Google Merchant Center: Website or online store needs improvement

Shopify Discussion
1

I received the following message, and am unsure why. Google only sends a canned response.

www.duelanddice.com

Website or online store needs improvement

Limits visibility of all products in United States

During the review you requested on Oct 17, 2024, Google found this still to be an issue. Before you request another review, make sure you meet the requirements.

There was a problem identified with your website. Update your entire website to provide a useful and transparent shopping experience for customers.

Make sure your website meets the following requirements

  • Your website should have a domain name that matches the uploaded domain name

  • Your entire website shouldn’t have any broken links

  • Your website shouldn’t contain any placeholder images or text

  • The product details and categories should match those that you provide in your product data

  • Your website shouldn’t contain generic information and shouldn’t miss crucial information about products

Learn more about the Editorial & professional requirements policy

How to fix: Check if your online store is fully functional

Google found this issue through a manual check

I have checked both the links provided and believe I fully them exactly. Googles only other advice is to reach out to your host, which would be Shopify.

I’ve done a lot of googling, but no one seems to have real guidance on it, since the website seems to be fully functioning.

2

For example make sure to add your business details in the footer, such as, address, phone, business hours, social links.

I have seen plenty of similar websites get suspended, and I believe it is google not being able to verify you are selling genuine products. To increase the trust signals, consider collecting reviews, to demonstrate said trust.

Also have a look at the below guides and policies:

https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6150127
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6363310/follow-the-merchant-center-guidelines
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/7052112
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/4752265
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/13693865
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6149970
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/9158778
https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6150244

1 Like
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Hi Emmanuel, funny enough I was wondering if you’d be replying :). Thankfully I’m not suspended.

I’ll add those details specifically into the footer. I don’t have social media.

They originally marked me as “misrepresentation” and I provided documentation from my official Distributor that it was legitimate. I also do collect reviews, but as we’re relatively new to online selling we only have 3 on the main site, and a few hundred on TCGPlayer.

I’ll review all these policies and get back, but if they’re the same you’ve linked on others I likely already have.

With that said, I’ll see how I can add the contact information (not just the contact hyperlink) to every page with my address and phone.

Thanks and let me know if you have any other ideas. Still waiting for Google to reply to the support email on what they manually found.

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  1. Here’s what google support replied

    "Hi,

Thank you for your prompt response regarding the Merchant Center account 5437072641. I am happy to assist you.

We understand your concern regarding the account suspension and apologize for any inconvenience caused by this issue.

We referred your case to the wider team and they have shared their observations with us which is as follows:

Please ensure that there are no broken links on your website as this is a professional standard that your website should be fully functional to provide a quality customer experience. To resolve this, I highly recommend contacting your website developer.

Moreover, please know that your website’s information must be tailor fit to the products that you are selling, as this should apply to all policies indicated in your website. You may check this helpful article to learn more about Website Needs improvement policy.

To improve your website, you may have to make necessary changes to your website in order to comply. Here are several actions you might take:

  • Ensure there are no broken links on your website
  • Ensure there are no placeholder images or text on your website
  • Ensure that the product details and categories on your website match those in your product data

Additionally, make sure your website is fully functional and customized for your business and products. Remove any placeholder images, templated text, or broken links.

We recommend making the following improvements:

  • Placeholder images or titles
  • Generic Returns or About Us page text
  • Poor product categorization

There are several major reasons a website doesn’t meet the necessary standards. The site may be incomplete, as indicated by placeholder text or images. It may be missing important information or feature poor product descriptions, or a broken browsing experience. The site may also display irrelevant or inconsistent product categorization. For example, let’s say that your business sells swimwear, but your returns policy discusses technology products.

Other best practices include:

  • Providing clear and accurate business information
  • Receiving good reviews

Ensuring that you maintain a verified phone number and business address

Once you have fixed all the issues you may go ahead and raise a review request for your account using the steps below:

Account-level issues show in a banner at the top of your Merchant Center account. You may also see account-level issues listed in the summary cards at the top of the “Needs attention” tab on the “Products” page.

For applicable issues, click Request review then click either I fixed the issue or I disagree with the issue.

In the case of a successful review, the issue should disappear from the Merchant Center. It may take 7 business days for the review to get completed.

It is also recommended, if your website could also meet the landing page requirements and checkout requirements and best practices.

I hope the provided information is helpful. If you have further questions regarding the same, feel free to reply to the same email and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you for choosing Google Ads Support. We appreciate your patience with us."

I’m really at a loss at what to do next?

1 Like
5

Hi there,

Do you mind me asking how you were able to submit documentation to google that you are an official distributor?

I wonder if that’s one of my issues as I’m an authorised reseller but also a new site so I think the trust is not there for them me being new, paying a premium to work with this supplier but can’t list my products!

Thanks

Susan