Google Base Tutorial and Tips

[ovidiuu]

I am wondering if anyone has pass trough the problem i encountered today. I have had to build a Google Base file so I browse the WWW for information. Of course, I could find on Google Base FAQ some info but was not so detailed as I expected for a beginner in this problems.

For the beginners I have paste you an very detailed example of a Google Base XML. Here we go with the explanation. First of all you have to declare the title and the description of your content, then you have to insert also the address of the webpage.

Every item you insert must initiate with the tag: <item> and end with </item>. A very good advice is that you should use our predefined attributes and item types when possible, rather than creating custom attributes and item types.

Please keep it simple, do not try to be extremly innovative, use the rules.

Also you do not need to use all the attibutes I explain you bellow, but use just the ones you need. Also as a tip please do not use more that a tag. For example do not insert twice <g:condition>new</g:condition> because that is a unique tag.

It's extremly important keeping product data up to date. A ranking factor recommended by Google; updating product information with latest prices, availability etc is crucial.

Once you create the XML page, you can submit it to http://base.google.com following the steps from there. You'll need a Google Account in order to post anything to Google Base.

So, first step is to login to Google Base.



Once logged in you will have to fill out the filds requested.




Once you've filled the fields , you can start uploading content to Google Base.
You can do this by going to the menu: Data Feed





Please be sure you select the correct target country and insert correctly the name of the XML file.



Once you have done this all you have to do is to click on manual upload and upload the file from your computer.



Once you submit your Data Feed, it can take a few hours/days till your products will be listed. Anyway do not get panic, if everything has been done properly and you have follow the rules of Google Base your products will be listed. As a tip to check if your products has been listed you can just type in your browser: http://www.google.com/products?authorid=ACCOUNTID Please replace the ACCOUNTID with your account ID numbers.


Sample for RSS 2.0. You can just copy the code bellow and named as you wish. Just remember that your page should have .xml extension.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>

<rss version ="2.0" xmlns:g="http://base.google.com/ns/1.0">

<channel>
<title>The name of your data feed.</title>
<description>A description of your content.</description>
<link>http://www.example.com</link>

<item>
<title>Red wool sweater</title>
<g:brand>Acme</g:brand>
<g:condition>new</g:condition>
<description>Comfortable and soft, this sweater will keep you warm  on those cold winter nights.</description>
<guid>1</guid>
<g:image_link>http://www.example.com/image1.jpg</g:image_link>
<link>http://www.example.com/item1-info-page.html</link>
<g:mpn>ABC123</g:mpn>
<g:price>25</g:price>
<g:product_type>Clothing &amp; Accessories &gt; Clothing  &gt; Outerwear &gt; Sweaters</g:product_type>
<g:quantity>3</g:quantity>
<g:shipping>
<g:country>US</g:country>
<g:region>MA</g:region>
<g:service>Ground</g:service>
<g:price>5.95</g:price>
</g:shipping>
<g:shipping>
<g:country>US</g:country>
<g:region>024*</g:region>
<g:service>Ground</g:service>
<g:price>7.95</g:price>
</g:shipping>
<g:tax>
<g:country>US</g:country>
<g:region>CA</g:region>
<g:rate>8.25</g:rate>
<g:tax_ship>y</g:tax_ship>
</g:tax>
<g:tax>
<g:country>US</g:country>
<g:region>926*</g:region>
<g:rate>8.75</g:rate>
<g:tax_ship>y</g:tax_ship>
</g:tax>
<g:upc>0001230001230</g:upc>
<g:weight>0.1 lb</g:weight>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>