How can I add SKUs and barcodes to my online store products for better Google visibility?

[ShopMucho]

Hi! 

I have been running my shop for several years now online with no SKUs or barcodes added. Recently I have been flagged on Google for not having MPN or GTIN numbers. Please help with the following questions as Shopify Support didn't really seem to be very helpful.

1. I have a mix of unique handmade products from different artists and vendors. Do I create a unique barcode for each of those products if the artists or vendors do not have one made for yhr product? 

2. If it's something like boutique clothing or books which typically have a barcode then I use their GTIN numbers but I've been slowly been adding those in when provided and Google is still flagging them.

3. Do I need to create unique SKUs and barcodes for everything even if there might be a GTIN out there for a certain product? What is the quickest/easiest way for bulk products?

I'm desperate to figure out what is going on. I have very little traffic or conversions to my shop online.

Please advise! Any information will be so helpful! -Thanks in advance

[ShopMucho]

One more thing- When entering in the barcode do you include the dashes or not? Does it matter?

[claricelin]

Hi @ShopMucho,

If your products are custom products from the vendors and artists who did not procure barcodes, you can set the attribute identifier_exists = false and set the brand name.

I have a video that explains how this method works in more details.

Fix Google Merchant Shopify error: Limited performance due to missing identifiers

https://youtu.be/GjVvf2RZuaw

Note: this method only works IF and ONLY IF there are no known barcodes. If Google manages to match the products with known barcodes from GS1, then they will be flagged up as identifier exists errors.

Cheers,

Clarice