Setting Up Your Google Shopping Feed in Shopify [2025]

January 17, 2025

min read

Setting Up Your Google Shopping Feed in Shopify [2025]

Learn how to set up your Google Shopping feed in Shopify to increase visibility. This is important to be part of where the market is heading.

Alexander Christensen

Content Editor

With Google shifting towards a more AI-driven and shopping-focused search results page, listing your products is crucial to remain competitive.

In this guide, you'll learn what a Google Shopping feed is, how free listings operate across different Google platforms, and how to connect your Shopify products to Google Merchant Center.

Understanding Google Shopping Feed

A Google Shopping feed is a data file that contains comprehensive details about your products, such as their titles, descriptions, prices, and images. This information is sent to Google Merchant Center, enabling Google to display your products across its various platforms.

By using a Google Shopping feed, your Shopify store can stay in sync with Google, ensuring that potential customers always have access to the most accurate and up-to-date product information wherever Google features them.

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Connecting Your Shopify Store to Google Shopping

Follow this detailed guide to set up your Google Shopping feed in Shopify.

1. Prepare Before You Begin

Active Shopify Store: Ensure your store is operational and you are on a paid Shopify plan (Basic or higher).
Google Account: You’ll need a Google account to access Merchant Center, Google Ads, and Analytics.
Google Merchant Center: Have a Merchant Center account ready or be prepared to create one.
Accurate Product Information: Ensure your product titles, descriptions, images, and prices are correct and adhere to Google’s guidelines.

2. Install the Google & YouTube App

Shopify offers the "Google & YouTube" app to facilitate syncing your products with Google Merchant Center. Here’s how to install it:

Visit the Shopify App Store: Search for "Google & YouTube" (it may still be listed as "Google Channel").
Install the App: Click on “Add app” and follow the instructions to install it.
Connect Your Google Account: Log in with your Google account, using the same
email intended for Merchant Center.

3. Configure Your Merchant Center

Once the app is installed, set up your Shopify store to work with Google Merchant Center:

Create or Connect Your Merchant Center Account: Sign in and link your existing account, or create a new one through the app.
Verify and Claim Your Domain: Ensure your domain is marked as “Verified” and “Claimed” in Merchant Center, confirming your ownership.
Set Shipping and Tax Information: Enter your shipping options and tax details to match what you offer in your Shopify store.

4. Organize Your Product Feed

With Merchant Center connected, decide how to sync your product information:

Select Products to Sync: Choose whether to sync all products or specific collections, which is useful for testing.
Enhance Product Information: Ensure your product titles, descriptions, images, and options comply with Google’s standards. Use relevant keywords naturally.
Assign Product Categories: While Google attempts to categorize products, you can select more specific categories for accuracy.
Use High-Quality Images: Opt for clear, background-free images to attract more clicks.
Implement Structured Data Markup: Update your Shopify theme to include structured data for accurate product detail parsing by Google.

For more details on required attributes, refer to Google's guide for free listings.

Here are the essential attributes your products need for the Google Shopping feed:

Tools For Small Businesses Table

Attribute	Additional Details
Id [id]	Required for all products. Example: Id: 12345
Title [title]	Required for all products. Example: Title: Men's Black Leather Jacket
Link [link]	Required for all products. Example: Link: https://www.yourstore.com/products/mens-black-leather-jacket
Image link [image_link]	Required for all products. Ensure the image is large enough and free of promotional content. Example: Image link: “URL”
Price [price]	Required for all products. Example: Price: 99.99 USD
Description [description]	Required for all products. Example: Description: This stylish men's black leather jacket is perfect for any occasion, offering both comfort and fashion.
Availability [availability]	Required for all products. Example: Availability: In Stock
Condition [condition]	Required for each used or refurbished product. Example: Condition: New
Brand [brand]	Required for each product with a brand or manufacturer. Example: Brand: LeatherCo
Gtin [gtin]	Required for products with a GTIN. Example: Gtin: 0123456789123
Mpn [mpn]	Required for products without a GTIN. Example: Mpn: LC-12345
Multipack [multipack]	Required if your product is a multipack. Example: Multipack: 10
Bundle [is_bundle]	Required if your product is a bundle. Example: Bundle: Yes
Color [color]	Required for Apparel & Accessories. Example: Color: Black
Size [size]	Required for Apparel & Accessories. Example: Size: Large
Age group [age_group]	Required for Apparel & Accessories. Example: Age group: Adult
Gender [gender]	Required for Apparel & Accessories. Example: Gender: Male
Item group ID [item_group_id]	Required for product variants. Example: Item group ID: 12345-Black-Large
Shipping [shipping]	Required for overriding account shipping settings. Example: Shipping: US: Standard: 5.00 USD
Tax [tax]	Required for overriding account tax settings. Example: Tax: US: CA: 8.25: y

