We have recently had a partner with a number of customers inform them that their Google Shopping (Merchant Center) account has been suspended and their shopping listings removed from search results online. The reason for the suspension was that the merchants’ website was not collecting customer data securely, as it did not have an SSL on the checkout pages.We would like to highlight it as a potential issue as Google roll this out to all of their customers and recommend applying an SSL certificate to the checkout if Google Shopping is an important revenue channel for your business. It is important to be proactive to prevent lost sales.

What is SSL?
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. This link ensures that all data passed between the web server and browsers remain private and integral.

What is Google’s Merchant Policy?
You can find out more about Google’s merchant policy on their web site, by clicking here.

How do I fix or prevent this?

You need to add an SSL certificate to your checkout, which we will provide on request if you are hosted with us. If you are not hosted with us, please contact us.

What impact will the SSL certificate have?
Adding an SSL to your entire website can cause a drop in search engine rankings due to the domain name changing from ‘http’ to https’; please ensure that you follow the necessary steps to prevent this from happening. If you need further advice or would like us to manage this for you, please contact us.