Are you a business owner looking to build a successful ecommerce website?
If so, then SEO should be at the top of your list.
Search engine optimization can make or break an online store – optimizing for search engines is essential for any ecommerce website if you want to stand out from the competition and increase traffic.
This ultimate guide to SEO for ecommerce websites in 2023 will give you insights into how SEO works, what are the best SEO strategies for ecommerce websites, and how to create an effective SEO strategy for ecommerce websites that will help grow your business.
Let’s get started with the burning question, “What is ecommerce SEO?”
What is Ecommerce SEO, & How Does It Work?
Ecommerce SEO is the process of optimizing your online ecommerce store for search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
This means taking all the necessary steps to make your website appear higher in search results when users search for related keywords.
SEO for ecommerce site involves optimizing your website’s written and visual content, as well as its structure and technical aspects. This makes it easier for search engine robots to crawl, index, and understand your website and ultimately rank it higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
What does “indexing” mean?
Indexing is like registering your website on Google’s directory or database.
If your website is not indexed, users won’t be able to see it, which means you can’t rank on search engines.
How Does Search Engine Optimization Work?
SEO is a combination of on-page and off-page optimization strategies.
On-Page SEO
On-page optimization involves optimizing elements on your website, such as the design, content, coding, and URL structure.
Some of the basic on-page optimization tasks include:
Writing keyword-rich website content, titles, and meta descriptions
Setting up an internal linking structure
Enhancing page speed and mobile-friendliness
Optimizing images with alt text
Using structured data (Schema markup)
Adding quality external links
All of these factors help search engine robots understand the purpose and content of your website so they can compare it to other ecommerce sites in organic search results.
Off-Page SEO
Off-page optimization, on the other hand, involves activities outside of your website, such as building links from other websites, using social media to promote your content, and submitting your website to directories and webmaster tools like Google Search Console.
These activities all help to increase your website’s visibility and authority in the eyes of search engines.
These on-page and off-page factors are generally known as ranking factors in technical SEO language.
But what exactly is the purpose of ecommerce SEO besides boosting search engine rankings?
Let’s have a quick rundown of the benefits of SEO for ecommerce website.
Benefits of An Ecommerce SEO Campaign
SEO for ecommerce site is essential because of the following:
1. Boost In Website Traffic & Search Visibility
One of the most obvious benefits of ecommerce SEO is that it increases the visibility of your ecommerce site and promises better engagement chances with potential customers.
Doing so builds your digital presence, drives more traffic, and increases customer conversion rates.
2. Minimize Paid Ad Costs
Investing in your ecommerce SEO campaign could mean a significant reduction in your paid advertising budget.
But, thankfully, it would still offer a higher ROI.
Why? and HOW?
Because “53.3% of all organic traffic comes from organic search.” (Source = Ahrefs)
This means more than half of the users ignore paid ads and click on organic search results.
So, cut your paid marketing costs, and double down your investment in SEO tools.
3. Enhance Brand Image
Customers are likely to trust and buy from top stores on search engine results pages simply because they are seen more often.
4. Sit Above Your Competition (Literally)
Ranking higher in search engine results not only puts you above competitor ecommerce sites on Google, but it also gives you the edge when it comes to capturing leads.
The higher your website appears in the SERPs, the more likely customers are to click through to it and make a purchase.
5. Improve Your Retargeting Campaigns
Retargeting campaigns involve targeting previous website visitors with personalized ads in order to remind them about your products and win back potential customers.
SEO can help you with this by providing you with data that lets you know how many people are visiting your website and which pages they’re viewing.
This data will allow you to better determine the right retargeting campaigns and optimize them for maximum ROI.
6. Better Usability & Customer Experience
Good ecommerce SEO practices mean that your website is optimized for usability, which in turn enhances the customer experience and makes it easier for visitors to find what they’re looking for.
This can lead to more satisfied customers and higher conversion rates, making SEO a great investment.
All in all, ecommerce SEO is one of the smartest investments you can make for your online store. It doesn’t just help you to rank higher in search engine results; it also helps you grow in every aspect and emerge as a trusted brand.
