This document describes how to use tools provided by our Online Store software and Google to maximise your exposure in Google's Search Results.
The Online Store software allows you to export a file listing each product in your website along with, its description, image, price and a link directly to that product on your website. When this is uploaded to Google Base you are providing the Search Engine with full details of every product available on your website. When someone searches Google for a term that the Search Engine relates to a product in your list it will be given a priority display in the search results [see image below]. Google make no charge for using their Base service.
Getting Started
Before you start you must have your account details for your Online Store and your Google Account.
If you have not yet signed up for Google Base go to: http://www.google.com/base and select click Sign In. Logging in with your Google Account details automatically adds Base to your Google Products list so you can sign in directly from your Google Account page in future. Once you have already signed up to Google Base you can login from your Google Account homepage: https://www.google.com/accounts/ManageAccount
Exporting your product information
To export your product information login to your Online Store and choose Froogle Export from the Export Menu.
or 
The system will ask you to download a file which you should save to a location on your computer.
Uploading your product information to Base
Login to your Google Account at: https://www.google.com/accounts/ManageAccount and select Base from the My Products list.
Select Data Feeds from the menu.
Click the New Data Feed button. The first time you add a Feed you will be asked to complete the About me page and click Next to continue:
On the Specify a data feed page complete the File name field, ensure the Target country is correct and select Products from the Item type dropdown. To continue click Register data feed and continue to formatting instructions
The Format your Products file screen describes how your data feed file should be formated. The file exported from your Online Store is already in the correct format so click I'm done formatting my file. Continue to upload.
You are now presented with your data feeds page. Next to the file you just registered click upload file. From the popup window [see image below] click browse and select the feed file you exported from your Online Store then click Upload and process this file. Google will then process the file after which you will be able to see statistics about the number of items in your feed, how many times each has been displayed in the Search Listings and how many clickthroughs have been received.
Potential Errors
Occasionally Google Base will report that there were errors in your feed file. If this happens it is almost certain that it was caused by a stray ampersand [&] from one of your product category names being included in the feed file. This does not comply with the required file format standard and in such cases you have two options:
- Open the XML file using Notepad and perform a Search and Replace: search for '&' and replace with '&' [not including the quotes] then save and upload again
- Contact us to have the shopping cart software patched so that the issue never arises
Further Reading
You can read more about Base at: http://base.google.com/support/?hl=en&gl=us
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