Setting Up Feed URLs in GMC
The recommended way to get your products into GMC is through feed URLs. GMC fetches your feed on a schedule, keeping your products up to date automatically.
Why Use Feed URLs?
Section titled “Why Use Feed URLs?”| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Automatic updates | GMC fetches changes on schedule |
| Easy debugging | Download and inspect feed files |
| No API quotas | Fetch method has no rate limits |
| Historical data | Feed files preserved for troubleshooting |
| Industry standard | Widely documented and supported |
Getting Your Feed URL
Section titled “Getting Your Feed URL”-
Go to Feeds
In Feedy McFeed Feed, click Feeds in the sidebar.
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Select your feed
Click on your Google Shopping feed.
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Copy the URL
Click the Copy URL button next to “Feed URL”.
Your URL looks like:
https://yourdomain.com/feeds/abc123-def456.xmlAdding to Google Merchant Center
Section titled “Adding to Google Merchant Center”-
Open Merchant Center
Go to Google Merchant Center.
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Navigate to Feeds
Click Products > Feeds in the left menu.
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Add new feed
Click the + button or Add feed.
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Configure feed basics
- Country of sale: Your target market
- Language: Feed content language
- Click Continue
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Enter feed name
Use a descriptive name like “Feedy McFeed Feed - All Products”.
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Choose scheduled fetch
Select Scheduled fetch as the input method.
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Enter feed URL
Paste your Feedy McFeed Feed URL.
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Set fetch frequency
Choose how often GMC fetches:
- Daily — For most stores (recommended)
- Weekly — For stable catalogs
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Set fetch time
Choose when GMC fetches. Pick a time after Feedy McFeed Feed regenerates.
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Create feed
Click Create feed to finish.
Fetch Frequency Recommendations
Section titled “Fetch Frequency Recommendations”| Store Type | Recommended Frequency | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Frequent price changes | Daily | Keep prices accurate |
| Frequent inventory changes | Daily | Avoid selling out-of-stock |
| Stable catalog | Weekly | Reduce unnecessary processing |
| Large catalog (100k+) | Daily | Allow time for processing |
Coordinating Schedules
Section titled “Coordinating Schedules”For best results, ensure GMC fetches after Feedy McFeed Feed regenerates:
Example schedule:
- Feedy McFeed Feed regenerates at 2:00 AM
- GMC fetches at 4:00 AM
- Products updated by morning
Setting Feedy McFeed Feed Schedule
Section titled “Setting Feedy McFeed Feed Schedule”- Go to Feeds > select feed > Settings
- Set Regeneration Schedule
- Choose time before GMC fetch
Testing Your Feed URL
Section titled “Testing Your Feed URL”Manual Fetch in GMC
Section titled “Manual Fetch in GMC”After adding your feed:
- Go to Products > Feeds
- Click on your feed
- Click Fetch now
- Wait for processing
Verify Feed Content
Section titled “Verify Feed Content”Download and inspect your feed:
- In Feedy McFeed Feed, click Download Feed
- Open the file
- Verify products appear correctly
Supplemental Feeds
Section titled “Supplemental Feeds”Add supplemental feeds for additional data:
What Supplemental Feeds Do
Section titled “What Supplemental Feeds Do”- Add data to existing products (don’t create new ones)
- Override specific attributes
- Add custom labels or promotions
Creating a Supplemental Feed
Section titled “Creating a Supplemental Feed”In GMC:
- Go to Products > Feeds
- Click Add supplemental feed
- Enter Feedy McFeed Feed supplemental URL
- Map attributes to update
Multiple Feeds
Section titled “Multiple Feeds”You might need multiple feeds for:
| Scenario | Approach |
|---|---|
| Multiple countries | One feed per country/language |
| Different product sets | Filtered feeds by collection |
| Testing vs Production | Separate feeds with different settings |
Managing Multiple Feeds in GMC
Section titled “Managing Multiple Feeds in GMC”- Create separate feeds in Feedy McFeed Feed for each need
- Add each feed URL to GMC
- Label feeds clearly in both systems
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”Feed not fetching
Section titled “Feed not fetching”Check:
- URL is accessible (test in browser)
- No firewall blocking Google’s IPs
- Feed file isn’t empty
Fetch errors
Section titled “Fetch errors”Common errors and solutions:
| Error | Solution |
|---|---|
| 404 Not Found | Verify URL is correct |
| 403 Forbidden | Check token if protected |
| Timeout | Large feed may need more time |
| Invalid XML | Check feed for formatting errors |
Products not updating
Section titled “Products not updating”Check:
- Feed actually regenerated with changes
- GMC completed fetch (check fetch history)
- Processing didn’t fail (check diagnostics)
Duplicate product errors
Section titled “Duplicate product errors”Cause: Same product in multiple feeds or ID conflicts. Solution: Use unique IDs or designate one feed as primary.
Feed URL Security
Section titled “Feed URL Security”Public vs Protected
Section titled “Public vs Protected”| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Simple setup | Anyone can access |
| Token-protected | Secure | Slightly complex setup |
Adding Token Protection
Section titled “Adding Token Protection”- In Feedy McFeed Feed, go to feed Settings
- Enable Require authentication
- Copy the generated token
- Add token to GMC feed URL:
https://example.com/feeds/abc.xml?token=secret123
IP Restrictions
Section titled “IP Restrictions”For maximum security, restrict access to Google’s IPs:
- Configure in your hosting/firewall
- Google publishes their IP ranges