Now that we’ve covered the working and benefits of ecommerce SEO, it’s time to dive into the ecommerce SEO best practices you should be using.
12-Step Proven & Effective Ecommerce SEO Strategy (+1 Bonus Step)
Here is what a comprehensive ecommerce SEO strategy should include:
1. Registering Your Ecommerce Site On Search Engines
The very first step to kick off your ecommerce SEO campaign is to submit your website on Google, Bing, and other search engines.
Why?
Registering your website with search engines will ensure that your website is visible to search engine spiders and crawled more frequently.
Moreover, it will send you notifications about any technical issues related to crawling or website usability in general.
How to register your website with search engines?
By adding your website’s URL to the respective search engine’s webmaster tools.
For Google, it’s Google Search Console, and for Bing, it’s Bing Webmaster Tools.
2. Setting Up & Optimizing Your Website Structure
Optimizing your site architecture is one of the key ecommerce SEO tools to benefit from. A well-organized and structured website tells search engines that your ecommerce site is easy to crawl and index.
Moreover, a well-structured website appeals to customers and helps them find the information they are looking for quickly and easily.
So, you need to optimize your website structure for both.
How to optimize ecommerce site architecture for search engine bots?
It’s easy. Simply add your sitemap file to Google and Bing using the respective webmaster tools.
A sitemap is basically a visual representation of all the pages on your website that you want search engines to crawl. This should essentially include all of your product pages, category pages, blog posts, and other content.
What does a sitemap do?
It helps search engine bots crawl and index all the pages of your website. Plus, it also helps users see how your website is organized and where they can easily find the information they’re looking for.
You can create a sitemap yourself or take advantage of automated solutions such as Google’s Webmaster Tools. XML and HTML are both used for sitemaps, but HTML sitemaps are a user-friendly option.
How to optimize ecommerce site architecture for website visitors?
Besides adding a sitemap, make sure that all major pages of your ecommerce store aren’t far away from the homepage.
Users like it when a product or category page is easily accessible within three clicks from the home page, as this lets them navigate your website easily.
So, have a clear navigation system with well-defined categories and properly labeled product pages. But avoid adding unnecessary layers of pages; it could make customers feel lost.
Also, add an easy-to-spot search bar somewhere on the page (preferably in the header area). This will allow customers to quickly search and find what they’re looking for on your website.
Bonus Tip: Want to build more trust with your visitors?
Add an About Us and a Contact Us page so customers know who you are as a brand and where they can reach you.
3. Performing In-Depth Keyword Research
The next step to setting up an effective ecommerce SEO strategy is keyword research.
Why?
Because keywords are the foundation of any successful search engine optimization campaign.
They help you understand what people are searching for when they look up something related to your business and the products you offer.
So, how do you find keywords?
Two of the most effective methods are:
Use a Keyword Research tool:
There are plenty of free and paid keyword research tools available online. Ubersuggest, Answer the Public, and Ahrefs Keywords Explorer are some of the popular ones.
These tools will provide you with a list of keyword suggestions related to your business and products, their search volumes, CPCs, keyword difficulty scores, and more.
Or, you can use a free tool like Google Keyword Planner. It’s a great way to find relevant and popular keywords for your website.
Bonus Tip: You can use the auto suggest feature on Amazon, Etsy, and other platforms to find more relevant keywords.
Google’s Autosuggest:
Another easy way to find keyword ideas is through Google’s auto suggest feature. All you have to do is type a keyword into the search box, and Google will automatically suggest related terms.
For example, if you type ‘running shoes,’ it’ll give you a list of related keywords such as ‘best running shoes,’ ‘running shoes for women,’ and so on.
These keyword suggestions will give you a better idea of what people are searching for, allowing you to create targeted content and campaigns.
Plus, you’ll uncover excellent long-tail keywords with high buying intent — which brings us to another aspect of ecommerce keyword research.
Search intent refers to the intention behind search queries: the reason why people are searching or looking up a particular keyword.
Identifying search intent and optimizing your content accordingly is the key to driving more organic traffic and conversions.
