I make custom and POD products so I don’t have GTIN. I can’t figure out what to do about so that my products get approved. This has also affected my ability to have shopping on my YouTube account.
Hello Innovate, my name is Emmanuel, founder of FeedArmy, and your host for today’s Shopify AMA for Google’s AI Overviews.
Please note that print on demand, in general is not supported for Google Shopping. The reason is that Google requires products to be stocked, meaning when a consumer places an order, it can be shipped upon order. Which POD is not.
Reference: Misrepresentation - Google Merchant Center Help
Barcodes are not required, if the manufacturer has not assigned any barcodes on the product packaging.
Thank you! Now I understand. The second question is about digital files. I sell game packs and escape room downloads so all digital. How would I get a GTIN for that type of product? Or is it simply not allowed on Google?
Advertising digital products on Google Shopping is generally rejected. However you can get approved if you have a lot of reviews, as that gives Google trust signals you are a reliable business.
As to how to get barcodes, if it’s a digital product, I would assume you need to contact the distributor from whom you got the license.