When performing some searches on Google Product Search yesterday, I noticed a change at the foot of the result pages. Fig 1. Shows a new addition of Categories, these are all branches from the Google Base Taxonomy.  So for all of you who do not currently use the taxonomy as your current product_type, this is definitely that push to do so. Fig 2. shows the complete searchable extent for Categories within the iPod search. Currently this is only visible within the www.google.com/products, however, I still encourage all www.google.co.uk/products and http://www.google.de/products users to start using the taxonomy now in order to be ready for this change if or when it does get pushed to the UK and DE.

Fig 1.

Fig 2.

Please be aware that this is not another attribute, Category is NO longer a valid attribute and you should not create one for this purpose, this information is pulled from the product_type attribute and that alone. I am unsure how this works currently with custom product_types, that do not follow the Google Base taxonomy, extend upon it or for those who have created their very own branch system for categorisation of their products, but as soon as I have played witness to this I will let you all know.

Again, don’t miss out on clicks and sales when users click a link within this area, leading them to a page where you cannot be found. Do the sensible thing, improve the quality of your feed with Google Product Search now.

- TTD