Glossary
Merchant Center (Google Merchant Center)
Merchant Center is Google's platform where online retailers upload and manage product data feeds that power Shopping ads, free product listings, and commerce experiences across Google surfaces including Search, Shopping tab, and Image Search. Retailers submit structured product data — titles, descriptions, prices, images, availability, GTINs, and shipping details — via a data feed file, API, or e-commerce platform integration. Merchant Center enforces strict data-quality requirements; feed errors or policy violations can suspend product visibility. The platform also surfaces diagnostics (price competitiveness, feed health) and provides access to promotions, customer reviews, and local inventory ads. For advertisers running Performance Max or Shopping campaigns, Merchant Center is the single source of truth for product information. Proper feed optimization — accurate titles, high-quality images, correct categorization — directly impacts Shopping ad relevance and cost-per-click.