--- title: "How to add products or a Google Shopping XML file" description: "Find out how to add products to Semly using a Google Shopping XML file or a ready-made integration, and why up-to-date product data is important for analyzing brand visibility in AI." url: https://help.semly.ai/en/articles/17-how-to-add-products-or-a-google-shopping-xml-file collection: "Project setup" updated: 2026-10-29 language: en alternates: [pl, es, cs] --- # How to add products or a Google Shopping XML file Find out how to add products to Semly using a Google Shopping XML file or a ready-made integration, and why up-to-date product data is important for analyzing brand visibility in AI. Products are one of the key elements of a project in Semly. Thanks to them, the system can analyze not only the brand itself, but also a specific offer: product names, descriptions, categories, prices, availability and links to product pages. > **Warning:** Adding products applies **only to online stores**. Brands and service-based businesses can skip this step during setup. If you run an online store, adding a product feed file lets Semly better understand what you sell and for which customer questions your products should appear in AI answers. ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/JAqrrTpsyCvZnMyTn5Sxyq5dM9Y06DDBQJsaODLrvYQEZXanv99ZNEvJx0faa9JEWrGBebAn3Jr.png) ## **What is a Google Shopping XML file?** Google Shopping XML is a product feed file containing information about the products available in your online store. Most often such a file is already generated by your e-commerce platform or store system, because it’s used, among other things, in Google Merchant Center, product campaigns and price comparison sites. The file can contain data such as: - product name - product description - price - availability - category - brand - photo - link to the product - product identifier - EAN or GTIN - product variants > **Info:** Semly uses the product feed file to better analyze your offer and link it with customer questions asked to AI models. ## **Why are products important in Semly?** AI models are increasingly answering shopping questions in a very specific way. A user no longer asks only about a brand, but about a solution to a specific problem. Examples of such questions: > Where to buy a bed with storage for a small bedroom? > Which store offers supplements for people who do strength training? > Where can I find natural cosmetics for sensitive skin? > What kind of plastic packaging will work for scrubs and masks? If Semly has access to up-to-date product data, it can better analyze whether your offer matches such queries and where visibility gaps appear. Product data helps with the analysis of: - product categories - product names - product descriptions - features and parameters - availability - matching the offer to prompts - content recommendations - visibility compared to the competition > **Success:** The better the products are described, the easier it is to analyze how well they match customer questions and AI recommendations. ## **Where to add products in Semly?** To add products from a Google Shopping XML file: 1. Log in to the Semly panel 2. Go to the [**Products**](https://platform.semly.ai/products) 3. Paste the Google Shopping XML file address 4. Set additional import options 5. Click **Import products** ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/ghelparticle/1IgLjygROTsA7VnZsYvEZbGrhYKohM44UnCPDF2Dv7x00fxdCk0eontPYTVUXdIcFXCJGlT57vP.png) ## **How to add a Google Shopping XML file?** In the file address field, paste the full link to the product file. Example: ```text https://yourdomain.com/google-shopping.xml ``` or: ```text https://yourdomain.com/feed/google.xml ``` The address should lead directly to the XML file containing the products. > **Info:** It’s best to use the same product file that you use in Google Merchant Center or product campaigns. > **Warning:** Don’t paste the homepage address of your store. Semly needs a direct link to the XML product file. Wrong: ```text https://yourdomain.com ``` Correct: ```text https://yourdomain.com/google-shopping.xml ``` ## **What to do if the file requires a login and password?** Some product files are protected with a login and password. If your file requires authorization, fill in the access data in the appropriate fields. In that case, provide: - login - password > **Info:** Access data is only needed if the XML file isn’t publicly available. > **Warning:** If you’re not sure whether the file requires a login and password, open the file link in incognito mode in your browser. If the browser asks for login details, fill them in Semly as well. ## **Product update schedule** In the products section, you can set a schedule for updating the file. Thanks to this, Semly can periodically fetch current data from the store, e.g. new products, price changes, availability, and updated descriptions. The schedule can be useful when the following often change: - prices - stock levels - product availability - new products - products withdrawn from the offer - descriptions - categories > **Info:** Semly automatically updates product data from the feed at least once every 24 hours. ## **Character encoding** If incorrect characters appear in your products, the issue may be caused by the file encoding. The most commonly recommended encoding is: ```text UTF-8 ``` Incorrect encoding can cause problems with Polish characters, product names, or descriptions. Example issues: - missing Polish characters - weird symbols in descriptions - cut-off product names - unreadable categories > **Warning:** If after import you see incorrect characters in product names or descriptions, check the XML file encoding or contact the technical person handling the store. ## **Key format features** If you want to check whether the file has the correct structure, pay attention to a few basic elements of the Google Shopping XML format. - **The file header** should look like this: ```javascript ``` - **Every product** should be placed inside the `` tag with a set of required and optional elements. - **Most important product tags:** - `` – unique product identifier - `` – product name - `<description>` – description - `<link>` – URL address to the product page - `<g:image_link>` – main image - `<g:price>` – price with currency (e.g. "99.00 PLN") - `<g:availability>` – availability (e.g. `in stock`) - `<g:condition>` – product condition (e.g. `new`) - `<g:mpn>`, `<g:brand>`, `<g:shipping>` – additional data, if available ## **How to get a link to the XML file from the store platform?** If you don’t know where to find the link to the Google Shopping XML file, use a separate guide prepared for popular store platforms. There you’ll find tips on how to generate or find the product feed and then add it in Semly. [ Jak dodać produkty lub plik Google Shopping XML Dowiedz się, jak dodać produkty do Semly za pomocą pliku Google Shopping XML lub gotowej integracji i dlaczego aktualne dane produktowe są ważne dla analizy widoczności marki w AI. ](https://help.semly.ai/pl/articles/17-jak-dodac-produkty-lub-plik-google-shopping-xml.md) ## **What data should a good product file contain?