How to Fix Google Merchant Center Suspensions
21K Views41 Upvotes
In this community guide, I want to help you navigate the most common reasons for misrepresentation, and website needs improvements in Google Merchant Center that could lead to a suspension. The guidelines discussed here are meant to explain everything more easily (non technical). For a more in-depth look at those policies, please refer to the links at the end of this guide.
Misrepresentation
Misrepresentation refers to any discrepancy between your business's claims (website) and what is truthful in the real world.
Website Needs Improvement
Google is protecting users from poor shopping experiences, such as incomplete websites, confusing or inaccurate product information, broken links, empty category pages, etc.
Google requires all merchants to follow a basic level of requirements. If your website does not have basic requirements, you will see a suspension warning: Website needs improvement.
Google requires all merchants to follow a basic level of requirements. If your website does not have basic requirements, you will see a suspension warning: Website needs improvement.
Business Model:
If you are selling print on demand, or purely focus on custom products, then this will violate the following policy: https://googlesupport.serverhump.com/merchants/answer/6150127#:~:text=Unavailable%20promotions
Inconsistent Business Information:
Make sure your business location, name, and other identifying information align across your website, social media, and any merchant or business profiles you have. Wherever you show your address or contact details, add your business name.
Make sure your business location, name, and other identifying information align across your website, social media, and any merchant or business profiles you have. Wherever you show your address or contact details, add your business name.
Reemphasizing discrepancies between the website and the account:
Any discrepancy on your website or in your Google Merchant Center account that deviates from absolute truthfulness can be perceived as misleading, which could potentially be the reason for suspension.
Any discrepancy on your website or in your Google Merchant Center account that deviates from absolute truthfulness can be perceived as misleading, which could potentially be the reason for suspension.
Ambiguous Business Model:
Clearly state your business model and how your business operates. For example, don't claim to be based in one country while operating predominantly in another.
Clearly state your business model and how your business operates. For example, don't claim to be based in one country while operating predominantly in another.
Lack of Official Business Name:
Your official business name should be consistent across all platforms and public records.
Your official business name should be consistent across all platforms and public records.
Virtual Addresses:
Setting up a virtual business address in a location where your business doesn’t operate is a form of misrepresentation.
Setting up a virtual business address in a location where your business doesn’t operate is a form of misrepresentation.
Stock:
Lack of inventory control, or knowledge and the absence of finished goods, including print-on-demand products
Copied Descriptions and Images:
The quality of your website should reflect the quality of your business. Populate it with original, high-quality content (images and descriptions). Invest time in writing detailed, accurate product descriptions that give the customer all the information they need to purchase.
The quality of your website should reflect the quality of your business. Populate it with original, high-quality content (images and descriptions). Invest time in writing detailed, accurate product descriptions that give the customer all the information they need to purchase.
Template Text (Lorem Ipsum):
While this is good for mock-ups, it should never appear on your live site. It's unprofessional and gives the impression of a site still under construction.
Grammar and Spelling Errors:
Poor grammar and spelling mistakes. Always proofread your content or consider hiring a professional to do so.
Inconsistent or Empty Categories:
Make sure your categories are coherent and populated. An empty category creates a lousy impression and disrupts navigation.
Incomplete Shipping Policy:
List your shipping policies, rates, and estimated handling and delivery times to avoid customer dissatisfaction.
Intrusive Pop-ups:
While pop-ups can be effective for marketing, ensure they don't block important content and offer an easy way to close them.
Non-Functioning Promotions:
All advertised promotions and coupons should work seamlessly.
Template Images:
Custom images give your brand identity. Avoid generic stock photos that can make your site look boilerplate.
Duplicate Product Details:
Each product should have a unique description to help with SEO and provide value to the customer.
Multiple Websites:
Having multiple websites for one business will violate the abuse of ad network. Google expects one business = 1 website.
Multiple Business At The Same Address:
Having multiple businesses or websites located at the same address, regardless if they are not your own, will confuse Google to identify your business is genuine.
Verify Identity:
When verifying your identity, ensure you follow the steps accurately. For example, the first option would be to choose business or personal. Make sure to choose the correct option for your type of business.
