Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of How to Remove & Prevent “Found by Google” Products in Google Merchant Center
Google Merchant Center now offers **two main methods** to control products “found by Google” through site crawling rather than your product feed. First, you can apply a **Pause attribute** to unwanted products, which archives them after 14 days. Second, to **prevent crawling altogether**, adding the **data-nosnippet HTML attribute** on your product pages is recommended. These updates help merchants **better manage product visibility** and avoid unwanted listings.
Optimixed’s Overview: Effective Strategies to Manage Google Merchant Center Product Visibility
Understanding “Found by Google” Products
Google Merchant Center sometimes displays products that it automatically discovers by crawling your website, rather than via your submitted product feed. These “Found by Google” products can appear without your explicit approval, potentially leading to inaccuracies or unwanted listings in your Merchant Center account.
Two Recommended Solutions to Remove or Prevent Unwanted Products
- Pause Attribute Method: Use an attribute rule to set the
Pausestatus toallfor the products you wish to hide. After a 14-day period, these products will be automatically archived, effectively removing them from active listings. - Preventive Crawling Control: Add the
data-nosnippetHTML attribute to your product pages. This instructs Google not to crawl or index these product details, preventing them from being “found” and listed unintentionally.
Benefits of Implementing These Controls
- Greater Control: Merchants can precisely manage which products appear in Google Merchant Center, ensuring feed accuracy.
- Reduced Errors: Avoid mismatches and outdated or unwanted product listings caused by automatic crawling.
- Improved Shopping Experience: Customers see only authorized products, enhancing trust and relevance.
Merchants are encouraged to review the updated Google help documentation under the “Controlling ‘Found by Google’ products” section to implement these strategies effectively.
