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Business Seller News - Autumn 2012

Add unique product identifiers to appear in Google Product Search

You must now add unique product identifiers to your listings in order to appear in Google Product Search.

Google requires all sellers to include unique product identifiers in their listings. Not providing these identifiers means your items won’t show up in Google Product Search results – causing you to miss out on sales opportunities.

Further changes for 2013 have been announced by Google.

Google Product Search is a key source of traffic to your listings. eBay will continue to invest in paid search to benefit our sellers.

Example of Google Product Search

Example of Google Product Search

What you need to do

NOW


  • Update your listings with the required unique product identifiers. This maximises the exposure of your listings in Google Product Search results and could attract more buyers to your items.

Details

Adding unique product identifiers to your listings

CategoryIdentifiers required for each product
Media (i.e. music, films, video gamesGlobal Trade Item Number (GTIN): the barcodes usually found on products bought in retail shops. Every item, from groceries to electronics, sold in retail locations typically includes this barcode. These include the European Article Number (EAN) or Universal Product Code (UPC).
BooksISBN (Either ISBN-10 or ISBN-13. Exceptions apply for books published before 1970.)
Clothes, Shoes & Accessories* 

Items need the following identifiers:

  •  Brand
  • Size (*This identifier does not apply to the Accessories category.)
  • Colour
Custom-made goodsNo identifiers are required at the moment.
All other

At least 2 of the following 3 identifiers:

  1. Global Trade Item Number (GTIN): the barcodes usually found on products bought in retail shops. Every item, from groceries to electronics, sold in retail locations typically includes this barcode. These include the European Article Number (EAN) or Universal Product Code (UPC).
  2. Brand.
  3. Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): any number which, in combination with the brand, uniquely identifies a product. Manufacturers use this number to manage their inventory and product lines.
Updating your listings with unique product identifiers

The following tools can also be used to update your listings:

  • Bulk edit tool (You can update up to 200 listings at once using this tool.)
  • Sell your item form
  • Revise your item form
  • Turbo Lister
  • File Exchange

Check with your third-party listing tool provider to find out whether they support unique product identifiers.


Frequently asked questions

 

Do I have to add unique product identifiers to my listings?

 

Are there any categories which don’t require unique product identifiers?

 

I’ve added unique product identifiers to my listings. Does this guarantee that my listings will appear in Google Product Search?

 

Can I add unique product identifiers to multi-variation listings?



Find help

Adding unique product identifiers to your listings
Category and item specifics changes
Google page on unique product identifiers