We've created a list of 5 best practices for uploading products to help you upload products like a pro:

1. Options for importing products via different pages.
2. Identifying key attributes you should include for new products.
3. Organizing products into Departments.
4. Organizing products into Collections.
5. Adding images via the new “Add Product Images” page.

1. Options for importing products via different pages.

• Option 1: Add Up to 10 Products
  • Helpful if you need to quickly upload a few products.
  • Includes minimal information.

  • Have to add images and other info later.
    
    How to Access: 
    1. Roll over Products at the top of the page.
    2. Click Add a Product.

    

    

     

• Option 2: Import via Excel
  • Helpful if you need to quickly upload a longer list of products.
  • Includes more information but still slightly incomplete.
  • Populate an Excel sheet with your products.
  • Use sample file as a template.
  • Follow the steps on the page to format your spreadsheet correctly.
  • Include image links on the sheet or upload later.

  • Confirm your sheet is formatted correctly for import by following the import checklist.
    
    How to Access: 
    1. Roll over Products at the top of the page 
    2. Click Add Products: Import via Excel.

    

    

     

• Option 3: Send File to Shop Local *Recommended
  • Helpful if you need to import a large number of products.
  • Includes the most complete information.
  • Includes an additional review and assistance by our team to complete the sheet.
  • Populate an Excel sheet with your products.
  • Use sample file as a template.
  • Include image links on the sheet or send Shop Local a folder.
  • Shop Local will review in detail to remove any errors.

  • Cost: $35 per 100 items and $35 per 100 images
    
    How to Access: 
    1. Roll over Products at the top of the page.
    2. Click Add Products: Send File to Shop Local.

    

    

     

2. Identifying key attributes you should include for new products.

• Key attributes:
  • High quality images
  • Product name*
  • Departments*
  • Collection*
  • Description
  • Dimensions
  • Keywords*
    
* = required field 

• Each Synced product contains 40 different variables, including:

  • SKU
  • UPC
  • EAN
  • Brand
  • Collection / Pattern
  • Product Name
  • Department
  • Secondary Department
  • Tertiary Department
  • Thumb Images
  • Medium Images
  • Large Images
  • Description
  • Keywords
  • Designer
  • Product Popularity (Likes)
  • US Retail Price
  • US Sale Price
  • US Wholesale Price
  • Height
  • Length
  • Width
  • Capacity
  • Weight
  • New Item
  • Item Can Be Monogrammed
  • Special Order
  • Date Product Added
  • Date Product Edited
  • Stock
  • Material
  • Oven Safe
  • Dishwasher Safe
  • Microwave
  • Freezer Safe
  • Case Pack
  • Country of Origin

  

  

   

3. Organizing products into Departments.

• Benefits:
  • Organizes products by how they’re categorized.
  • Increases sales since items can be located easily.
  • Helps customers find related items.
• View department hierarchy at productshare.org.
• Customers can shop by department. Departments also appear on a product's Details page.
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

4. Organizing products into Collections.

• Benefits:
  • Groups products by pattern.
  • Ensures other items in the same pattern are easy to find.
  • Increases sales since items can be located easily.
• Tip: Don’t include the collection name in the product name.
• Collections can be created via your Collections Manager.

• Collections appear twice on a product's Details page.

  

  

  

  Related: https://www.shoplocal.org/help-center.cfm/687/Best-Practices-for-Collections-on-Shop-Local 

5. Adding images via the new “Add Product Images” page.

• Add images to many products.
• Drag and drop images for multiple products at once.

• Upload multiple images per SKU at once.
  
  How to Access: 
  1. Roll over Products at the top of the page.
  2. Click Add Pictures.