How to Properly Match WooCommerce Fields with Google Shopping Attributes

Creating an effective Google Shopping product feed for your WooCommerce store requires properly matching WooCommerce product fields with Google Shopping attributes.

This alignment ensures that your product data is accurately represented in Google Merchant Center (GMC), improving your product visibility, reducing feed errors, and ultimately boosting sales.

One of the best tools to achieve this is the CTX Feed plugin, which offers advanced attribute mapping features designed to simplify and optimize this process.

This article explains how to properly match WooCommerce fields with Google Shopping attributes using CTX Feed, why this step is critical, and how CTX Feed’s features make it easier and more effective.

Why Proper Attribute Mapping Matters for Google Shopping?

Google Shopping requires product data to be submitted in a very specific format with certain mandatory and recommended attributes such as:

• ID
• Title
• Description
• Price
• Availability
• Brand
• GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)
• MPN (Manufacturer Part Number)
• Google Product Category
• Condition
• Color, Size, Material, and other product specifics

If your WooCommerce product fields don’t correctly map to these Google attributes, your feed may have errors or disapprovals, your products may not show up in relevant searches, or your ads may perform poorly.

Proper mapping ensures:

• Data accuracy and completeness: Google receives all required information in the expected format.
• Better product discoverability: Correct categories and attributes increase relevance in search results.
• Compliance with Google policies: Avoids feed rejections and account suspensions.
• Improved campaign performance: Accurate data leads to better ad targeting and higher conversion rates.

Why Use CTX Feed for Attribute Mapping?

While WooCommerce stores product data in its structure, CTX Feed bridges the gap between WooCommerce and Google Shopping’s data requirements by offering:

• Intuitive Attribute Mapping Interface: Easily link WooCommerce product attributes (including custom fields) to Google Shopping attributes.
• Category-Level Attribute Rules: Apply attribute mappings globally or per category, saving time and ensuring consistency.
• Support for Required and Optional Google Attributes: Map all mandatory fields plus additional ones like color, size, material, pattern, etc.
• Custom Field Support: Map your custom WooCommerce fields (e.g., ISBN, barcode) to Google attributes like GTIN or MPN.
• Overrides for Individual Products: Global rules apply by default, but you can override mappings on a per-product basis for flexibility.
• Scheduled Feed Updates: Automatically update feeds when product data changes, keeping Google Merchant Center in sync.
• Multi-Channel Support: Besides Google Shopping, CTX Feed supports Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, and more, using the same mapping principles.

How to Properly Match WooCommerce Fields with Google Shopping Attributes Using CTX Feed – Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Install and Activate CTX Feed Plugin

1. From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
2. Search for CTX Feed.
3. Install and activate the plugin.
4. Access the plugin via the Product Feeds menu in WooCommerce.

Step 2: Create a New Google Shopping Feed

1. Click Add New Feed.
2. Select Google Shopping as the channel.
3. Choose your feed format (XML recommended).
4. Set the target country and language.
5. Name your feed and create it.

Step 3: Map WooCommerce Attributes to Google Attributes

1. Navigate to the Attribute Mapping section of CTX Feed for your Google Shopping feed.
2. You will see a list of Google-required and recommended attributes. For each attribute:
   • Select the corresponding WooCommerce field or custom field from the dropdown.
   • If your WooCommerce store uses custom fields (e.g., barcode, ISBN), add these fields to CTX Feed’s mapping options if necessary.
3. Common mappings include:
   • Title → WooCommerce Product Title
   • Description → WooCommerce Product Description
   • Price → WooCommerce Regular Price or Sale Price
   • Availability → WooCommerce Stock Status
   • Brand → WooCommerce Brand attribute or custom field
   • GTIN → Custom field like barcode or ISBN
   • MPN → Custom manufacturer part number field
   • Google Product Category → Use CTX Feed’s category mapping tool to align WooCommerce categories with Google’s taxonomy
   • Color, Size, Material, Pattern → WooCommerce product attributes or variations

Step 4: Use Category-Level Mapping Rules for Efficiency

• CTX Feed allows you to create attribute mapping rules at the category level. For example, you can assign a fixed brand name or material to all products in a specific category without editing each product individually.
• This is especially useful for stores with large catalogs.
• You can also exclude certain categories from specific attribute rules.

