Fixing Google Merchant Center Account Suspension for WordPress Users

Running an eCommerce store on WordPress, especially with WooCommerce, can be a lucrative venture, especially if you’re leveraging Google Merchant Center to display your products on Google Shopping Ads. However, there’s a possibility that your Google Merchant Center account may get suspended for various reasons, which can significantly affect your traffic and sales.

Don’t worry if this happens! A suspension doesn’t mean your store is permanently banned from Google Shopping. In fact, with the right steps, you can often resolve the issue and get your account reinstated.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through common reasons for Google Merchant Center account suspension and provide a step-by-step process on how to fix them—so you can get back to growing your WordPress store.

Why is My Google Merchant Center Account Suspended?

Before diving into how to fix the issue, it’s important to understand the potential reasons behind the suspension of your Google Merchant Center account. Google has strict policies to ensure the best user experience and maintain the integrity of its platform. Common reasons for suspension include:

1. Misrepresentation of Business:
   • If your website is perceived to be misleading, deceptive, or lacks essential business details, Google may suspend your account.
2. Policy Violations:
   • Google has a set of policies that your store and products must comply with. Violations, such as selling prohibited items, misleading information, or unauthorized product claims, can lead to suspension.
3. Inaccurate Product Data:
   • If your product data (like titles, descriptions, prices, availability) is inaccurate or incomplete, Google may suspend your account.
4. Issues with Checkout or Payment Information:
   • Problems with your checkout process or issues with payment methods (e.g., if Google can’t verify your website’s legitimacy) could lead to suspension.
5. Website Errors:
   • Google needs to crawl and index your website properly to verify its contents. If your site has errors, broken links, or can’t be accessed by Googlebot, it may lead to account suspension.

How to Fix a Google Merchant Center Suspension: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Check the Suspension Email and Account Notification

When your Google Merchant Center account is suspended, Google typically sends you an email detailing the reason for the suspension. Log into your Google Merchant Center account and look for the “Account Suspended” notification. The email should explain the specific issue, such as a policy violation or inaccurate product data.

• Review Google’s Policies: If your suspension is related to a policy violation, carefully review the relevant Google Merchant Center Policies and Google Ads Policies to understand what went wrong. You can find detailed policies and guidelines here.

Step 2: Review Your Product Feed and Website Information

One of the most common reasons for a suspension is inaccurate or incomplete product data. To fix this, start by checking your product feed and website to ensure they align with Google’s requirements.

1. Product Feed Review:

• Accurate Product Titles and Descriptions: Ensure that your product titles and descriptions are clear, accurate, and free from any misleading information. Make sure they reflect the actual product and include important details.
• Clear Pricing and Availability: Ensure that your products display the correct prices and availability status. If a product is out of stock or unavailable, Google may disapprove or suspend your account.
• GTINs and Product Identifiers: If your products have Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs), such as UPCs or ISBNs, make sure they’re included in your feed. Google relies on these to properly categorize and display your products.

2. Website Review:

• Accurate Business Information: Your website should clearly show contact information (business address, phone number, email), return policy, and shipping details.
• Checkout Process: Ensure your checkout process is smooth and working. Test that users can easily add products to the cart, proceed to checkout, and complete payment.
• Legal Compliance: Ensure you’re not violating any laws or selling restricted products. If you’re selling products like alcohol or tobacco, check if they’re allowed by Google and if you’ve provided the required certifications.

Step 3: Fix Any Website or Product Feed Errors

After reviewing your website and product data, you may have identified some issues that led to the suspension. Here’s what you should do next:

Website Errors:

• Fix Broken Links: Use tools like Screaming Frog or Google Search Console to identify and fix any broken links or 404 errors.
• Ensure Mobile-Friendliness: Google favors mobile-friendly websites, so make sure your WordPress site is responsive and displays well on mobile devices.
• Improve Site Speed: A slow-loading site can lead to suspension. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test your site speed and implement suggestions for improvement.

Product Feed Errors:

• Update Product Data: Ensure your feed is complete, accurate, and up to date. If you’re using a plugin like CTX Feed or Product Feed PRO for WooCommerce, check that the data is regularly synced with your Google Merchant Center account.
• Fix Disapproved Products: In your Google Merchant Center, navigate to Products > Diagnostics to see if any products are disapproved. Make the necessary fixes, whether it’s correcting pricing, availability, or data mismatches.

Step 4: Request a Review for Reinstatement

Once you’ve identified and fixed the issues, you can request a review of your account for reinstatement.

1. Log in to Google Merchant Center and go to Account Issues.
2. If your account is suspended, you should see an option to request a review or appeal the suspension.
3. Submit Your Request: Provide a detailed explanation of what caused the suspension and what you’ve done to resolve the issues. Be honest and transparent. Google wants to see that you’ve corrected the errors and that you’re committed to following their policies.

Google will typically review your appeal within a few business days. If they’re satisfied with the fixes, they’ll reinstate your account.

Step 5: Prevent Future Suspensions

Once your Google Merchant Center account is reinstated, take steps to avoid future suspensions.

1. Regularly Update Your Product Feed:

• Use a plugin like CTX Feed to automate and regularly update your product feed. This ensures that your data is always accurate and synced with Google Merchant Center.

2. Monitor Your Website for Issues:

• Regularly test your website for broken links, errors, and mobile responsiveness. Use Google’s Search Console to keep an eye on crawling issues and fix them promptly.

3. Stay Up to Date with Google Policies:

• Google’s policies are constantly evolving. Make sure to stay up to date with any changes in Google Merchant Center and Google Ads policies, and ensure your store is always compliant.

4. Ensure Transparency:

• Keep your business information accurate and transparent, including return policies, shipping information, and product availability. Trustworthiness is key to maintaining a good relationship with Google.

Conclusion: Fixing Google Merchant Center Suspension for WordPress Stores

While a Google Merchant Center account suspension can be frustrating, it’s often a fixable issue. By reviewing your product data, ensuring compliance with Google’s policies, and making necessary updates to your website and product feed, you can resolve the suspension and get your account reinstated.

The most important part is to stay proactive. Regularly monitor your feed and website, stay compliant with Google’s policies, and always respond quickly to any issues that arise. With patience and the right steps, you can continue using Google Shopping Ads to drive traffic and sales to your WordPress store.

If you follow the steps outlined above, you’ll be back on track to growing your eCommerce business in no time!