For example, if someone is searching for ‘running shoes,’ their search intent could be learning about features, pricing, and different options available in the market.
You can optimize your content around this intent and write product-review articles, comparison articles, or guides, including informational keywords.
On the other hand, if someone’s searching for “running shoes for men under $200,” it means they’re almost ready to spend that amount. You can create website pages targeting those keywords and include relevant calls-to-action in your product pages, category pages, and product descriptions.
The key is to understand what people are searching for and create content that aligns with the search intent. This will surely help improve your SEO rankings.
5. Optimizing Your Website
Once you’ve done your keyword research and identified search intent, the next step is to optimize your existing website content.
Add Keywords
Include your keywords in the following:
Title tags, meta tags, and meta descriptions on your home page, ecommerce category pages, product pages, and blog posts.
Why?
Because users see these tags and descriptions first when they search for a keyword on Google, so it’s important to make sure they are optimized.
However, you would want to stay away from keyword stuffing and place them naturally throughout your content.
Write descriptive URLs including your primary keyword, to get an edge over your competitors.
Having keywords in the URL helps you stand out in the eyes of both the search engine and visitors.
This is the text you add to images to serve as an alternative text for search engines. This gives Google the ability to read what your image is about, giving you an extra boost in rankings.
Tip: Adding modifiers such as “Coupon,” “Discount,” and “Free Shipping” in your meta description can increase clickthrough rate (or CTR), which is a strong ranking factor in the eyes of Google.
Focus On Link Building
Link building is an indirect ranking factor, but it can make a huge difference in your SEO rankings. There are two sides to it:
Internal links – Link to other pages on your website. This helps Google better understand the structure and content of your website, which can help boost rankings. Moreover, it also helps visitors stay on your site for longer.
External links – Link to other relevant websites and blogs. This helps Google verify that your content is valuable and trustworthy, thus boosting rankings.
But make sure you only link to relevant and credible websites and don’t link to irrelevant or low-quality sources. Not only is it bad for SEO, but it also ruins user experience and reflects poorly on your reputation.
Also, try not to link to direct competitors, as it will give them free traffic and a possible ranking boost to outrank your website.
6. Creating High-Quality Backlinks To Your Ecommerce Website
Backlinks are one of the most powerful ranking signals for Google and an excellent way to strengthen your SEO strategy for ecommerce website. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the higher your website will rank in search engine results pages (SERPs).
You can get high-quality backlinks from authority websites in your niche. Consider guest blogging, directory submissions, and leveraging social media to get some relevant backlinks. You can also reach out to influencers in your niche to get them to link to your website or products.
Lastly, make sure the backlinks are from credible sites and use relevant anchor text to increase the chances of getting a higher ranking.
7. Enhancing User Experience
Google uses a number of factors to determine the quality and relevance of content, one of which is user experience. It looks at how long users stay on a page and whether or not they find the information useful.
A good user experience is essential for ecommerce SEO success, so make sure your website is easy to use, and navigation is simple.
Here are a couple of things you can do to improve user experience.
Have a Responsive Design:
Make sure your website is optimized for mobile devices and has a responsive design. This will ensure that users on all types of devices have a good experience navigating your website.
Reduce Page Load Speed:
Page load speed is one of the most important factors for user experience and SEO. If your website takes too long to load, users will quickly leave, and it will hurt your rankings.
Make sure the page is optimized for speed by using caching, compressing images, and minimizing scripts.
Add a Search Bar:
Adding a search bar to your website makes it easier for users to find what they’re looking for. This helps reduce bounce rate and keeps users on your website for longer.
Create User-Friendly Checkout:
The checkout process should be simple and straightforward. Make sure the checkout process is easy to navigate and keep distractions to a minimum.
Also, provide features like guest checkout and payment options such as PayPal and credit card to ensure customers have a smooth checkout experience.
Following these tips will help you make your ecommerce website more user-friendly and help visitors stay long enough to convert into paying customers. It will, in turn, signal Google to rank you higher than websites with poor design and high bounce rates.
9. Using Schema Markups To Facilitate Google And Users
Schema markup is a type of structured data that helps search engines understand the content on your website. It’s basically a code added to your HTML that provides additional information about what’s on the page.