Step 5: Override Attributes on Individual Products if Needed

• If some products require unique attribute values (e.g., a different brand or GTIN), edit those products directly in WooCommerce.
• CTX Feed prioritizes individual product attribute values over global category rules, ensuring flexibility.

Step 6: Save and Generate Your Feed

• After completing attribute mapping, save your settings.
• Generate the feed and copy the feed URL.
• Submit this URL to Google Merchant Center for automatic feed fetching.

Step 7: Monitor and Adjust

• Regularly check Google Merchant Center for feed errors or warnings.
• Use CTX Feed’s dashboard to update attribute mappings if Google changes requirements or if you add new product data.

Tips for Successful Attribute Mapping with CTX Feed

• Use Global Attributes Whenever Possible: Create global WooCommerce attributes (e.g., Brand, Color) rather than individual product attributes to simplify mapping.
• Map Custom Fields: Utilize CTX Feed’s capability to incorporate custom fields, enabling the addition of unique identifiers such as ISBN or UPC as GTINs.
• Be Mindful of Attribute Values: Google expects specific formats and values (e.g., “new” for Condition, “adult” or “false” for Adult). CTX Feed helps enforce these standards.
• Map Google Product Categories Carefully: Google’s taxonomy is extensive; use CTX Feed’s category mapping tool to align your categories accurately for better targeting.
• Include All Required Attributes: Missing mandatory attributes will cause feed disapproval. CTX Feed highlights which fields are required.
• Test Your Feed: Use Google Merchant Center’s feed diagnostics to identify issues and fix mapping errors promptly.

Common Google Shopping Attributes and Their WooCommerce Counterparts

Google Shopping Attribute	WooCommerce Field / CTX Feed Mapping Source	Notes
id	Product SKU or ID	Unique identifier for each product
title	Product Title	Keep concise and keyword-rich
description	Product Description	Detailed, avoid promotional language
link	Product URL	Automatically generated
image_link	Featured Image	Use high-quality images
availability	Stock Status	In stock, out of stock, preorder
price	Regular Price or Sale Price	Match your site pricing
brand	WooCommerce Brand attribute or custom field	Required for many categories
gtin	Custom field (barcode, ISBN)	Global Trade Item Number
mpn	Custom field (manufacturer part number)	Manufacturer Part Number
google_product_category	Category mapping	Use Google’s taxonomy
condition	Product Condition	New, used, refurbished
color	WooCommerce Attribute (Color)	Use exact color names
size	WooCommerce Attribute (Size)	Match size system
material	WooCommerce Attribute (Material)	Optional but recommended

Conclusion

Properly matching WooCommerce product fields with Google Shopping attributes is a critical step to ensure your product feed is compliant, accurate, and optimized for maximum visibility and sales performance. The CTX Feed plugin simplifies this process by providing an intuitive interface, category-level mapping rules, support for custom fields, and automatic feed updates.

By leveraging CTX Feed’s powerful attribute mapping features, WooCommerce store owners can:

• Save time and reduce errors with global and category-level rules.
• Ensure all mandatory Google attributes are populated correctly.
• Customize feeds to meet the unique needs of their product catalog.
• Maintain feed compliance and avoid Google Merchant Center disapprovals.
• Expand marketing efforts across multiple channels beyond Google Shopping.

If you want to maximize your WooCommerce store’s potential on Google Shopping, investing time in proper attribute mapping with CTX Feed is essential. It’s the foundation for creating a high-quality product feed that drives traffic, conversions, and growth.