the exemption states that despite having the exemption, I still need to list the brand and the product category. So I don't think the brand alone is sufficient not to require an exemption....?

 

[UKSBD]

Which page are you reading?

 

[deniser]

Which page are you reading?

The same as your second link above.

 

[UKSBD]

http://www.google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=160161

What does it say is the required identifier in the clothing column of the 2nd table?

 

[deniser]

http://www.google.com/support/merchants/bin/answer.py?answer=160161

What does it say is the required identifier in the clothing column of the 2nd table?

It says that Apparel requires the brand as an Identifier. Agreed as you have to put the Brand for clothing in all circumstances.

But further down at para 3. it states that if you do not have a Unique identifier ie. something which differentiates one product from another, you need an exemption.

It's not very clear but that's how I am reading it.