Why Adding Product Reviews to Google Shopping Ads Matters
Integrating your RaveCapture Product Reviews into Google Shopping Ads (PSLAs) is crucial for standing out in a competitive market. Here’s why:
Increase Click-Through Rates (CTR): Ads with review stars are more eye-catching and are proven to drive more clicks.
Build Trust at First Sight: Reviews in your ads show potential customers that others have had a positive experience with your products, leading to increased confidence and trust.
Boost Conversions: By displaying social proof directly in the ad, customers are more likely to complete purchases.
Quick Feed Approval: RaveCapture simplifies the process with feeds typically approved within 24 hours, meaning you can start showcasing your reviews right away.
Requirements
Requirements to Display Reviews in Google Shopping
To display your product reviews in Google Shopping, you must meet the following requirements:
At least 100 product reviews overall.
Each product must have at least 3 reviews to display star ratings.
Complete product information is required, including:
Titles
Prices
Links
SKUs/IDs (minimum required: SKU, but including MPN or GTIN increases approval chances).
Manual approval by the Google Shopping team.
Note:
GTINs and MPNs need to be added manually to your RaveCapture product library for most integrations. These can be added individually by going to Catalog in the left menu>Product Library. They can also be uploaded in bulk by our support team if you provide a CSV file that includes the Product IDs or SKUs (depending on your platform), the GTIN and/or MPNs, and any other product information that needs updating. To view your current product information, go to Settings in the header>Account Settings>Export Data. You can download a file of your current RaveCapture product library from there.
Step 1: Generate Shopping Feed
Within your RaveCapture account click on Review Management > Google Shopping Ads. This will generate the full product review feed you need to submit to Google. On the Google Shopping page you will see your review count and star rating data. Copy the feed link for submission to your Google Merchant Center Account.
Step 2: Create a Google Merchant Center Account
You’ll need a Google Merchant Account to upload your XML feed and display reviews in Google Shopping ads.
If you don’t have an account, create one here.
Once logged in, click on the Product Reviews tab. If you don’t see this tab, proceed to Step 3.
Step 3: Request a Product Review feed
If your Merchant Center account doesn’t have the Product Reviews tab, you’ll need to apply for it by filling out the Product Ratings interest form. Select "No" for the question "Do you work with an approved third-party reviews aggregator?" (You will be submitting the XML feed directly in your merchant center).
Complete the rest of the form with your merchant details.
Step 4: Submit the RaveCapture Product Feed XML in Google Merchant Center
Now that you’ve added the Product Reviews tab to your account, follow these steps:
Sign in to your Merchant Center account.
Click Marketing in the navigation menu.
Click Product reviews.
Click Product Reviews Feeds to open the Feeds page.
Click the plus button on the Feeds page.
Name your feed "TrustSpot".
Choose an upload method.
Configure your feed options:
Mode: Standard
Type: Product Reviews
Feed Name: trustspot.io
Input method: Scheduled Fetches
Set up your fetch settings:
File Name: TrustSpot
Fetch Frequency: Daily
Fetch Time: 12:00 AM
File URL: (Copy this unique URL from the Google Shopping page in your RaveCapture account)
Lastly, click Save to complete the process.
Note:
Google requires every review you've collected to be included in the feed. You cannot select only 5-star reviews.
Additionally, general comments like "fast shipping" may result in feed rejection. Ensure your reviews include product-specific feedback.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why do I need at least 100 reviews for Google Shopping?
Google requires a minimum of 100 reviews to ensure there is sufficient data for displaying star ratings, which helps customers make informed purchase decisions.
2. Can I exclude certain reviews from the feed?
No. Google mandates that all reviews, regardless of rating, must be included in the feed.
3. What happens if my reviews are rejected due to "general comments"?
Ensure that reviews contain specific product feedback rather than generic comments like "fast shipping." Use the Report > Google Shopping feature in RaveCapture to block unqualified reviews from submission.
4. How can I improve the approval chances for my feed?
Include detailed product data like MPN or GTIN in addition to SKUs.
Verify that reviews focus on the product itself and adhere to Google's quality guidelines.
5. Can I automate feed submissions?
Yes, configure your feed in the Merchant Center with Scheduled Fetches and set a daily fetch time to automate the submission process.
6. What should I do if my Product Reviews tab is not visible?
You’ll need to request access by filling out the Product Ratings interest form. Ensure your details are accurate to avoid delays.
7. Is there a way to test my feed before submission?
Google’s Merchant Center allows you to preview your feed during the submission process. This helps identify any issues before final approval.
8. What should I do if my reviews are rejected due to "missing or invalid product Id"? This means you need to update your GTINs and /or MPNs in your RaveCapture product library. Contact RaveCapture support for assistance with updating these values in bulk.
If you have any questions or need help updating your product library, please reach out to our support team either via our live chat, or email us at support@ravecapture.com