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How to Fix Shopify Image and Title Issues for Google Merchant Center (GMC) and YouTube Shopping Ads

If you are encountering warnings in Google Merchant Center (GMC) related to invalid product images and attributes, it can be frustrating, especially when these errors are affecting your Shopify store’s integration with Google Ads, such as YouTube Shopping Ads and Demand Gen Ads. These issues typically arise from the product data not aligning with Google’s strict image and attribute requirements.

Below is a step-by-step guide to help you resolve the issues related to invalid product images and invalid attribute values under titles for your Shopify products, and to ensure your product details meet the standards for YouTube Shopping Ads and Demand Gen Ads.

Step 1: Understand the Warnings

You are encountering two distinct warnings:

  1. Invalid Product Image:
    • Warning: Your product images do not meet the requirements for YouTube Shopping ads.
    • Solution: YouTube Shopping ads have specific image requirements. Google expects product images to meet certain quality standards and specifications, such as size, resolution, and format.
  2. Invalid Attribute Value – Title:
    • Warning: “Invalid attribute value. Your product details don’t meet the requirements for Demand Gen Ads.” This warning appears under your product titles.
    • Solution: This usually indicates that the titles you are using for your products do not adhere to Google’s guidelines for clear, concise, and accurate product descriptions, or they contain restricted keywords.

Step 2: Resolve the Product Image Issues

Google has strict image requirements for all ads, including YouTube Shopping Ads. Your product images need to be of high quality and meet the following standards:

  1. Image Size:
    • Product images must be at least 100 x 100 pixels (for non-apparel) and 250 x 250 pixels (for apparel).
    • The maximum image size is 64 MP and should not exceed 16MB in file size.
  2. Image Quality:
    • Images must be clear, in focus, and show the product itself. Avoid images with watermarks, logos, or excessive text overlays.
    • Google recommends using images with a white or neutral background for best visibility and professional appearance.
  3. Supported File Formats:
    • Google supports the following image file formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, and WebP. Make sure your images are in one of these formats.
  4. Product Image Content:
    • Ensure that the product image accurately represents the product being sold. For instance, avoid using lifestyle images or images that don’t clearly show the product in its entirety.
    • Google’s guidelines for product images can be reviewed in the Google Merchant Center Image Requirements.

How to Fix Invalid Image Warnings:

  1. Check Image Quality:
    • Review your images in Shopify to make sure they are clear, high-quality, and meet the required size and format specifications.
    • If necessary, update your product images in Shopify. Ensure they are not too small, blurry, or distorted.
  2. Re-upload or Replace Images:
    • If you find any images that are problematic, replace them in Shopify. Make sure that all images uploaded are consistent with Google’s image guidelines.
  3. Ensure Correct Image URLs:
    • Ensure that the image URLs in your product feed are correct. Sometimes, broken or missing URLs can trigger image warnings in Google Merchant Center.
  4. Use Shopify Apps for Feed Optimization:
    • Consider using a Shopify app like Google Shopping Feed or DataFeedWatch to ensure that your images comply with Google’s policies and to optimize the data feed for your Google Merchant Center.

Step 3: Resolve Title Issues for Demand Gen Ads

The second warning you’re receiving is related to invalid attribute values for titles under your products. Google Ads, including Demand Gen Ads, has specific rules for creating product titles to ensure they are accurate and descriptive. The error typically arises if your titles contain irrelevant keywords or fail to meet Google’s best practices.

Google’s Title Guidelines:

  1. Length of Titles:
    • Product titles should be between 70-150 characters.
    • Avoid excessively short or long titles as they can lead to truncation or invalid attribute errors.
  2. Relevant and Accurate Keywords:
    • Ensure that your product titles clearly describe the product, including key attributes like the product type, brand, color, and size (if applicable).
    • Do not include promotional terms like “best deal”, “free shipping”, or unnecessary words like “buy” or “sale”.
  3. Avoid Keyword Stuffing:
    • Titles should not be overloaded with unnecessary keywords. For example, a product title like “Men’s Running Shoes, Nike, Best Men’s Running Shoes, Running Shoes for Sale” would be flagged for keyword stuffing.
  4. Proper Formatting:
    • Ensure that your product title follows the correct format, such as:
      • Brand Name
      • Product Type
      • Key Product Details (e.g., color, size, material)
      • Model number (if applicable)

How to Fix Invalid Title Warnings:

  1. Revise Product Titles:
    • Go into your Shopify product listings and edit the titles. Ensure that they are clear, concise, and contain relevant keywords. For instance, a good title might be “Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Men’s Running Shoes – Blue, Size 10”.
  2. Avoid Unnecessary Information:
    • Remove any marketing language or special characters that do not describe the product directly. Google’s goal is to display accurate and straightforward product information.
  3. Use Shopify’s Bulk Editor:
    • You can use Shopify’s Bulk Editor to update multiple product titles at once. This is particularly helpful if you have a large inventory.
  4. Check for Duplicates:
    • Make sure you are not using identical or overly similar titles for different products, as Google may flag these as invalid.
  5. Check for Special Characters:
    • Ensure that there are no unsupported special characters (e.g., “&”, “%”, “#”) in your product titles. Stick to standard alphanumeric characters and hyphens or commas if necessary.

Step 4: Monitor the Status in Google Merchant Center

After making the necessary changes to your product images and titles, upload the updated product data to Google Merchant Center. Here’s how you can monitor the status:

  1. Check for Warnings in GMC:
    • After updating your Shopify store and re-uploading the product data, go back to Google Merchant Center.
    • Navigate to Products > Diagnostics and check if the warnings regarding invalid images and titles are resolved.
  2. Wait for Google’s Approval:
    • Google may take up to 24 hours to reprocess your feed and remove the warnings. During this time, the updated products will be re-evaluated for compliance with the requirements.
  3. Test Product Visibility:
    • Check whether your products are appearing correctly in Google Shopping ads and YouTube Shopping. If the warnings have been fixed, they should be listed without issues.

Conclusion

By addressing the issues with your Shopify product images and titles, you can ensure that your products meet the necessary requirements for YouTube Shopping ads and Demand Gen Ads. Fixing invalid image problems and adhering to Google’s guidelines for titles will help improve the visibility of your products in Google Ads, and prevent any unnecessary warnings or account issues. Regularly monitoring and updating your product feed is key to maintaining a healthy Google Merchant Center account and running successful Shopping campaigns.

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