Managing product data for a WooCommerce store can become complex, especially when dealing with variations, attributes, and product addon plugins. To streamline the process, Google Sheets is an excellent tool for collaborating on product data with your web development team, allowing you to organise, edit, and prepare your data before importing it into WooCommerce. At Corsto, we utilise WP All Import to handle bulk data imports efficiently, and we can provide you with templates and guidance specific to your product setup, making the process as seamless as possible.

This guide will walk you through how to collaborate using Google Sheets to prepare WooCommerce product data for import, ensuring all variables are properly structured for a smooth transition into your online store.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Google Sheets for WooCommerce Product Imports

  1. Set Up Your Google Sheet for Product Data
    The first step is to organise your product data in Google Sheets. Corsto will always provide you with a template or example specific to your eCommerce setup, as product data structures can vary depending on whether your products have variations, attributes, or addons. Our template ensures that your data is formatted correctly for WP All Import.A basic Google Sheet for WooCommerce product data might include columns such as:
    • Product Name: The title of the product.SKU: Unique identifier for each product.Price: Regular price for the product.Sale Price: If applicable, the discounted price.Description: The product’s main description.Categories: The categories your product belongs to (e.g., Electronics > Laptops).Images: URLs to the product images.Stock Status: Whether the product is in stock or out of stock.
    For products with variations or attributes (such as size or colour), we can help you set up the appropriate columns in Google Sheets to handle these variables.
  2. Include Product Variations and Attributes
    WooCommerce supports product variations (e.g., different sizes or colours of a product), and these must be structured correctly in your Google Sheet for WP All Import. Variations and attributes may include:
    • Parent Product: The main product under which variations will be grouped.Variation SKU: Unique identifiers for each variation.Attribute Name: Such as “Size” or “Colour.”Attribute Values: Such as “Large” or “Red.”
    Corsto can provide you with a custom template to ensure your variations and attributes are correctly organised, ensuring that the import process runs smoothly.
  3. Prepare Data for Product Addons
    If you’re using WooCommerce product addon plugins, such as offering customisable options (e.g., engraving text or additional accessories), this adds more variables to the data structure. Google Sheets allows you to easily organise and prepare this additional information by adding relevant columns for each addon.For example:
    • Addon Name: The label for the custom option (e.g., “Engraving Text”).Addon Price: The additional cost for this option.Addon Type: Whether the option is a text field, checkbox, or dropdown.
    As part of our collaboration, we can ensure that your Google Sheet accounts for these addons, helping you avoid any issues during import.
  4. Collaborate with Your Team Using Google Sheets
    One of the biggest advantages of using Google Sheets is the ability to collaborate in real time with your team. If you need to update product details, prices, or descriptions, your team members can work simultaneously, and Corsto will help ensure all data is correctly formatted before the import.Here are a few tips for collaborating on product data:
    • Use comments: If you need clarification on specific product details, use the comment feature in Google Sheets to leave questions or notes for your team.
    • Track changes: You can use Google Sheets’ version history to see who made changes and when, ensuring transparency in the editing process.
    • Protect cells: If certain columns or rows should not be modified (e.g., SKU numbers), you can protect them to prevent accidental edits.
  5. Ensure Data Accuracy with Validation and Conditional Formatting
    Google Sheets offers tools like Data Validation and Conditional Formatting that can help you catch errors before importing. For instance, you can set data validation rules to ensure that only certain values are entered (e.g., ensuring stock status is only “In Stock” or “Out of Stock”).You can also use conditional formatting to highlight missing data, such as incomplete SKUs or missing images, which ensures that your product data is fully prepared for a clean import into WooCommerce.
  6. Export Your Google Sheet as a CSV File
    Once your product data is organised and reviewed, the next step is to export it as a CSV file for WP All Import:
    • In Google Sheets, go to File > Download > Comma-separated values (.csv, current sheet).Save the file to your computer, ready for import.
    WP All Import is designed to handle CSV files, and Corsto will use this data to import your products directly into WooCommerce. If you have any questions about how the data should be structured, Corsto will provide ongoing support to ensure the CSV file is ready for a flawless import.
  7. Import Data Using WP All Import
    Once the CSV file is prepared, Corsto will manage the import process using WP All Import. WP All Import allows for flexible mapping of your CSV fields to WooCommerce product fields, ensuring that your products are correctly imported, including variations, attributes, and addons.The import process in WP All Import includes:
    • Mapping columns: Matching the columns in your CSV file to WooCommerce fields, such as matching “Product Name” to “Title” and “Price” to “Regular Price.” Handling variations: WP All Import makes it easy to import product variations by mapping attributes like size and colour.Scheduling imports: For larger stores or frequent updates, WP All Import allows you to schedule recurring imports.
    With Corsto’s expertise, we will ensure that your data is imported accurately and efficiently, with minimal disruptions to your store.

Optimising Your Product Import Workflow with Corsto

At Corsto, we understand that every WooCommerce store is unique, with different requirements for variations, attributes, and addons. That’s why we provide tailored templates and hands-on support to ensure your Google Sheet is correctly structured for data imports using WP All Import. Collaborating with us means you can confidently manage your product data, knowing that our expertise will guide you through the entire process.

By leveraging Google Sheets for collaboration and WP All Import for data imports, you can streamline your WooCommerce store management, reduce errors, and ensure that your product catalog remains accurate and up to date.