Do we need Google Shopping feed handlers?

[Hello_There]

Guys

I'm pretty new to this, but I'm wondering if Shopify stores nowadays still need apps like https://apps.shopify.com/google-shopping-feed, given there's now a Google Merchant Centre app (https://apps.shopify.com/google-shopping) in Shopify that automatically builds the product feed (or at least I'm led to believe)?

Many thanks,

Z

[JonWright]

Hi - yes you can just use the Shopify one and it works well for us. The reason 3rd party apps are still a thing is that they offer more functionality which you may or may not need.

[Hello_There]

Thanks for the reply @Jon.

Without wanting to belittle them, could you give me an idea as to what they offer?

[JonWright]

Hi - I don't have experience of that specific 3rd party app but I have used datafeedwatch . Main difference compared to the Shopify built app is the level of control you have over your feed in terms of exactly what gets sent e.g. you can change your product title to be 'Vendor + Product Title - Variant' if you feel that is more optimal. You have virtually no control with the Shopify one but that lack of options does make it very simple to use.

Here's a real world example:

In the image below, I have searched for 'Greys GR70 Streamflex Plus' (which is a fly fishing rod). The result I have labelled with a '1' shows the 'product tile + a specific variant' (9ft6 #4) whereas the result I have labelled '2' just uses the 'product title' with no specific variant. Given I did not state a variant in my search term you could argue that the 2nd way is better. In the Shopify app you could not do this, it will always send the product title + variant as per '1'.

[Hello_There]

Hi Jon,

Really appreciate that reply. Makes things a lot clearer now, thank you!

[JonWright]

No problem.

[DuaneBrown]

You can use the Google Shopping by Shopify but all the apps are not perfect and suffer from the same issue of not giving you the most control and flexibility over your shopping feed. Your shopping feed is the heart and soul of your shopping campaigns. We use Feedonomincs to manage all our shopping feeds for clients because we can build a custom feed for each ad platform. Hope you found this helpful, if so please click "like" below to let me know.

[JonWright]

@DuaneBrown I have tested Feedonomincs  and it is expensive, I couldn't see the advantage over something like datafeedwatch. What is it that makes it worth the price?

[DuaneBrown]

Define tested... in what way and how? Expensive is relative to what your time is worth. We can do things 2x faster in Feedonomics. They have gotten us into exclusive betas on ad platforms for clients and we get an account manager for the price... which you don't get with DWF. We have a client on DFW and the platform is just ok.

[EmmanuelFlossie]

As everyone is saying there are many reasons 3rd party solutions are still a thing.

What you should consider are your goals. Do you just want to set it up and let it run without any improvements? Then maybe a simple app will do.

Do you want to control such as improving the data feed using import rules, manual editing? Then a feed management solution is useful.

Do you want specialist help in Google Shopping?

Do you want something that offers both a managed service and DIY?

You will find that at some point you become stagnant, or are moving backwards in sales and performance.

With Google Shopping there are 3 fundamentals, the data feed, the Google Ads setup and the website.

The data feed is the base of the ranking, by adding all recommended and required attributes, you can increase the ranking, which results in more eligible ad auctions and lower CPC.

With the Google Ads setup, we have a lot of attributing areas (campaign setup, settings, conversion settings, remarketing), for improving the performance in Shopping. There are different strategies for different types of businesses.

Hope this helps.

[Merryn]

Hi there 

Whether or not you require 3rd party apps depends entirely on your needs and goals. The app you're referring to automatically creates your product feed for Google Shopping campaigns and syncs products from your Shopify store, but you need to consider what other functionalities you might need to actually manage the product feed. 

For example, do you want to use rules to automatically exclude out-of-stock products from your feed?  Do you want to handle multiple feeds - Google Shopping, Facebook, Amazon - from the same app? Feed management apps help optimize your product data and drive your conversions, whereas the Google Shopping app is fairly limited in that it only generates your feed for you. Some apps also offer feed audits and recommendations from campaign experts to enhance your feed, which you may want to consider. 

Hope that helps 

Merryn 

[Hello_There]

Thanks guys - great responses.

@Merryn - "do you want to use rules to automatically exclude out-of-stock products from your feed? " - I believe G SHopping feed does this automatically if a product is no longer in stock. That's what is showing me in my console at least...

I still see a use for G Shopping feed handlers, however, given our desire to only worry about G Shopping channel for now + lack of need for too much customisation, I think the basic app is fine.

Thanks guys,

Z

[Merryn]

Hey MyScoot 

Remember with feed apps you get a lot more than just your product feed. For example, you get different filtering options, label support, channel support and integrations. ShoppingFeeder is a feed app that can create your product feed not just for Google but also for Google local ads, Facebook, Bing, Pinterest, Kelkoo, the list goes on. ShoppingFeeder integrates with Google Merchant Center, but also with Google Ads so you can run your smart shopping campaigns through the ap, which is pretty cool. You can find them on the Shopify app store or on their website 

Just so you know how broad your options are, hope that helps 

M 

[sampymishra]

Personally, I think the biggest advantage of using. third party apps are to customize the feed for Google Shopping.  To be successful in Google Shopping, you should use certain keywords and titles should be a certain way, this may not be ideal for your website. 

We have developed an app Easy Google Shopping Feed By AdNabu, which automates most of the tasks related to Google feed, which saves a lot of time and effort. Please heave a look and any feedback will be appreciated.