G2 Profiles

How do I add a new G2 profile for a product or service? 

First, ensure your product or company is not already listed on G2 under a different name. We allow only one profile for services per vendor. If your company has recently gone through a rebrand or if you would like an existing product to be considered for another category, please contact our support team. Otherwise, requests for new profile listings can be submitted here.

Why was my product rejected?

There are several reasons a product or service may be rejected for a G2 listing. G2 does not list business-to-consumer (B2C) products. If G2 already has a profile for the product you submitted, your submission may have been rejected. Your product may also be rejected if it’s an extension or integration of an existing product. If you believe your product was rejected in error, please contact us.

How can I update the name or details of my product’s G2 profile?

To maintain the accuracy of the information for our users, profile names and certain profile details can only be updated by G2. To request an update to your company’s G2 profile, please contact customer support. G2 profile names must match the actual name of the product (for software) or the name of the company (for service providers). Profile names should not include descriptions, marketing language, or symbols.

I have two or more profiles on G2. Can my company’s profiles be merged into one listing?

Products on the G2 marketplace are listed according to how they are marketed and sold by the seller. This means that any product that can be purchased on its own will be listed as a separate profile. G2 will merge product profiles under the following circumstances:

  • There are duplicate profiles for the same product
  • A product that was previously sold separately has been merged with another product
  • Mergers and acquisitions

My company sells multiple products individually, but buyers can also purchase all of our products and have them work together as a single platform. I only want one G2 profile for the platform as a whole. Can I do that?

If a vendor sells multiple products individually and each can be utilized on its own, then each product must have an individual G2 profile. This will enable users to review only the products they have actually used. If the products can be purchased together in a suite, please contact Market Research to determine if the offerings are eligible for a product suite profile.

How do I request a seller page that lists all G2 profiles belonging to one company? 

Seller pages are automatically generated when a seller has a product listed on G2.

What is a vendor audit? 

A vendor audit is a process of evaluating a vendor’s product offerings and categorizing them correctly on G2. While most vendor audits occur by request, some enterprise vendors require audits on a regular basis to ensure all products and services are accurately reflected on G2.

During a vendor audit, G2 market research analysts will review the offerings on a vendor’s website, cross reference the information with the existing profiles on G2, and add or remove profiles as necessary. Analysts also use this time to ensure all the mergers and acquisitions of the vendor are documented. Additionally, analysts will ensure that each profile is categorized correctly and add or remove categories as needed. Once the evaluation is complete, G2 will share the proposed updates with the vendor before moving forward with the changes. The timeframe for a vendor audit is typically 3-4 weeks, depending on the size of the audit and whether or not the vendor would like to schedule a call with the Research team to discuss the request or go over the suggested changes. If no feedback is given on the proposed changes within the given timeframe, G2 will move forward with all recommended updates.

How long does it take for changes to a product profile to occur? 

Once approved by Market Research, changes should be live on the product profile within 1-2 business days.

How can I get my product profile removed from G2? 

To properly inform users of the relevant products in a given market, products or services that are still sold and openly available to buyers will not be removed from G2. Typical reasons for a product removal to be approved include sunsetting of products, mergers and acquisitions, or major changes to the product packaging or pricing. To request a product to be removed from G2, please contact customer support.

How does G2 handle mergers and acquisitions? 

G2 can process profile changes related to an M&A event after it is officially closed and made public. To request profile updates related to an acquisition, please contact customer support. For more information, please refer to G2’s Mergers & Acquisitions Methodology page.

Categorization

How does G2 categorize products?

On G2, products are categorized based on the functionality of the software or service rather than what it is used for or who uses it. The Market Research team will categorize software based on the product’s features and include the product in all applicable categories to best support software buyers. For more information, read G2’s Categorization Methodology.

What are the feature requirements for a category, and how are they decided? 

Every software category on G2 has a list of feature requirements, or inclusion criteria, that a product must meet to be included in that category. Feature requirements ensure that similar products are grouped together so buyers can make apples-to-apples comparisons to find the best solution for their business needs. A category’s feature requirements are listed at the end of the category’s definition. G2’s Market Research team conducts thorough research on software markets to determine the most common and must-have features for products within a given category.

