If Google flags your website with an issue such as “Website or online store needs improvement”, your product listings may be disapproved or have limited visibility.
This flag is part of Google’s Editorial & Professional Requirements, which exist to ensure a high-quality, trustworthy shopping experience for all users.
📋 What Are Google’s Editorial & Professional Requirements?
Your website and product data must meet the following standards:
1. Professional and functional website
Your website should:
Be live and complete (not under construction).
Contain no broken pages or missing links.
Be mobile-friendly and load quickly.
2. No placeholder content
Remove all:
Placeholder text (e.g., “Lorem ipsum”).
Placeholder images (e.g., empty image boxes or stock graphics).
Incomplete elements like “Coming soon” labels.
3. Consistent and accurate product data
The following must match between your product feed and website:
Product name
Description
Image
Price
Availability
Each product must be purchasable on your site.
4. Domain consistency
Your product feed must use the same domain that hosts your live store.
For example, if your website is
yourstore.com, your product URLs should match this domain.
5. Trust and transparency features
Your site should include:
Contact information (email, form, address, or phone)
Return and refund policy
Clear pricing and tax/shipping info
6. Clear navigation and layout
Organize your site so users can:
Easily browse or search for products
Use a menu or categories
View a full product page with complete details
7. No gimmicks or excessive formatting
Avoid:
ALL CAPS product titles
Emojis or non-standard characters (★★★, %, etc.)
Promotional text like “Best deal” or “Free shipping today only!”
⚠️ Common Violations That Trigger Enforcement
Violation | Example |
Website or store looks unfinished | Broken pages, missing content, stock layouts |
Inconsistent product data | Price in feed doesn’t match site, no “Buy” button |
Placeholder text/images | “Coming soon”, “Insert description here” |
No way to purchase | No add-to-cart button, unclear call-to-action |
Misleading or promotional titles | “🔥 Best Deal Ever – NEW” instead of just “Bluetooth Speaker” |
✅ How to Fix the Issue (Step-by-Step)
Check your entire website
Open your homepage, category pages, and product pages.
Use tools like Broken Link Checker to scan for broken links.
Remove all placeholder content
Replace every filler block, dummy image, or “Coming soon” item.
Ensure consistency between product feed and website
Product titles, prices, descriptions, and images must match exactly.
Add trust elements
Add a return policy, shipping policy, and a way for customers to contact you.
Test site navigation
Can a customer easily find a product, click it, and see a price, description, and purchase button? If not, update your layout.
Review your product titles and descriptions
Remove all caps, emojis, or promotional statements.
Request a manual review
Once resolved, log into Google Merchant Center.
Click “I fixed the issue” under the warning.
Submit your site for re-evaluation.
🔁 How Long Does a Review Take?
Once you've reviewed your website, and made any appropriate changes - please let our team know and we will initiate an appeal for Google to conduct a second review. Google typically reviews your website within 3–7 business days after we submit an appeal, which we can only do once you have confirmed you have reviewed and processed any potential fixes.