When creating the Google attributes for my clothing products on Shopify, Google merchant instructions advise using the singular form, for example: “male” & “adult.” Yet the dropdown list I see on Shopify use the plural form of “males” or “adults.” Is the difference significant to Google’s listings?
Topic summary
A Shopify merchant is encountering a discrepancy between Google’s product attribute guidelines and Shopify’s dropdown options. The issue: Google Merchant Center documentation recommends singular forms (e.g., “male,” “adult”) for clothing attributes, while Shopify’s interface displays plural forms (“males,” “adults”).
Recommended solution:
- Use a data feed app (such as Multifeeds or the Google & YouTube app) that should automatically detect and apply correct attribute values
- Verify the output in Google Merchant Center after setup
- Feed rules can transform data if needed, though this is rarely necessary for this type of issue
Status: The question remains open regarding whether the singular/plural difference materially impacts Google Shopping listings performance or approval.
Hello Scott, great question. In Shopify and if you are using a data feed app, the data should correctly use the correct values. For example if you use Multifeeds, it will autodetect. I believe it’s the same for the Google and youtube app.
I recommend you update it in your data feed app, then check the results in Google Merchant Center to see if it’s correct.
If not, you could even use feed rules to transform the data. But I doubt you need to do this. I have never seen this case being required.