Can a product be listed in more than one category?

Yes. A product may be listed in multiple categories as long as the product meets the category’s feature requirements. However, there are some exceptions. A profile listed as a services provider cannot be listed under a software category and vice versa. Additionally, a product listed under a defined category cannot be categorized under the “other” categories. Products are not listed under parent categories.

How can I get my product added to an additional category? 

To get your product added to additional categories or to change categories, please contact G2 support. The request will be assigned to a relevant market research analyst to evaluate. If approved, changes will be reflected on the site within 1-2 business days.

How do I change the category that appears at the top of my product’s profile page? 

The category shown at the top of a product profile page is the product’s "main" category, also referred to as the "primary" category. A product’s main category is the most relevant category for a given product. To request a change to a product profile’s main category, contact G2 support.

My company has a software product listed on G2, but we also provide services. Can the product profile be added to a services category?

No. On G2.com, profiles are either listed as software products or as service providers. A service is defined as any business offering the majority of human intervention or involvement in completing projects to support the business. In order to add a software profile to a services category, it would need to be removed from all software categories. If a company offers services separate from the software offering, please submit a service listing to G2.

Why was my product removed from a category? 

Products may be removed from a category if the Market Research team determines that the product is no longer a good fit. This most commonly occurs through category cleaning, where a Market Research analyst evaluates each product in the category and often updates the definition and inclusion criteria for the category. Then the analyst categorizes the products based on the updates. Vendors can also submit a Salesforce case under the subtype ‘Competitor Category Inquiry’ if a vendor feels that a competitor does not meet the criteria for the category, which may lead to a product being removed from the category.

My competitor(s) is/are in this category. Can you put me in that category as well?

Your competitors are in particular categories because their product fits the inclusion criteria of those categories. If your product also fits the inclusion criteria, it may be placed in those categories. Please submit a support case along with supporting evidence.

Before my product is added to a new category, I want to know how it will rank on the Grid®. Can you show me a preview of how my product will look in the new category?

No. Decisions on whether to categorize a product in a certain category to represent the relevant software market are made by G2’s analyst team. The G2 market research team does not make those decisions based on how individual products will be ranked in the Grid®. If the vendor wants their product added to a new category and it gets approved, only then will they be able to see how it will rank on the grid of that category.

What are the attribute filters on category pages? 

On G2’s platform, we can segment software products, hardware, and service providers taxonomically at the category level. However, some categories have unique product classifications and segmentations that do not warrant a new category but do warrant the ability for a buyer to filter by them. The dynamic attributes feature enables G2 Market Research to define specific product attributes at the category level, empowering buyers to filter down the product list and segment products across categories with similar qualities, characteristics, designations, or more. For example, Marketing Automation Software has an attribute based on ‘Target Market’ to differentiate between tools that cater to business-to-business (B2B) vs. business-to-consumer (B2C). If a certain attribute is relevant to a category, the attributes appear as filters on category pages and live Grids®.

What are “Other” categories?

“Other” categories (for example, Other Marketing and Other IT Infrastructure) are intended for products that do not currently qualify for a defined category on G2. A product cannot be listed in “Other” categories if it’s already listed in a defined software category.

What is a parent category? Can my product be added to a parent category?

Parent categories are super categories, with child categories as subcategories. On G2, we want to ensure buyers find the right software for their business and use case. As such, we make sure that products are attributed to those subcategories so that buyers can find the products that fit their needs in the most specific way possible.

Although child categories are, by definition, under their parent category, products in a child category are not directly attributed to the parent category. This is because parent categories are undifferentiated and too broad to be helpful to buyers looking to compare and buy software products. So, products cannot be added to parent categories.

What is a horizontal category? What is a vertical category? Can a single product be in both horizontal and vertical categories?