Using schema markup can help search engines display your website’s information in the form of rich snippets, like product markup snippets and review snippets. These snippets help users spot useful information faster and easier.
The most common ecommerce schema are:
Product schema: For displaying product-related information like price, availability, and images. This extension also allows more efficient displaying of product ads.
Review schema: For displaying review ratings and summaries on the search result page. Users can see the reviewer’s information and verify if the review is credible.
Video schema: For displaying videos in search results. This extension helps search engines understand the type of video and its content.
Price schema: For displaying pricing information of products. It is often used to display price ranges for product variations.
Using schema markups will help you get more visibility and clicks from search results, which eventually leads to better SEO rankings (and more sales).
10. Tackling Duplicate Content
Duplicate content is when one page has the same or similar content as another page, which is a common issue for ecommerce stores.
Having duplicate content on your website is bad for SEO because it creates confusion for search engines and makes it difficult to determine which page should be ranked higher in search engine results pages.
You can avoid this by using canonical tags. These tags essentially tell search engines which page is the original or “master version” and that all other pages with similar content are to be ignored.
Or, you can use the Robots.txt file to block duplicate content from being indexed.
Both methods work, but the canonical tag is preferable since it offers more control over duplicate content.
By avoiding duplicate content, you will be able to improve your SEO for ecommerce site and get better SEO rankings.
11. Monitoring & Tracking Your Ecommerce SEO Efforts
Finally, you should monitor and track your ecommerce SEO efforts to measure their effectiveness.
How?
Google Analytics is one of the best ecommerce SEO tools out there, and it can be used to track your website’s performance. By setting up goals and tracking metrics like bounce rate, time on page, and click-through rate (CTR), you can get insights into how well your SEO efforts are working.
You can also use other tools like Screaming Frog, DeepCrawl, and Ahrefs to audit your website and track changes in the backlinks.
You should also use A/B testing to determine which changes have a positive impact on your SEO rankings.
By tracking your ecommerce SEO efforts, you will be able to identify areas where you need improvement and make the necessary changes. This will help you achieve better SEO rankings and more organic traffic in the long run.
12. Keeping Up With SEO Trends
SEO trends are constantly changing, and you need to stay up-to-date if you want to keep up with the competition.
You can do this by attending SEO conferences, reading industry blogs, and staying up-to-date with the latest Google updates.
You should also keep an eye on your competitors’ SEO strategies and use tools like Ahrefs to monitor changes in their backlinks.
By keeping up with SEO trends, you’ll be able to create effective SEO strategies for ecommerce websites, stay one step ahead of the competition, and stay on top of the SERPs.
And now for some more value, here is a BONUS that most ecommerce brands ignore.
13. BONUS = Leveraging The Power Of Pinterest SEO
Did you know that Pinterest is a search engine in itself?
People search on Pinterest just like they would on Google or Bing.
However, instead of delivering traditional results like Google, it offers visuals.
So, when someone enters a query in the Pinterest search bar, it will work to find the most appropriate (read: optimized) pins for that individual’s needs.
This means with a proper Pinterest SEO strategy, you can increase your profile’s visibility and get more website traffic from this unique search engine.
Here are a few actionable tips to optimize for Pinterest SEO:
Get a Pinterest business account, as it has more optimization features.
Use relevant keywords in the pin description and post titles.
Create visually appealing pins optimized for Pinterest.
Include links to your website in the pin description.
Incorporate rich pins into your strategy.
Optimize the board titles and descriptions for keywords related to the content you are sharing.
Use keyword-rich headlines on your blog posts and link them to corresponding Pinterest boards.
Follow these simple tips to improve your SEO for ecommerce website, drive more traffic, and increase your overall visibility online.
Build Your Way To Success With Ecommerce SEO
Following the above-listed strategies will surely help you build a successful ecommerce website that ranks well and drives more sales.
But remember, ecommerce SEO is an ever-evolving field, and staying up to date with the latest trends can be a challenge.
This is where an Ecommerce Marketing Mastery Certificate can help – it will equip you with the most up-to-date knowledge and competencies to make your ecommerce business succeed.
