Contents of the case
Initial data
Issues and Strategy
WEDEX was approached by a client—an online store selling drone components—that had been blocked from Google Merchant Center on the grounds of “misleading content.” As a result, the store’s products could not be fully displayed in Google Shopping ads, which directly limited its ability to attract targeted traffic and generate sales.
An additional challenge of the project was that the site ran on the Horoshop platform, where certain technical settings have limitations and require careful configuration within the CMS’s capabilities. In such cases, it is important not just to submit a request for reconsideration, but first to identify all potential triggers that could have caused the block by Google.
WEDEX’s main strategy involved a comprehensive approach to unblocking Merchant Center: first, analyze the site and identify elements that Google might interpret as misleading to users, then preparing a list of necessary corrections, bringing the website and commercial information into compliance with Google’s requirements, and finally, correctly resubmitting the account for re-moderation.
The main goal was not only to quickly lift the suspension but also to minimize the risk of future rejections. As a result, the right strategy allowed us to unblock Merchant Center in 7 days.
What has been done
First, the WEDEX team analyzed the Merchant Center suspension and determined that the restriction was caused by the “Misleading” status. This type of block is usually associated not with a single error, but with a combination of factors: website design, completeness of contact information, transparency of purchase terms, the presence of required pages, and the accuracy of store and product data.
Following this, a website audit was conducted on the Horoshop platform, focusing on the elements that Google checks first and foremost when moderating online stores. As part of this audit, we assessed the overall trustworthiness of the site, the logic of information presentation to the user, and the compliance of commercial pages with Google’s basic requirements.
The next step was to prepare recommendations for addressing factors that could raise suspicion during the moderation process. The primary focus was on the site’s transparency for users: ensuring the store clearly communicates who it is, what products it sells, its terms of service, how delivery, payment, and returns work, and how buyers can contact the seller.
After implementing the necessary changes, a re-evaluation of the site’s readiness for moderation was conducted. The team confirmed that critical issues had been resolved and that the site met Google Merchant Center’s basic requirements for online stores in this category.
The final step was resubmitting the account for review to Google Merchant Center. Thanks to a comprehensive approach, the correct sequence of actions, and a targeted analysis of the reasons for the block, the account was successfully unblocked in 7 days.
As a result, the client regained access to Merchant Center and was able to once again use Google’s sales tools to promote their online store for drone components in the Ukrainian market.