The products in horizontal categories encompass various industries and use cases. Vertical categories are for products specific to a particular vertical industry. On rare occasions, a product can be in both horizontal and vertical categories. However, this is up to the analyst's discretion. For example, Office software is a horizontal parent category that serves any industry that utilizes offices. On the other hand, Church Management software is a vertical category meant only for churches and businesses that work solely in the church industry. 

Why do you have vertical and horizontal categories? 

Given the niches many software aims to support across various industries, G2 has segmented categories tailored to vertical (industry-specific) and horizontal (industry-agnostic) needs. Products that solve the needs of businesses in a particular industry are placed in their respective vertical industry categories. This ensures that software buyers can find the most relevant products for their business. Additionally, this helps software vendors increase their product’s visibility and attract qualified buyers rather than being compared to industry-agnostic solutions. 

What are marketplace categories, and how are they different from other categories?

Marketplace categories on G2 are home to a stack of products that third-party marketplaces host on their websites. Some examples of such marketplace categories are AWS Marketplace Software, ServiceNow Store Apps, and SAP Store Software. Unlike standard G2 categories, the reviews collected for products in marketplace categories are syndicated to their respective marketplace listings. G2 encourages a range of marketplace listings on its platform. This is to provide visibility into products and reviews that are hosted by G2 as well as third-party marketplaces. To be listed in a marketplace category on G2, the product must have a listing on the relevant marketplace. 

Review Attribution

What is review attribution?

Review attribution refers to the process of allocating a product’s reviews to a certain category. Review attributions often occur when a product is added to a new category.

Review attribution is important because it allows products to be recognized for their functionality based on verified reviews. When a reviewer fills out the review form, they are asked to select the categories that best reflect the functionalities they used the product for. However, because G2 routinely creates new categories and adds products to existing categories after they’ve already gathered reviews, some reviews aren’t attributed to all relevant categories. G2’s review attribution policy regarding trust and transparency is of the utmost importance. Review attribution will only be done for reviews left before a product was added to the category.

How does a review get attributed to a certain category?

When a G2 user fills out their review for a product, one of the questions is: “For which purposes do you use [product]?” The options for that question are a list of the product's categories. The user chooses the categories most aligned with how they have used the product. This is the most common way reviews are attributed to categories.

When a product is added to a new category, rather than starting the product with zero reviews in the new category, G2 runs a natural language processing (NLP) algorithm on the product’s existing reviews to identify any reviews relevant to the new category. Those reviews are then attributed to the new category as well.

The only other way reviews might get attributed to a category is if analysts do it manually. This happens if we find an existing problem with the review attribution. For example, we might have run the NLP audit when we added the product to a category, but the keywords we were looking for were not effectively capturing relevant reviews. In that case, we would either run an additional NLP audit or have an analyst go through the reviews manually to identify if any review attributions should change. These manual audits happen on an as-needed basis, so they would be the least common way reviews are attributed. Generally, we avoid them to respect reviewers’ choices regarding which categories they chose.

Can a review be assigned to multiple products? 

No. Reviews are unique to individual products and cannot be assigned to multiple products at a time. With approval from G2’s Market Research team, reviews may be migrated from one product profile to another. 

Why were only X number of reviews attributed to a certain category? 

When a review attribution takes place, we utilize set keywords to pull out reviews and attribute them to a category automatically. If there is any doubt about the number of reviews attributed to a category, it’s always possible to request a manual review audit to ensure the correct number of eligible reviews are being attributed to the category.

All of my product users use the functionality related to Category X. Can you automatically attribute 100% of my product’s reviews to that category?

If the product were in category X when the user left their review, G2 would not retroactively change the reviewer’s selections to include category X. To honor the reviewer’s category selections and to maintain trust and transparency for our buyer community, G2 will not retroactively attribute reviews to categories as long as the user had the option of selecting that category when they initially left their review. Suppose the reviews in question were left after the product was added to category X. In that case, we cannot make any assumptions about why the reviewers didn’t select this category when they left their review, and we cannot change those review attributions.

How can I get a review removed from a product profile? 

