Individuals and businesses often turn to Google to find software. Besides selling software as a boxed and delivered product or as a one-time download, you can sell your software as a subscription, where customers buy a licence for a year or longer to use the software for a prepaid fee.
This article explains how to structure your product data and landing pages when submitting software subscriptions to Google.
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How to submit a subscription
Not all software subscriptions are supported on Shopping ads.
In order for your subscription to be supported on Shopping ads, it must meet these requirements:
- It must be available in prepaid, 12-month (yearly) increments with a duration of at least one year.
- It must meet the requirements for your product data.
- It must meet the requirements for your landing pages.
Requirements for your product data
To make sure that we understand the product data that you're submitting for your software subscriptions, follow these formatting guidelines for each attribute.
Title
- Include the word 'subscription' and the subscription duration in the title. The word 'subscription' and the subscription duration can appear anywhere in the value for the title
[title]attribute. For example, you can submit a product with 'Your Product (1-year subscription)' or 'Your Product (12-month subscription)'.
Learn more about the title [title] attribute
Price
- Submit the price for the full length of the software subscription, with a minimum of one year. If the prepaid 12-month subscription comes with any subsidised or free periods, include those in the total price. If your subscription costs more (or less) for the first year than for the following years, submit the prepaid price for the first year. If you like, you can instead submit the prepaid price for multiple years.
Learn more about the price [price] attribute
Examples
- If you're advertising a prepaid subscription for 12 months that's GBP 29.90, you should submit GBP 29.90 for the price.
- If you're running a promotion where the first month of your 12-month software subscription is free and the normal annual price is GBP 120, submit GBP 110 for the price and indicate the same price clearly on your landing page.
Google product category
Use the Software > Computer Software (ID: 313) category to let us know when you're submitting a software subscription, or use one of its subcategories. For example:
Software > Computer Software > Antivirus and Security Software(ID:5299)
Learn more about the Google product category [google_product_category] attribute
GTIN, MPN and brand
Brands, Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) and Manufacturer Part Numbers (MPNs) are global product codes associated with an individual product or product variant. These codes are required for most products, but shop brand and private-label products usually won't have unique product identifiers. Providing unique product identifiers, especially GTINs, can make your ads richer and easier for customers to find.
- For products with unique product identifiers, submit the codes assigned by the manufacturer for the GTIN
[gtin], brand[brand]and MPN[mpn]attributes. - For shop brand and private-label products without a GTIN, submit the brand
[brand]and MPN[mpn]attributes. Also submit the identifier exists[identifier_exists]attribute with a value ofno.
Learn more about unique product identifiers
Delivery
- Submit delivery cost as
0(if delivery cost is required for your target country) when advertising an intangible product such as a software subscription, digital content or downloadable software. For example, '0.00 USD', '0.00 EUR', '0.00 GBP'. You can submit delivery cost through the delivery[shipping]attribute or through your account delivery settings.
Learn more about the delivery [shipping] attribute
Image link
- Submit an image of the software box or cover art, such as you would submit for a physically boxed version of the software. You can also submit a logo or icon.
Learn more about the image link [image_link] attribute
Tip: Submit an image of the software box or cover art
While you can submit logos, we recommend professional images, such as a software box or cover art, whenever possible for the following reasons:
- Customers browsing your ads might have trouble telling your products apart if they see the same image for multiple options such as 'basic', 'premium' and 'enterprise'. Boxed images or cover art can help convey the differences between each version of your software.
Example
| Product data for a one-year subscription for Google Security Software Basic Edition, priced at USD 29.90 | |
| Attribute | Value |
Title [title] |
Google Security Software Basic Edition (one-year subscription) |
Price [price] |
29.90 GBP |
Google product category [google_product_category] |
Software > Computer Software > Antivirus & Security Software |
Brand [brand] |
|
MPN [mpn] |
ignoredABC123 |
GTIN [gtin] |
1234567890123 |
Delivery [shipping] |
US:CA:Ground:0 USD |
Image link [image_link] |
http://example.com/software-box.jpg |
Requirements for your landing pages
When submitting software subscriptions, follow these requirements for your landing pages.
Create a separate landing page for each product variant
- Show each software subscription variant on a separate landing page. For example, if your software has three versions ('basic', 'premium' and 'enterprise'), then make sure that each version has its own landing page.
Display the total price and pre-select the right option
- Prominently display and pre-select the price for the full length of the software subscription, with a minimum of one year. If the prepaid 12-month subscription comes with any subsidised or free periods, then include those in the displayed price. If your subscription costs more (or less) for the first year than for the following years, submit the prepaid price for the first year. If you like, you can instead submit the prepaid price for multiple years.
Example
If you're advertising a prepaid subscription for 12 months that's USD 29.90, then display and pre-select USD 29.90 for the price on your landing page.
Provide terms of renewal and cancellation
- Clearly state in your terms of renewal and cancellation whether the product is for a fixed term or whether it is renewed automatically. Also explain the cancellation options, and explain under which conditions the auto-renewal occurs at the end of the prepaid duration.
Learn more about requirements for Shopping ads landing pages
Examples
Here are some examples of terms of renewal and cancellation that would fit Google's policy. However, speak to your own legal advisers to create terms that work best for your situation.
- 'This software subscription expires after 12 months and is not automatically renewed. Use your account settings to renew your subscription manually.'
- 'Your subscription lasts for two years, and you can cancel at any time prior to the end of your subscription for a prorated refund. At the end of your two-year subscription, your subscription will auto-renew on an annual basis, and you will incur the cost for the subscription until you explicitly cancel your subscription by logging into your account and clicking 'Cancel subscription' in your account settings.'