Or consider having an expert team that understands SEO strategies for ecommerce by your side to implement the latest tricks of the trade.
No matter which way you decide to go, your ecommerce business will surely benefit from the power of SEO.
Other brands can copy your style, tone and strategy — but they can’t copy your data.
Your data is your competitive advantage in an environment where enterprises are working to grab market share by designing can’t-miss, always-on customer experiences. Your marketing tech stack enables those experiences.
Join ActionIQ and Snowplow to learn the value of composing your stack – decoupling the data collection and activation layers to drive more intelligent targeting.
Cynthia Ramsaran is director of custom content at Third Door Media, publishers of Search Engine Land and MarTech. A multi-channel storyteller with over two decades of editorial/content marketing experience, Cynthia’s expertise spans the marketing, technology, finance, manufacturing and gaming industries. She was a writer/producer for CNBC.com and produced thought leadership for KPMG. Cynthia hails from Queens, NY and earned her Bachelor’s and MBA from St. John’s University.
In a groundbreaking alliance, Amazon and Hyundai have joined forces to reshape the automotive landscape, promising a revolutionary shift in how we buy, drive, and experience cars.
Imagine browsing for your dream car on Amazon, with the option to seamlessly purchase, pick up, or have it delivered—all within the familiar confines of the world’s largest online marketplace. Buckle up as we explore the potential impact of this monumental partnership and the transformation it heralds for the future of auto retail.
Driving Change Through Amazon’s Auto Revolution
Consider “Josh”, a tech-savvy professional with an affinity for efficiency. Faced with the tedious process of purchasing a new car, he stumbled upon Amazon’s automotive section. Intrigued by the prospect of a one-stop shopping experience, Josh decided to explore the Amazon-Hyundai collaboration.
The result?
A hassle-free online car purchase, personalized to his preferences, and delivered to his doorstep. Josh’s story is just a glimpse into the real-world impact of this game-changing partnership.
Bridging the Gap Between Convenience and Complexity
Traditional car buying is often marred by complexities, from navigating dealership lots to negotiating prices. The disconnect between the convenience consumers seek and the cumbersome process they endure has long been a pain point in the automotive industry. The need for a streamlined, customer-centric solution has never been more pressing.
Ecommerce Partnership Reshaping Auto Retail Dynamics
Enter Amazon and Hyundai’s new strategic partnership coming in 2024—an innovative solution poised to redefine the car-buying experience. The trio of key developments—Amazon becoming a virtual showroom, Hyundai embracing AWS for a digital makeover, and the integration of Alexa into next-gen vehicles—addresses the pain points with a holistic approach.
In 2024, auto dealers for the first time will be able to sell vehicles in Amazon’s U.S. store, and Hyundai will be the first brand available for customers to purchase.
This collaboration promises not just a transaction but a transformation in the way customers interact with, purchase, and engage with their vehicles.
Pedal to the Metal
Seamless Online Purchase:
Complete the entire transaction within the trusted Amazon platform.
Utilize familiar payment and financing options.
Opt for convenient pick-up or doorstep delivery.
Become A Certified E-Commerce Marketing Master
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Experience a data-driven organization powered by AWS.
Benefit from enhanced production optimization, cost reduction, and improved security.
Alexa Integration in Next-Gen Vehicles:
Enjoy a hands-free, voice-controlled experience in Hyundai vehicles.
Access music, podcasts, reminders, and smart home controls effortlessly.
Stay connected with up-to-date traffic and weather information.
Driving into the Future
The Amazon-Hyundai collaboration is not just a partnership; it’s a revolution in motion. As we witness the fusion of e-commerce giant Amazon with automotive prowess of Hyundai, the potential impact on customer behavior is staggering.
The age-old challenges of car buying are met with a forward-thinking, customer-centric solution, paving the way for a new era in auto retail. From the comfort of your home to the driver’s seat, this partnership is set to redefine every step of the journey, promising a future where buying a car is as easy as ordering a package online.
Embrace the change, and witness the evolution of auto retail unfold before your eyes.