To best serve software buyers, G2 will not remove a review for a product as long as it follows G2’s community guidelines. For concerns about fraudulent reviews, please contact G2 support. G2’s review moderation team will examine the review(s) to determine authenticity. However, G2 will not remove reviews due to poor ratings.

Profile Consolidations (Merges)

What is a profile consolidation?

A profile consolidation happens when multiple product profiles on G2 are combined into one. This most often occurs due to acquisitions, rebrands, or duplicate listings.

In a consolidation:

  • One profile is selected to remain active.
  • The other profiles are deactivated.
  • Reviews and categories from the deactivated profiles may be transferred to the active profile (when appropriate).

When are profile consolidations approved?

G2 approves consolidations when there is clear evidence that a single product is inaccurately represented with multiple profiles on G2. If a product or platform offers multiple capabilities, but the individual components cannot function and be purchased independently, separate G2 profiles may be consolidated into one profile. 

If products are simply discontinued, the old profiles may be removed without moving reviews or categories.

What evidence is required for a consolidation?

We typically require one or more of the following:

  • Vendor’s pricing page (strongest evidence)
  • Press release or blog post announcing the product merge
  • Public or internal documentation showing the products are now one

If your pricing page contradicts the consolidation request, the request will be rejected.

Why is pricing important?

On G2, products are listed based on how buyers actually purchase them. If your G2 profile does not match how you package and sell products on your website, it creates confusion for buyers.

What happens to categories during a consolidation?

The remaining, active profile is usually added to all categories of the merged profiles — as long as the combined product is still eligible. Final categorization is determined by G2’s Research team.

What happens to reviews during a consolidation?

Most reviews are retained and transferred. One technical limitation: if the same user has reviewed both profiles being merged, only one of their reviews can remain.

How does a consolidation affect G2 Scores or rankings?

Scores and rankings may shift depending on how reviews are redistributed. Because many factors influence G2 Scores and Grid® positions, G2 does not predict or guarantee outcomes.

Can we choose which reviews or data move over?

Reviews are transferred based on available evidence. Vendors may provide input, but final decisions rest with G2’s Research team.

Is any data lost?

In rare cases, duplicate reviews may be removed (see above, “What happens to reviews during a consolidation?”). Assets uploaded to my.G2, as well as past badges and reports on deactivated profiles, do not transfer.

How can I request a consolidation?

We recommend scheduling time with a G2 Research Analyst to discuss your request. This helps ensure the smoothest process possible. To schedule time with a Research Analyst, please submit a support request. When you are ready to merge and have the necessary evidence, contact support to submit a profile merge request.

Profile Breakouts

What is a profile breakout?

A breakout happens when one product profile is split into multiple profiles — for example, if a vendor has been listing multiple standalone products together under one profile.

In a breakout:

  • New product profiles are created.
  • Reviews are redistributed across the new profiles.
  • Each new product is categorized according to its features.

When are breakouts approved?

Breakouts are approved when there is clear evidence that a single G2 profile has collected reviews for multiple products that can actually be purchased separately. This may happen when a vendor changes their go-to-market strategy, or if a profile was set up incorrectly. 

If you are simply adding a new product with no reviews to move, you can submit it directly here: Add a new product.

What evidence is required for a breakout?

To approve a breakout request, G2 Research requires internal or external pricing information that shows separate products available for purchase. 

What happens to reviews during a breakout?

Reviews are redistributed to the new profiles based on their category attributions and content. If a review applies to multiple categories, G2 analysts determine the best fit.

Can vendors provide input on review distribution?

Yes, vendors can request an export of their reviews and provide recommendations. While G2 makes the final decision on review attribution, vendor input is welcome.

Can one review live on multiple profiles?

No. Each review can only be attached to one product profile.

Can G2 predict the G2 Score or ranking after a breakout?

No. Because many factors influence G2 Scores and rankings, G2 does not provide predictions or guarantees.

How can I request a breakout?

We recommend scheduling time with a G2 Research Analyst to discuss your request. This helps ensure the smoothest process possible. To schedule time with a Research Analyst, please submit a support request.