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For examples of product feed files, see these Google product feed examples.

5. Review Your Products in Merchant Center

Merchant Center will highlight any products needing attention, such as those with pricing errors.

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6. Monitor Performance

Use Merchant Center’s Performance Dashboard: Track impressions, clicks, and conversions for your listings.
Integrate Google Analytics / GA4: Measure the traffic and sales generated by your free listings.
Experiment with Titles & Descriptions: Adjust product titles and descriptions to improve ranking.
Consider Paid Campaigns: Once your free listings are optimized, explore paid ads for increased visibility.
Maintain Consistent Branding: Ensure your branding is uniform across your Shopify store and Merchant Center.
Automate Feed Updates: Ensure product details are automatically updated in Merchant Center when changed in Shopify.
Analyze Competitor Pricing: Regularly review market prices to remain competitive.

7. Utilize Supplemental Feeds

To manage the number of products displayed on Google Shopping effectively, ensure you have the optimal attributes.

FeedSEO can help you create supplemental feeds based on your primary feed, automatically generating a new file with all your products in the correct format.

Step-by-Step: Integrating Your Shopify Store with Google Shopping

Below is an extensive guide on how to set up a Google Shopping feed in Shopify.

1. What You Need Before You Start

A Shopify Store: Make sure your store is up and running and that you're on a paid Shopify plan (Basic or higher).
Google Account: You'll need a Google account to use Merchant Center, Google Ads, and Analytics.
Google Merchant Center: Set up a Google Merchant Center account or be ready to create one.
Updated Product Listings: Double-check that your product titles, descriptions, images, and prices are correct and follow Google’s rules.

2. Install the Google & YouTube App

Shopify has an app called "Google & YouTube" that makes it easier to sync your products with Google Merchant Center. Here’s how to get it:

Visit the Shopify App Store: Look for "Google & YouTube" (some might still call it "Google Channel").
Install the App: Click on “Add app” and follow the steps to install it.
Link Your Google Account: Sign in with your Google account. Use the same email you’ll use for Merchant Center.

3. Set Up Your Merchant Center

After installing the app, you’ll need to set up your Shopify store to work with Google Merchant Center:

Create or Link Your Merchant Center Account: If you have a Merchant Center account, sign in and connect it. If not, create a new one through the app.
Verify and Claim Your Domain: Google needs to know you own your website. The app usually does this for you, but check that your domain is marked as “Verified” and “Claimed” in Merchant Center.
Set Shipping and Tax Details: Enter your shipping options (like flat rate or free shipping) and tax info. These should match what you offer in your Shopify store.

4. Set Up Your Product Feed

Now that you’re connected to Merchant Center, decide how your product info will sync:

Choose Products to Sync: Decide if you want to sync all products or just certain collections. This is useful if you want to test specific items first.
Improve Product Info: Make sure your product titles, descriptions, images, and options meet Google’s rules. Use relevant keywords naturally to help your products show up in searches.
Set Product Categories: Google tries to categorize your products automatically, but you can choose more specific categories to make it more accurate.
High-Quality Images: Use crisp, clear, and background-free images to perform better and drive more clicks.
Structured Data Markup: Ensure your Shopify theme is updated to include structured data so Google can accurately parse your product details.

*High-quality images are crucial, as low-quality product photos can result in your products being excluded from Google Shopping entirely.*

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Check out all of the required attributes along with more insight on what your product feed should include in Google guide for free listings.

