Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google Merchant Center Product Page Unavailable Bug
Google Merchant Center is experiencing a potential bug causing false “Product page unavailable” disapproval notices. Merchants report product pages being flagged despite pages being fully accessible on both desktop and mobile. This issue appeared overnight, affecting multiple accounts, possibly linked to a recent Shopify outage. Merchants are advised to check their accounts for any unexpected disapprovals.
Optimixed’s Overview: Addressing the Recent Google Merchant Center Validation Glitch Impacting Product Listings
Understanding the Issue
Recently, a number of Google Ads merchants encountered disapproval messages in their Google Merchant Center accounts stating “Product page unavailable.” This warning suggests that the product pages cannot be accessed or crawled by Google, which can halt product advertising.
What Merchants Are Experiencing
- Multiple accounts received disapproval notices despite product pages being live and accessible on both desktop and mobile devices.
- Merchants like Arpan Banerjee and Chelsea Harding publicly reported seeing this issue across several accounts.
- The error message advises ensuring product pages are accessible and not blocked from Google’s crawlers, but many affected users confirmed there were no such restrictions.
Potential Causes and Considerations
- The glitch appears to have surfaced overnight, indicating a potential bug within Google Merchant Center’s automated validation process.
- A recent Shopify outage may have temporarily prevented Google from accessing product pages, potentially triggering the false disapprovals.
- There is limited discussion on official Google forums, so the issue may not be universally widespread but still significant for those affected.
Recommendations for Merchants
- Review your Google Merchant Center account promptly to identify any unexpected product disapprovals.
- Verify that your product pages are accessible on multiple devices and not restricted from Google crawling.
- Stay updated on announcements from Google and Shopify regarding any ongoing outages or system issues.
- Consider reaching out to Google support if disapprovals persist despite all pages being accessible.