Providing Google Product Categories

Providing product category information can help customers browse and search for your store's products on Instagram and Facebook. It can increase your store's discoverability, and help improve your ad performance.

A product category is a naming convention that describes the type of item you sell. In your Shopify admin, you can add the correct Google Product Category to each of your products using the the bulk editor. The Google Product Category and the rest of your product data are synced to your product catalog in your Meta Commerce Manager.

If your customers check out directly on Facebook and Instagram, then product categories are required. Product categories help determine how much your customer needs to pay in taxes or if a product is eligible for a custom return policy.

If your customers check out on your Shopify store, then product categories are optional but recommended.

How to use Google Product Categories

When your products sync with Facebook for the first time, Google Product Categories (GPC) are auto-filled for your products to help you get started. Shopify might not find a GPC match for all your products, so you should check to make sure your products have an accurate GPC assigned. For any products that are still missing a GPC, you can add these using the bulk product editor in Facebook and Instagram by Meta.

You should provide the most specific category possible from the Google Product Category list. For tax purposes, Google Product Categories must be at least two levels deep, for example, Apparel & Accessories > Clothing.

Edit Google Product Categories

If your products are automatically assigned a Google Product Category, then you can edit your product information using the bulk editor in Facebook and Instagram by Meta.

Steps:

  1. From your Shopify admin, click Settings > Apps and sales channels.

  2. From the Apps and sales channels page, click Facebook & Instagram.

  3. Click Open sales channel.

  4. In the Product status section of the Overview page, click View all synced products.

  5. Select the products that you want to edit.

  6. Click Edit products.

  7. Edit the Google Product Category field for your products.

  8. Click Save.

The next time your products sync with your Facebook catalog, these values are synced. Product details sync within 15 minutes of product changes being saved.

Automatic categories for tax in Commerce Manager

If you haven’t provided a valid product category for the items that you sell directly on Facebook or Instagram with checkout, then Meta automatically assigns a product category. Meta uses automated software that considers an item’s images, title, and other product information to determine the most likely category to assign, and then matches this product category to the corresponding tax code to calculate tax.

If your product is missing a valid product category, Meta automatically assigns a category. Meta never overrides your selected category after you’ve provided one. Learn more about Automatic Categories in Commerce Manager.

You can edit products that are assigned an automatic Google Product Category using bulk editor in Facebook and Instagram by Meta. The next time your products sync with your Facebook catalog, these values are synced. Product details sync within 15 minutes of product changes being saved.

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