Shopify storefront checklist for Google Merchant Center
By Terry Ecom · Last reviewed 2026-08-20 · Source: Google Merchant Center Help
You do not need a 250-check spreadsheet. You need the three things Merchant Center Help already listed, implemented as real Shopify pages and real copy.
1. Identity that matches Merchant Center
Publish legal business name, physical address, phone and a contact email on the storefront — typically Contact plus the footer. Use an email on your store domain. The same values must appear in the Merchant Center account.
GMC Scout flags missing store email, phone and address, and contact emails that are not on the store domain.
2. Policies that a reviewer can open
Link shipping, refund and privacy from the footer on every page. On Shopify, shipping and returns belong under /policies/ — a /pages/shipping-policy duplicate is a common miss. Fill in the actual terms: cost, timeframe, countries, return window, who pays returns, refund timing.
3. Pages that resolve
Every product, collection and policy URL you submit must return a real page, not a 404 and not a bounce to the homepage. Checkout must run on HTTPS. Remove Lorem ipsum, default theme images, and “under construction” banners.
GMC Scout runs an HTTP status check on every seeded and discovered URL, plus HTTPS, wrong-domain links, empty collections, product-title issues, SKU/inventory gaps, and domain age. That is the honest 70+ claim on a normal store: 33 finding types plus one status check per URL.
FAQ
Does GMC Scout only work on Shopify?
Yes. It is built for Shopify stores, including Shopify JSON product and collection data when the storefront exposes it.
Does a clean scan mean Google will approve me?
No. We check the storefront. Feed attributes, Merchant Center verification, ad history and payment processing are off-site. A clean storefront is necessary, not a guarantee.
How often should I re-scan?
After any theme, app, or policy change, and before you request review. Every account gets one free scan per 24 hours, on any store.
Sources
Related guides
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