Google Shopping can be extremely beneficial for many online vendors. Yet, it also poses a risk of financial loss if not managed properly. Even small mistakes in data feeds can cause big problems, from decreased oversight to lost revenue. However, errors are an essential component of any educational journey.
Every mistake can offer important lessons to enhance the efficiency of your Google Shopping strategies. As one of the eCommerce website development companies in Dubai, UAE, we'll give you some common pitfalls online retailers make so you can be the one to stay away from them.
1. Product Titles Exceeding Character Limits
Product names must be concise yet informative, following the unique character constraints of each sales platform. Google Shopping, for instance, allows up to 150 characters but only displays 50 in search results, while Amazon's limit can vary by category, sometimes reaching 200 characters. Exceeding these limits can result in lower Quality Scores, shortened titles, disorganised presentations, and a reduced likelihood of users clicking through.
How to Avoid This
To avoid issues, put the most important details at the start of the title. Be sure to understand the rules for every platform and verify your feed to ensure it meets the requirements.
2. Incorrect price formats
Pricing errors in your data feed can lead to unhappy customers and potential legal problems. If the advertised price differs from the real price on your site, you might end up losing customers who feel tricked.
How to avoid it?
Customise your feed according to the channel. It's important to verify the pricing format guidelines to guarantee that your feed is approved and shows precise, neat pricing. When in doubt, you can always consult a reliable e-commerce web design agency in Dubai, UAE, like Pentacodes, for a professional touch.
Using all caps in your product titles won't make them more noticeable; it could deter customers. Major platforms like Google Shopping, Bing, and Amazon prohibit over-capitalization, viewing it as against their style guidelines.
How to Avoid This
Instead of relying on caps, focus on providing rich, detailed product information and compelling images to capture attention. Keep your titles professional and within the platform's guidelines to ensure better results.
4. Missing or insufficient product categorisation
Properly sorting your products is crucial for ensuring they appear in appropriate searches. Placing products in the wrong categories can make them less visible and decrease sales.
How to Avoid This
Ensure you understand a channel's taxonomy and category names. Explore the depth of the categories and include multiple sub-categories when possible. Additionally, double-check for any blank fields before submitting your feed.
5. Mismatched data
Mismatched data between your feed and website can turn away prospective buyers and harm your standing. For example, if an item is advertised as "on-sale" on your ad but not reflected on your website, it can result in a decrease in trust and sales. It's essential to maintain uniformity in characteristics such as cost, colour, and stock levels between your social media feed and the main page of your website.
How to Avoid This
Regularly update your feed and standardise product information across all platforms to maintain consistency and avoid disapproval from platforms like Google.
6. Product images don’t follow channel guidelines
Image manipulation is common, but each sales channel has specific requirements. For example, Amazon demands images with a minimum of 1000 dpi and a pure white background, without borders or watermarks, while Facebook encourages creative additions for Dynamic Ads. Following each platform's image size and file requirements is crucial to avoid quality alerts and ensure your ads look professional.
How to Avoid This
Always review and adhere to the specific image requirements and recommendations of each platform before submitting your product images.
How to Avoid These Pitfalls
To prevent this, it's important to be ahead of the game. Make it a habit to check your data feeds often, take advantage of automation whenever it's feasible, and keep abreast of what's needed by the platforms you're using. By taking these steps, you'll make sure your online shopping efforts are running smoothly, which will boost your visibility, improve customer happiness, and in the end, drive more sales.
At Pentacodes, we're experts in offering all-encompassing e-commerce development Dubai, UAE, solutions to boost your online shopping efforts, making sure your data feeds are precise, current, and fully geared for success. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you avoid these common mistakes and maximise your online store's potential.
