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All CollectionsData feed manager: import & optimization of product dataImport product data to emarketing
Setting up the product data source
Setting up the product data source

Information on how to set up a source for product data: Import via plugin, CSV file or via Google Merchant Center.

Patrick Radzewitz avatar
Written by Patrick Radzewitz
Updated over 2 years ago

Introduction

There are currently three options for importing product data into the emarketing account. You can set up multiple data sources, but only one data source can be enabled for import:

  • emarketing plugin

  • CSV file

  • Google Merchant Center

emarketing plugin

The emarketing plugin is offered for the following store systems:

The emarketing plugin can be obtained for free, it is included in your emarketing subscription.

Using the emarketing plugin to import product data has the following advantages:

  • Minimal effort: you do not have to worry about creating, configuring or uploading the product data feed. The emarketing plugin is connected to your emarketing account and set up as a source. Templates are provided for Google Merchant Center, Facebook Product Catalog, and Microsoft Advertising Merchant Center to ensure that your product data meets the requirements of each platform.

  • Automatic updating of product data: The plugin exports your product data to your emarketing account once a day. From there, the product data is uploaded to the connected advertising platforms, such as Google Shopping, Facebook Ads or Microsoft Advertising.

  • Extensive options for optimizing the product data feed: the emarketing plugin accesses all attributes, properties, characteristics, etc. in the store backend and offers them for use in the product data feed. You can individually assign the product data of your store to the attributes used on the advertising platforms (mapping), combine different store attributes and optimize the quality of your product data feed via rules and filters.

CSV file

If no emarketing plugin is offered for your store system, or if you would like to create the product data feed directly from your merchandise management system, for example, a CSV file can be used as the source for the product data. The CSV file to be used can be stored on your server and imported and updated by emarketing on a daily basis.

Of course, emarketing data feed management can also be used to optimize product data for the various advertising platforms when using a CSV file as a data source. The optimized product data can then be used for Google Merchant Center, Facebook Product Catalog as well as Microsoft Merchant Center.

When using a CSV file as the source for the product data feed, you must ensure that the file is accessible on your server and is updated regularly. In addition, the structure and formatting of the file must follow certain rules. You can find more information about this in the corresponding section of this documentation.

Google Merchant Center

If you are already running a Google Merchant Center with products approved by Google, this Merchant Center can serve as a source for importing the product data to emarketing. After you authorize access to the Google Merchant Center, emarketing automatically imports the products from the Merchant Center every day. The imported product data can then be uploaded to Facebook Ads and Microsoft Advertising via emarketing, which ensures that the product data meets the requirements of each platform.

The emarketing data feed management can be used to optimize the product data for the other advertising platforms. However, only the product attributes supported by the Google Merchant Center are available for this purpose.

When using the Google Merchant Center as a data source, you must ensure that the data in the Merchant Center is updated regularly.

Adding a new product data source

Data sources can be added and edited in the emarketing account from the Products -> Setup menu:

  • Click New Data Source:
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Setting up the emarketing plugin as a data source


Step 1: Select source

  • Select emarketing plugin:
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  • Click Create Pipeline in the bottom right corner.

Step 2: Set up source

The emarketing plugin automatically exchanges the authorization tokens needed for the connection between the store system and the emarketing account, if you have created your emarketing account via the plugin in your backend. It will display whether the plugin has been successfully connected to the emarketing account:
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NOTE: If you are running a JTL store, the token must be copied manually and entered in the emarketing plugin in the JTL backend.

  • Click Continue at the bottom right.

Step 3: Additional setup

  • Configure at least one target country for importing the product data:

    • Country Selection: Select the desired destination country.

    • Language: Select the language for the product data.

    • Currency: Select the currency for the product data.

If you want to create product data feeds for multiple countries, click +Add Target Country and configure the target country, content language, and currency accordingly.

NOTE: The available target countries, content languages, and currencies depend on the availability of these values in your store system backend. Only countries that are active for delivery in the store backend will be offered.

  • Click Continue at the bottom right.

Step 4: Attributes Mapping

By clicking Show Default Mapping, you open the configuration of the product data feed. You can customize and optimize the default configuration according to your requirements.

HINT: It is not mandatory to customize the product data feed. In the default configuration, emarketing automatically outputs the product data so that it works for Google Shopping, Facebook Dynamic Ads and Microsoft Advertising. However, an individual adjustment and optimization can help to increase the quality of the product data feed and thus the success of your advertising. You can find detailed instructions on how to optimize the product data feed via the emarketing data feed manager here.

  • Click Finish at the bottom right to complete the product data source setup.

After the product data source has been set up, the product import will start automatically. Depending on the amount of products to be imported, this may take a few minutes.

  • Click Products -> Product List to view the result of the product import:
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HINT: You can start a manual import of the product data at any time. To do this, click on Update data in the top right of the product list.

Uploading the product data to a connected advertising platform

After successfully setting up a product data source, the product data is automatically uploaded to all connected advertising platforms (Google Merchant Center, Facebook Commerce Manager, Microsoft Merchant Center) on a daily basis, if automatic upload has been enabled in the respective section. You can also upload the product data manually at any time.

To do so, please proceed as follows:

  • Open the menu of the respective advertising platform and then the Setup submenu (e.g. Google Ads -> Setup).

  • Click on Upload products now:
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