It’s no wonder that responsive search ads have steadily grown in popularity in recent years. Through Google’s machine learning capabilities, RSAs provide a powerful way to automate the testing of multiple headlines and descriptions to ensure a closer match to user intent. The benefits are clear: RSAs mean broader reach, better engagement, and improved performance metrics.
However, all these benefits come at a significant (but reasonable) cost – they can be extremely difficult to manage, especially when it comes to updating ad copy to promote limited time offers.
I know this firsthand – I work with several ecommerce clients with promotions that constantly change. Not too long ago, I found myself going through the consistently tedious process of updating a client’s RSA headlines and copy. As I was making the changes, I thought to myself: “There must be a better way to update this ad copy. I shouldn’t have to use find and replace so many times while pausing and enabling my ad campaigns.”
After expressing this to my colleague, Jordan Stambaugh, the two of us agreed there must be a better way. But we’d have to make it happen. A few weeks later, we put that idea into action and created a more efficient process for updating RSA ad copy on a scheduled basis. If you want to try this process for yourself, just keep reading.
Responsive Search Ad Customizers 101: Basic Options & Execution
Before diving into the process of scheduling automatic updates for your RSA customizers, it’s essential to understand some key Responsive Search Ad fundamentals.
First, you can customize three main options within RSAs: the Attribute Name, the Data Type, and the Account Value. Each of these plays a vital role in personalizing your ads:
Attribute Name: This is essentially the identifier for the customizer. It is how you’ll reference the specific piece of information you’re customizing within the ad. For instance, if you’re running a promotion, you might name an attribute “Promotion.”
Data Type: This indicates the kind of data the attribute represents and it determines how the information can be formatted and used within the ad. Common data types include Text (for plain, non-numeric text), Percent (to represent percentage discounts), Price (to denote monetary values), and Number (for any numerical value).
Account Value: This is the default value for the attribute that you set at the account level. It acts as a fallback if more specific values aren’t provided at the campaign or ad group level.
For example, if you wanted to promote a 10% off discount using RSAs, you’d use the “Discount” attribute, a data type of “Percent,” and an account value of “10% off.” Then, when someone is searching for products, Google would test automatically inserting a copy regarding a 10% off promotion into your ad.
Once you’ve set up the right customization options, you can start to format your RSAs with customizers.
Here’s how:
Start by typing in {
Click on Ad Customizer then select your attribute
Google will populate your attributes that are already uploaded
For a simple offer, use the “Default text” attribute as a catch-all. This will ensure your ads run smoothly if Google can’t pull the right messaging from your RSA feed
How to Schedule Your Ad Customizers with a Feed
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s cover how to schedule your ad customizers.
Just follow this three step process:
1. Create the feed
Start by creating two sheets: The Parent sheet, and the Child sheet. The “Parent” sheet will act as the primary data source, while the child sheet will pull data from the parent sheet.
We’ll start by building the parent sheet. After opening the sheet, start by renaming the active tab to “Promotions.” Don’t skip this step, it’s crucial for referencing this range in formulas later on.
In your “Promotions” tab, head to the top row and label columns A, B, and C with the headers of your ad customizer attributes. For example, you might have “BrandSaleHeadline” as your attribute in column A, “text” as the Data Type in column B, and “Shop the Collection” as the Account Value in column C.
Once your headers are in place, move to cell C2. Here, you’ll input the expression =lookup(today(),F:G,E:E). This formula will play a key role in dynamically updating your RSA customizer based on the current date.
Next, go to columns E, F, and G, which will be used to manage your scheduling. In these columns, you’ll list out the different values your chosen attribute might take, alongside their corresponding start and end dates. For example, under the “BrandSaleHeadline” attribute, you might schedule various promotional headlines to appear during different sale periods throughout the year.
Here’s how your sheet might look:
Now look back at the first 3 columns on your sheet. They should look like this:
Now create a second sheet. We’ll call this sheet the Child sheet. It’s going to automatically pull in data from the parent sheet you just created, and will be the one you link to Google Ads later on.
