Google merchant center - 2026 FAQs 💠
This FAQ is built from real questions people in the GMC space are asking right now. Hope it helps anyone, I’ll keep updating this FAQ as new questions come up 🫡 ➡️How important is consistency across my domain, brand, and GMC account name? 100% non-negotiable. Your domain name, brand name, GMC account name, and social media handles all need to match completely. Google cross-references everything and any inconsistency is an immediate red flag. Get this aligned before you do anything else ➡️Does domain age matter? Yes. Older is always better. Aim for at least 1 month of age before submitting to GMC. Ideally have it registered under your business name using the same Gmail account you'll use for GMC so Google sees a clean, consistent trail from every angle ➡️How should I set up my Gmail before creating a GMC account? This is one of the most missed steps and it causes a lot of unnecessary suspensions. Create a fresh Gmail dedicated only to GMC and Google Ads Before you do anything with it, warm it up for several days. Subscribe to newsletters, watch YouTube, send and receive a few emails. The goal is to show normal human activity so Google's systems don't flag it as a suspicious new account the moment it touches GMC STORE SETUP & COMPLIANCE ➡️What should my store look like before I submit to GMC? It needs to look like a real brand that real effort went into. Clean UX, consistent contact information everywhere, and all important policies clearly visible Reviewers spend only 2–3 minutes on your store so the first impression has to be immediately convincing. ➡️What does a proper Return Policy need to include? Four things at minimum: - The exact return window (e.g., 30 days) - Who pays for return shipping - The condition the item needs to be in - How the customer initiates a return (email or portal) Vague return policies are one of the most common suspension triggers. ➡️What does a proper Shipping Policy need to include? - Realistic delivery timeframes - Shipping costs - (Optional) carriers you use - What happens if a package is lost or delayed