The 3-Minute Product Feed Diagnostic: Is Your Google Shopping Feed Costing You Sales?

The 3-Minute Product Feed Diagnostic: Is Your Google Shopping Feed Costing You Sales?

Let's be honest - most ecommerce businesses know their Google Shopping product feed could be better. But how much is "not perfect" actually costing you?

After managing feeds for hundreds of clients and processing millions in ad spend, we've developed a quick diagnostic tool to spot expensive feed issues.

Take 3 minutes to run through this checklist. Your answers might surprise you.

Section 1: Product Titles

Your product titles are the foundation of your Google Shopping performance. Get these wrong, and nothing else matters.

Check These Elements:
✓ Brand Placement
• Is your brand name in the first 20 characters?
• Is it consistently formatted?
• Does it match search patterns?

✓ Product Type
• Are you using Google's product taxonomy?
• Is it specific enough?
• Does it match search intent?

✓ Key Features
• Are crucial attributes included?
• Are they in priority order?
• Do they match search patterns?

✓ Size/Colour Information
• Is this information clearly visible?
• Is it consistently formatted?
• Does it follow market standards?

Warning Signs:
• Inconsistent formatting
• Missing key attributes
• Poor keyword placement
• Brand buried in description

Impact of Poor Titles:
• 40% missed relevant searches
• 25% higher CPCs
• 35% lower CTR
• Reduced quality scores

Section 2: Variant Handling

Poor variant handling is like having a shop where half the doors are locked. Here's what to check:

✓ SKU Management
• Unique SKU for each variant?
• Proper parent-child relationships?
• Consistent format across ranges?

✓ Colour/Size Mapping
• Standard colour names used?
• Size formats consistent?
• All variants properly linked?

✓ Stock Level Sync
• Real-time updates?
• Buffer stock considered?
• Automated out-of-stock handling?

Warning Signs:
• Missing variants
• Inconsistent naming
• Poor stock sync
• Broken parent-child links

Impact of Poor Variant Handling:
• 30% wasted clicks
• Increased disapprovals
• Poor user experience
• Lost sales opportunities

Section 3: Custom Labels

Custom labels are your secret weapon for granular control. Here's what you need:

✓ Label 0: Profit Margins
• Clear margin bands
• Updated regularly
• Linked to bidding strategy

✓ Label 1: Seasonal Relevance
• Current season tagged
• Upcoming season marked
• Clearance items identified

✓ Label 2: Stock Levels
• Low stock alerts
• Fast-moving items
• New arrivals

✓ Label 3: Best Sellers
• Historical performance
• Current trend data
• Category popularity

✓ Label 4: Price Competitiveness
• Market position
• Competitor pricing
• Promotional status

Warning Signs:
• Missing labels
• Outdated information
• Poor strategic use
• Limited segmentation

Impact of Poor Custom Labels:
• Inefficient bidding
• Wasted budget
• Missed opportunities
• Poor ROAS

Scoring Your Feed

How many issues did you spot? Here's what your answers mean:

0-2 Issues:
Your feed's in decent shape, but there's likely room for improvement in specific areas.

3-5 Issues:
You're leaving significant money on the table. These issues are directly impacting your ROAS.

6+ Issues:
Your feed needs urgent attention. You're likely losing 30-50% of potential revenue.

What Next?

If you've identified any issues, don't panic. Every feed can be improved, and we've yet to see a perfect one.

The key is prioritising fixes based on impact:

1. Critical Fixes (24-48 hours)
   • Title structure
   • Basic variant handling
   • Major disapproval issues

2. Performance Improvements (Week 1-2)
   • Custom label implementation
   • Advanced variant handling
   • Feed automation

3. Optimization (Week 2-4)
   • Advanced title optimization
   • Strategic custom labels
   • Competitive analysis

Need Help?

If you've spotted issues with your feed, we can help. Our 20-point feed audit goes even deeper than this diagnostic, identifying both problems and opportunities.

Visit judeluxe.com/contact to request your comprehensive feed audit.

Because in Google Shopping, your feed isn't just product data - it's the foundation of your success.