Here are all of the required attributes products should have to be shown in the Google Shopping feed:

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Attribute	Additional Details
Id [id]	Required for all products. Example: Id: 12345
Title [title]	Required for all products. Example: Title: Men's Black Leather Jacket
Link [link]	Required for all products. Example: Link: https://www.yourstore.com/products/mens-black-leather-jacket
Image link [image_link]	Required for all products. Ensure the image is large enough and free of promotional content. Example: Image link: “URL”
Price [price]	Required for all products. Example: Price: 99.99 USD
Description [description]	Required for all products. Example: Description: This stylish men's black leather jacket is perfect for any occasion, offering both comfort and fashion.
Availability [availability]	Required for all products. Example: Availability: In Stock
Condition [condition]	Required for each used or refurbished product. Example: Condition: New
Brand [brand]	Required for each product with a brand or manufacturer. Example: Brand: LeatherCo
Gtin [gtin]	Required for products with a GTIN. Example: Gtin: 0123456789123
Mpn [mpn]	Required for products without a GTIN. Example: Mpn: LC-12345
Multipack [multipack]	Required if your product is a multipack. Example: Multipack: 10
Bundle [is_bundle]	Required if your product is a bundle. Example: Bundle: Yes
Color [color]	Required for Apparel & Accessories. Example: Color: Black
Size [size]	Required for Apparel & Accessories. Example: Size: Large
Age group [age_group]	Required for Apparel & Accessories. Example: Age group: Adult
Gender [gender]	Required for Apparel & Accessories. Example: Gender: Male
Item group ID [item_group_id]	Required for product variants. Example: Item group ID: 12345-Black-Large
Shipping [shipping]	Required for overriding account shipping settings. Example: Shipping: US: Standard: 5.00 USD
Tax [tax]	Required for overriding account tax settings. Example: Tax: US: CA: 8.25: y

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If you are unsure of what this will look like in a product feed file, see these Google product feed examples.

5. Check Your Products in Merchant Center

Google Merchant Center shows all products that require action, whether that would be invalid pricing, or other things that would be wrong with a certain product.

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6. Keep an Eye on Performance

Use Merchant Center’s Performance Dashboard: Check out impressions, clicks, and conversions for your free listings.
Google Analytics / GA4 Integration: Track how much traffic your free listings bring to your Shopify store and see how many sales they generate.
Try Different Titles & Descriptions: Small changes to product titles, like adding keywords or rearranging words, can affect how Google ranks your listings.
Think About Paid Shopping Campaigns: Once your free listings are set, you might want to try paid ads for more exposure.
Consistent Branding: Keep your branding consistent across your Shopify store and Google Merchant Center to instill trust in shoppers.
Regular Feed Updates: Automate your feed so that whenever product details (e.g., price, availability) change in Shopify, it’s immediately reflected in Merchant Center.
Check Competitor Pricing: If your prices are significantly higher, you may struggle to compete. Conduct regular market research to stay competitive.

7. Setup Supplemental Feeds

If you make sure that you do not drown in the amount of products that are displaying on Google shopping, make sure that you have the optimal amount of attributes.

FeedSEO helps you automatically create supplemental feeds based on your primary feed, and automatically creates a new file with all of your products, with correct formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most asked questions about Google Shopping feed in Shopify

Are free listings available worldwide?

Google’s free listings are widely available in many countries, but coverage may vary. Always check Google’s official documentation for the most up-to-date list of supported regions.

Do I need a separate app to create the product feed for Google Shopping?

In most cases, the Google & YouTube (formerly Google Shopping) app in Shopify is sufficient. However, you may use third-party feed apps for more customization or advanced reporting.

How do I track the performance of free listings specifically?

Simply go to overview anc click on “see more” on the graph that you wish to get more information on, this will give an in-depth look into the traction that your products are getting.

Can I run paid campaigns and still have free listings?

Absolutely. In fact, many merchants find that using both free listings and paid campaigns increases their overall visibility and drives more traffic.

How often should I update my product feed?

Your product feed should update automatically whenever you change product details in Shopify. Still, it’s good practice to review your feed at least weekly, especially if you frequently add or remove products.

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