Understanding the “Under Review” Status in Google Merchant Center: A Case Study and Solutions
In the evolving landscape of e-commerce, maintaining seamless product visibility across advertising platforms is vital for driving sales and growth. However, many merchants encounter unexpected challenges—such as products getting stuck in “Under Review” status within Google Merchant Center (GMC). This article explores a recent case of such an issue, analyzes potential causes, and offers proactive strategies to resolve and prevent similar problems.
Case Overview
Since August 27, a merchant reported that approximately 328 products have remained in the “Under Review” status in Google Merchant Center. This situation prevents these items from being integrated into Google Ads campaigns, thereby limiting advertising opportunities and sales potential. Despite multiple attempts to troubleshoot—including updating product images, rewriting descriptions, and refreshing the product feed—the status has remained unchanged.
Impact and Observations
Currently, only around 92 products are actively being synced and advertised through Google Ads, out of a total inventory of roughly 300 items. Notably, the merchant observed an increase in search traffic—about 50%—since the issue’s inception, suggesting that organic traffic continues to grow despite limited ad visibility.
Timeline Correlation
The problem initiating on August 27 coincides with a recent Google Merchant Center update, implying a possible link between the platform change and the review status issue. Prior to this update, the merchant reported no such difficulties, indicating that the root cause may be related to recent changes or updates in Google’s systems.
Potential Causes
Several factors might contribute to products being stuck in “Under Review” status:
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Platform Updates: Recent changes in Google Merchant Center could have introduced bugs or altered review processes.
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Feed Problems: Errors or inconsistencies within the product data feed, such as formatting issues or policy violations.
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Policy Violations: New or existing policy issues that require manual review.
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Account-Specific Issues: Problems related to account standing or prior violations.
Recommended Actions and Best Practices
If you’re facing a similar challenge, consider the following steps:
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Review Google Merchant Center Notifications: Check for any alerts or messages related to policy violations or required actions.
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Ensure Feed Compliance: Verify that your product data adheres to Google’s policies, including accurate descriptions, images, and data formatting.
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Use the Feed Diagnostics Tool: Utilize GMC’s diagnostics to identify and resolve feed errors or warnings.
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Re-submit Your Feed: After making corrections,