How do I connect a CSS partner to Google Merchant Centre for UK Shopping?
A CSS partner connection is made at the Google Merchant Centre account level, not inside the feed itself. The CSS partner sends Shopping ads on behalf of the advertiser using their own CSS account linked to your Merchant Centre. The process requires granting the CSS partner access to your Merchant Centre account, after which they submit Shopping ads through their CSS account. The advertiser retains full control of product data and campaign budgets. The CPC reduction comes from the CSS partner's position in the auction, not from any bid change on the advertiser's side.
How do I link Trustpilot to Google Customer Reviews for seller rating stars in Shopping ads?
Google does not pull Trustpilot reviews automatically. To show seller ratings from Trustpilot on Shopping ads, a brand must either use Trustpilot's Google integration (which submits review data to Google via Trustpilot's aggregator partnership) or enrol in Google Customer Reviews separately and accumulate the minimum 100 reviews over a 12-month period. The Trustpilot integration route requires the brand to have a Trustpilot Business account with the Google integration enabled and a minimum number of eligible reviews. Stars appear on Shopping ads after Google verifies the review count and quality threshold.
How do I confirm that my Google Shopping feed shows VAT-inclusive pricing for UK buyers?
In Google Merchant Centre, the price attribute in the feed must include VAT for UK-targeted campaigns. The feed price should match exactly what the customer sees at the first stage of checkout before any promotional codes are applied. To verify, compare the price attribute in the feed export to the product page price on the storefront. If the storefront shows a VAT-inclusive price and the feed shows a lower number, the feed is submitting ex-VAT prices. This can be corrected in the feed by adjusting the price export logic in the platform (Shopify, WooCommerce, or custom feed) or by applying a supplemental feed price override.
Should I have separate UK and EU product feeds after Brexit?
Yes. Post-Brexit, UK and EU Shopping markets are separate regulatory and currency environments. A UK-targeted feed should use GBP pricing and comply with UK Consumer Protection and Merchant Centre policies. An EU-targeted feed should use the relevant EU currency and comply with EU Shopping policies. Running a single feed for both markets creates pricing mismatches for at least one audience. Separate feeds can be managed from separate Merchant Centre accounts or from a single account using multi-country feed targeting with separate data sources for each market.
How do I set up free product listings in Google Merchant Centre for the UK?
Free product listings (also called unpaid product listings) are enabled through the Surfaces across Google programme in Google Merchant Centre. To qualify, the feed must meet Google's product data quality requirements, including accurate pricing, product availability, and policy compliance. Free listings appear in the Shopping tab and, in some cases, in Google Search and Google Images. Enrolment is done in the Merchant Centre settings under "Surfaces across Google." Feed quality directly determines impression eligibility for free listings: feeds with title quality issues, missing attributes, or pricing mismatches receive fewer or no free listing impressions.
