# Set up a Google Shopping API

There are two ways with which you can create Google Shopping Ads in Google Merchant Center: you can either [export a feed](https://helpcenter.channable.com/list-advertise/google/list-items-on-google-shopping/set-up-a-google-shopping-feed) or send your products via an API. This article covers the Google Shopping API.

***

### Before you start <a href="#id-01jmhtpqh8hhzc7ea3e8mvzzmf" id="id-01jmhtpqh8hhzc7ea3e8mvzzmf"></a>

**You'll need**

* A [Google Merchant Center account](https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/188924?hl=en\&sjid=9925308023770440011-EU)
* A target country enabled in Google Merchant Center (Set at 'Countries' in **Data sources > \[your source] > Data source setup** in Google Merchant Center)

**Good to know**

* If you see a failed API error, your Google Shopping connection may have expired. To fix this, reconnect your channel to your Google account.&#x20;
* EAN codes aren’t mandatory for Google Shopping. If you’re sending EANs to Google, you can create a rule to exclude products with invalid EANs to avoid errors.
* Product data that uses decimal values using commas (,) aren't accepted. If your data uses commas, you'll need to change them to decimal points (.).&#x20;

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Create your Google Shopping API

1. In Channable, go to **Projects** > **\[Your project]** > **Channels.**
2. Click **+ Create Channel > Google Shopping > API**.
3. Click **Next** to confirm your selection.
4. &#x20;Fill in your channel settings:
   * For **Name**, give your channel a descriptive name.
   * For **Unique ID per item**, select the field containing your product ids.
   * For **Google Merchant Center ID**, enter your [Google Merchant Center ID](https://support.google.com/paymentscenter/answer/7163092?hl=en).
   * For **Country**, select the country you want to list in.
   * For **Language**, select the language your product data is in.&#x20;
   * For **Use master rule group**, select a master rule group to apply to your channel (if you have one).
5. Click **Save**.
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Categorize your products <a href="#h_01hy3d918ceywpf46yj5cf60r2" id="h_01hy3d918ceywpf46yj5cf60r2"></a>

1. In **\[your Google Shopping channel]**, go to the **Categories** step.
2. Map (assign) categories for all items.
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Create rules <a href="#h_01k8r8et8k49h991f4an53c0zw" id="h_01k8r8et8k49h991f4an53c0zw"></a>

When your product data is incomplete or doesn’t match the format that Google requires, you can use rules to make improvements.&#x20;

1. Create rules to optimize your products and meet Google Shopping's listing requirements.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Tip:** Use our rule templates to quickly set up rules.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Important:** Don't create any rules to exclude out of stock products. Google uses availability status to indicate whether a product is out of stock.&#x20;
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Map shared attributes <a href="#h_01k8r8et8kcy6gv59c1p25henr" id="h_01k8r8et8kcy6gv59c1p25henr"></a>

The **Build** step is where you configure your product listings to match marketplace requirements. It’s an essential step for getting your products live and avoiding errors.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Tip:** Hover over for more information about the attribute, accepted values, and an example.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

1. Go to the **Build** step.
2. Map attributes marked as required by marketplace ().
3. Map any remaining attributes that are relevant for your business.
4. Click **Save**.

#### **Detailed information about required attributes** <a href="#h_01k8r3btqd21fhsabfv21h0a7w" id="h_01k8r3btqd21fhsabfv21h0a7w"></a>

**Items section**

* **Availability:** Select the field that indicates your product's stock status&#x20;
* **Title:** Select the field that contains product titles&#x20;
* **Description:** Select the field that contains your product descriptions
* **Link:**
* **Brand:** Select the field that contains the product's brand
* **Condition:** Select the field that indicates your product's condition
  * If the same condition applies to all your products, click the dropdown > **Static values** and select the condition type.
* **Channel:** Select the field containing information on where you house your product's inventory data.&#x20;
  * If your inventory is all housed locally/online, click the dropdown > **Static values** and select the location type.
* **Currency:** Select the field containing information on the currency you're selling your products in.&#x20;
  * If you're selling in the same currency for all products, click the dropdown > **Static values** and select the currency.
* **Price:** Select the field containing your product prices.

  **Note:** Decimal values using commas (,) aren't accepted. If your data uses commas, you'll need to change them to decimal points (.).&#x20;
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Connect to Google Merchant Center <a href="#h_01hy3d918dgz1e9sgg7cxd9w6m" id="h_01hy3d918dgz1e9sgg7cxd9w6m"></a>

Once you have finished setting up your product listings, you can send them to your Google Merchant Center:

1. In **\[your Google Shopping API]**, go to **Settings**.
2. At **Linked seller account**, click **Select seller account**.&#x20;
3. Click **+ Connect a new account** to add a new seller account.
   1. For **Label**: Name your connection
4. We'll redirect you to Google to log in with your credentials and accept permissions.
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Activate your API <a href="#h_01k8tcc2hbbg22yvvycm4910xd" id="h_01k8tcc2hbbg22yvvycm4910xd"></a>

1. Activate your project if you haven't done so already (**Settings > Activate Project > Save**)
2. In the **Settings** step of **\[your Google Shopping API]**, click **Activate API**.
3. Click **Save**.
4. Click **Run now** to send your listings to Google Shopping.
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Review and fix listing errors <a href="#h_01j35h130qvdf03xj50b02adjv" id="h_01j35h130qvdf03xj50b02adjv"></a>

Go to the **Result** step and click on the **Feedback** tab. This page displays all possible processing errors your product data has at a given moment.&#x20;

#### **Resolving errors** <a href="#h_01k8r8dqkckp5peq77mmdev91f" id="h_01k8r8dqkckp5peq77mmdev91f"></a>

1. In **Description**, click on the error name. This takes you to an overview of the products with that error.
2. In **ID**, click the ID number and scroll. You should see a red highlighted callout in the section where the error occurred. Hover over the callout for more information.
   1. If the error is a mapping error, click **View in build** to be directed to the attribute you need to map/re-map, which is highlighted in blue.
   2. For more information about the attribute and its accepted values, hover over .
3. Resolve the error.
4. Repeat for remaining errors. When you're ready, run your channel again by clicking **Run now**.

You can check your successfully listed products in the **Successful** tab.&#x20;
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}