Columns A, B and C will be almost identical to the child sheet, but we will be using a special formula later so we can automatically populate this. So, start by labeling Row 1 Column A “Attribute,” then the next column as “Data type,” then column C as “Account value.”
Then go to C2 and use this expression to populate the right account value from the parent document: =importrange(“[PARENT DOCUMENT URL HERE]”,”Promotions!C2″)
Your sheet should now look like this:
We recommend adding a date range with default text for any days you’re not running a promotion. In the example above, we have “Shop Our Collection” appearing as default text.
2. Input attributes
Once you have your feed created, the next step involves inputting your attributes into the Google Ads platform. This can be done either manually or through a bulk upload.
For the manual approach, navigate to “Tools & Settings” in your Google Ads interface, then go to ‘Setup’ followed by “Business Data.” Here, you’ll find an option for “Ad Customizer Attributes.” Click the plus sign to add your attributes. It’s crucial to use the same attribute names that you’ve established in your Parent Google Sheet template to ensure consistency and proper data synchronization.
Alternatively, if you prefer the bulk upload method, again head to “Tools & Settings.” This time, select “Bulk Actions” and then “Uploads.” For this process, you only need to upload columns A to C from your template.
Be aware that it might take some time for your uploaded attributes to be reflected in the business data section of Google Ads.
3. Set up an automatic schedule
At this point, you’ve almost finished scheduling your ad customizers. Navigate to Tools & Settings, then Bulk Actions, then Uploads, then click the Schedules tab at the top. Select your Child Google Sheet as the data source, and share your Google Sheet with the appropriate email.
And there you have it – Google will automatically pull in the data you populated in the sheets into your RSAs.
Common Challenges When Scheduling RSA Ad Customizers
When we test these sheets with our clients in the wild, we’ve uncovered five common challenges. Be on the lookout for these issues – solving them before they happen can save you a lot of trouble down the line.
Not scheduling your upload when the site changes
The first and most significant hurdle is the mismatch between the scheduled data upload and website content updates. For instance, if the Google Sheet is set to upload at 11 am, but the website changes occur at 3 pm, there’s going to be a discrepancy where the wrong message could be displayed for several hours, or new messaging could appear prematurely. Conversely, if the website updates happen before the scheduled sheet upload, outdated promotions might linger until the new data is imported. Synchronizing these schedules is crucial; it’s best to align them so updates occur simultaneously.
Skipping QA during a message change
Another pitfall is neglecting quality assurance (QA) during message updates. It’s vital to regularly check the business data section to verify that the correct values are in place post-update.
Issues with the IMPORTRANGE function
Then there’s the technical aspect of setting up the IMPORTRANGE function correctly in the Google Sheets template. The ‘child’ template must reliably pull data from the ‘parent’ sheet. If this function isn’t configured correctly, data won’t be imported as needed.
Not sharing access of the Google template for automatic uploads
Pay attention to your access permissions for the Google Sheets template. Google will prompt you with the email address that needs permission to access the ‘child’ sheet for automatic uploads. Overlooking the sharing of your sheet with this address will prevent the system from working.
Having date range gaps in your parent sheet
Lastly, a common oversight is leaving date range gaps in the ‘parent’ sheet. Every single date must be accounted for without overlaps. A practical tip is to have an ‘evergreen’ backup message ready, scheduled to run continuously, ideally through the end of the year, to cover any potential gaps.
Conclusion
Leveraging Google Sheets in conjunction with Google Ads to schedule RSA ad customizers is a game-changer for managing dynamic promotional content. This process not only streamlines your workflows but also ensures that your ads remain relevant and up-to-date, reflecting current promotions without the need for constant manual intervention.
By adopting this method, you’ll save significant time and effort, allowing you to focus more on strategy and less on the minutiae of ad copy updates. Give it a try and experience a more efficient way to manage your RSAs, keeping your campaigns fresh and engaging with minimal hassle.
![How to Schedule Ad Customizers for Google RSAs [2024]](https://articles.entireweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/How-to-Schedule-Ad-Customizers-for-Google-RSAs-2024.jpg "How to Schedule Ad Customizers for Google RSAs [2024]")