** A good product file should contain complete and up-to-date information about the products. The most important fields are: - product name - product description - product link - product photo - price - availability - product category - brand - product identifier - EAN or GTIN - variants - product features Not every file has to contain all fields, but the more useful data, the better the analysis context. > **Info:** For Semly, names, descriptions, categories, links, and product availability are especially important. They help understand what’s in the store’s offer. ## **What should product names look like?** Product names should be specific and easy to understand. A good name should include: - type of product - brand or manufacturer - model - the most important parameter - variant - capacity or size - use or application Weak name: > Product 1234 Better name: > OLIMP Gold Omega 3 1000 mg 90 capsules Weak name: > White cabinet Better name: > White TV cabinet with drawers 140 cm for the living room > **Success:** A good product name helps AI understand faster what the product is and who it can be recommended to. ## **What should product descriptions look like?** A product description should explain what the product is, who it’s for, and when it’s worth choosing. A good product description should include: - product application - key features - benefits for the customer - material or composition - size or capacity - compatibility - information about variants - how to use - limitations or important notes Example of a weak description: High-quality product for demanding customers Example of a better description: Double bed with bedding storage designed for bedrooms and small apartments. The model combines a sleeping function with extra storage space. It works well for people who want to save space without giving up comfort. > **Error:** Descriptions that are too general make it harder for AI models to match the product to a specific user question. ## **Most common import problems** If the product import fails, check the most common causes. Possible problems: - the link doesn’t lead directly to the XML file - the file isn’t publicly available - the file requires a login and password - the login details are incorrect - the file is empty - the file contains technical errors - the file has unsupported encoding - the server blocks access to the file - the XML address has been changed - the file contains very outdated data - access to the file is blocked for Semly servers > **Warning:** If the file works in the browser only after logging in, remember to add the login and password in Semly as well. ## **How to check if the XML link works?** The simplest test is to open the file URL in your browser. Check: - whether the link opens - whether you see the XML structure - whether the file contains products - whether a 404 error doesn’t appear - whether a message about lack of access doesn’t appear - whether the browser doesn’t redirect you to the login page - whether the products have up-to-date data If the link doesn’t work in the browser, Semly most likely won’t be able to fetch the data either. > **Info:** You can also open the link in incognito mode. This lets you check if the file is available without an active logged-in user session. ## **Products and integrations** If you use a ready-made integration, e.g. with an e-commerce platform, products can be fetched automatically. In that case, you don’t always have to manually add the Google Shopping XML file. The available options depend on the project configuration and the platform you use. You can use: - a ready-made integration - a Google Shopping XML file - a file protected with a login and password - automatic product updates > **Info:** If your platform doesn’t have a ready-made integration with Semly, the Google Shopping XML file is the simplest way to pass product data. ## **Does importing products require changes to the site code?** No. Adding products via a Google Shopping XML file doesn’t require installing scripts or modifying the store’s code. Semly fetches data from the product file and analyzes it in the panel. > **Success:** Import via XML is safe for your current store configuration and doesn’t affect page loading speed. ## **When should you update the product file?** The product file should be updated whenever the store’s offer changes. The most important changes are: - new products - removed products - price changes - availability changes - new categories - description changes - product name changes - new photos - changes to product URLs If the file is updated automatically on the store’s side, Semly can fetch the latest version according to the set schedule. ## **Best practices for the product file** To make the product data as useful as possible, take care of the quality of the file. Most important rules: - use up-to-date product names - add specific descriptions - fill in the categories - make sure links are correct - provide up-to-date prices - keep availability updated - add product photos - avoid empty descriptions - avoid duplicates - check encoding correctness - don’t change the XML file address too often > **Success:** A good product feed is not just a list of products. It’s a data source that helps Semly better understand the offer and prepare more accurate recommendations. ## **Next steps** Check out the other articles in the Help Center to get to know configuration, reports, and recommendations in Semly better. [ How to create prompts and topics Learn what prompts are in Semly, how to create good questions for AI monitoring, and how to organize them into topics. ](https://help.semly.ai/pl/articles/18-jak-tworzyc-prompty-i-tematy.md)[ How to add competition Learn how to add competitors in Semly and how to use competition analysis to check brand visibility in AI answers. ](https://help.semly.ai/pl/articles/19-jak-dodac-konkurencje.md)[ How to read the Visibility Report Learn how to analyze the Visibility Report in Semly and check how your brand shows up in AI answers. ](https://help.semly.ai/pl/articles/20-jak-czytac-raport-widocznosci.md)[ How to read Semly recommendations Learn how to use Semly recommendations and turn AI analysis results into concrete actions that improve brand visibility. ](https://help.semly.ai/pl/articles/24-jak-czytac-rekomendacje-semly.md)[ How to generate your first article Learn how to generate your first article in Semly and use it to build brand visibility in AI answers. ](https://help.semly.ai/pl/articles/25-jak-wygenerowac-pierwszy-artykul.md)[ How to get a link to the XML file from your store platform Learn how to generate a link to a Google XML file from popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Shoper, or Baselinker. ](https://help.semly.ai/pl/articles/8-jak-pozyskac-link-do-pliku-xml-z-platformy-sklepowej.md) ## **Summary** Adding products or a Google Shopping XML file helps Semly better understand the store’s offer and analyze it in the context of questions asked to AI models. Most important rules: - add a direct link to the Google Shopping XML file - make sure the file is accessible - add a login and password if the file is protected - set an update schedule - take care of the quality of product names and descriptions - update your offer regularly - check for import errors - use integrations if they’re available for your platform > **Info:** If you don’t know where to find the Google Shopping XML file, check your e-commerce platform settings or contact the technical person handling your store.