Best Practices – Categorization Using PriceGrabber

One of the biggest issues when feeding to a shopping comparison engine or marketplace, is how to properly place items in the right categories. The first and most important thing to recognize is…there is no perfect category.

For CSE’s in general, there may be many different categories to list an item.

If you go on PriceGrabber, and search for Leather Briefcase, you would be asked to choose which category to look in:

Laptop Carrying Cases
Briefcase & Business Case
Carry Ons & Totes
Travel Accessories
Backpacks
Power Tools Accessories

Now, if I am a merchant and selling a leather carry case, that can be used for notebook computers, but I also know that many of my customers use for general purpose use, this can create quite an issue. The most efficient thing to do in this scenario is send the category information from the home website, or merchant storefront. After sending, see where PriceGrabber places this item.

Next, after some time tracking the results of this categorization, send PriceGrabber new information using PriceGrabber’s taxonomy to insert the item into another category (for information on PriceGrabber’s taxonomy, or any most any engine’s taxonomy, you should be able to find this information in your engine’s account control panel) .

By testing and tracking different categories, the most efficient fit should be apparent. Of course, since the holiday retail season is quickly approaching, the sooner the better for any AB testing like this.

Many merchants freeze when looking over all the possible choices, but the best tactic is send what you have and then test, test, and test. After doing this, your briefcases should start flying off the shelves and into the hands of your customers.

August 28th, 2007