It will then ask you to submit official government-issued documents such as a business license, passport, etc.
Once the details are submitted, you can request a review for your Google Merchant Center account.
It will then ask you to submit official government-issued documents such as a business license, passport, etc.
Once the details are submitted, you can request a review for your Google Merchant Center account.
Trust Indicators:
- Social Links: Include links (contact page and footer) to your business's social media profiles like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
- Certifications and Accreditations: Display any certificates or accreditations from third-party organizations, such as BBB accreditation.
- 3rd Party Verification: Such as a Google Business Profile
- Customer Reviews: Genuine customer reviews can enhance your business's credibility. (Do not import reviews from 3rd party websites unless a verified review aggregator official systems, also do not import reviews from old website domains)
Essential Website Elements:
- Policies: Include essential policies like shipping, returns and refunds, terms and conditions, disclaimers, payment and privacy in an easily accessible part of your website.
- Contact Methods: Offer multiple methods for customers to reach you. (Address, email, contact form, telephone, live chat, chat bot, social links)
- Inventory Information: Update your stock levels as soon as stock levels change and show if an item is in or out of stock on the product landing page.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid:
- False Discounts: Do not advertise a discounted price for an item if it has not been sold at the alleged original price recently.
- Copying Content: Never copy-paste "About Us" pages, policy statements, or any other content from other websites.
- Placeholder Text or Images: Remove any placeholder text or images before making your site live.
- Broken Links and Redirects: Ensure all links are functional.
- Inaccessible Blog Posts: If you have published a blog post, ensure it's accessible and readable.
Further Reading:
3 Videos
Informational notification.
This question is locked and replying has been disabled.
Community content may not be verified or up-to-date. Learn more.
Last edited Apr 15, 2024
All Replies (9)
Template Text (Lorem Ipsum):
While this is good for mock-ups, it should never appear on your live site. It's unprofessional and gives the impression of a site still under construction.
Personal opinion:
A single instance of this could be a big problem. This is the type of thing that Google the search engine excels at spotting. Not noticing and fixing this is a good proxy for not caring much about the business or customers.
Nov 23, 2023
I request you to audit our website, mywebkart.com. We value your expertise and seek guidance to ensure compliance with Merchant Center policies, as my store is flagged for misrepresentation and suspension. I tired my best in fixing all as stated above.
Thank you for a detailed article and Thanks for your time and assistance.
You can continue your conversation on your existing thread here: https://googlesupport.serverhump.com/google-ads/thread/244751819
Nov 28, 2023
I have a question, is it against Google's policies to delete a suspended GMC account? And what can you do in this situation?
My GMC account was suspended due to Misrepresentation, I hired a freelancer to help me with the issue but he deleted my account. What would happened if I create a new GMC account with the same information as the deleted one?
Thanks!
Diego
Nov 29, 2023
Thanks for your response.
So what could be the best course of action for me in this situation? My original GMC account was deleted while being suspended, and my current account is also suspended.
Do I need to create a new account with no links to the current one and see if I can avoid getting suspended again?
Thanks again!
Diego
And if you have done so and you are not approved, then work towards improving your trust signals such as reviews.
It is also possible that your trust ratings are too low.
There is no way of knowing, and only by trying to improve your business will you be able to find out. For example start collecting trust signals for about 6 months to a year, with reviews.
Mainly products that exploit, dismiss or condone the sensitive event.
Last edited Feb 29, 2024
1 Video
Feb 28, 2024
Our other product expert Ratan created a great guide regarding Google Ads suspensions: https://googlesupport.serverhump.com/google-ads/community-guide/250291354
You don't need a Google Merchant Center account, however if Google Ads is suspended due to GMC, then you need to fix the GMC account first.
Refrain from AI-generated replies;
Additional posts will be removed;
Starting in March 2024, I have seen a few accounts that require you to verify your identity if you are suspended. I am unsure when this happens or in what conditions, as not all accounts require this.
When verifying your identity, ensure you follow the steps accurately. For example, the first option would be to choose business or personal. Make sure to choose the correct option for your type of business.
It will then ask you to submit official government-issued documents such as a business license, passport, etc.
Once the details are submitted, you can request a review for your Google Merchant Center account.
1 Video