Local inventory ads and free local product listings FAQ

This page provides answers to common questions about showing your local products on Google.

Feeds

What should I do if I don't have information about products available in each of my shops?

You can submit the required inventory details for each shop where you have product information. Add other shops to your inventory feed once you have their local product information.

Are a description and image required for all of my local products?

Yes. Google requires you to submit the description [description] and image link [image_link] attributes for each item in your primary feed. Google can use the descriptions and images that you've already submitted in your primary feed for your local items. To use an existing primary feed that has not been enabled for local inventory ads or free local product listings, you'll need to enable the local extension and select your destinations. Learn more

Are exact inventory quantities required to participate?

No. Instead of submitting exact quantities, you may submit placeholder quantities that match your approximate inventory levels (for example, 10 = in stock, 1 or 2 = limited availability and 0 = out of stock).

Note: Google does not display exact inventory quantities for local inventory ads and free local product listings. Whether you submit exact quantities or placeholder quantities, ads and listings will display 'in stock' or 'limited availability'.

Are there alternatives to providing daily inventory feed updates if my pricing and inventory don't change frequently?

Yes. You can only submit products that you know are in stock. Before you upload your daily inventory feed, set a placeholder value for the quantity [quantity] attribute; a non-zero value makes sure that your ads and free local product listings show an availability of 'in stock'.

Note: If you are unable to submit a daily inventory feed or if you want to submit your inventory feed every hour, contact our support team through our Contact Us form.

How do I automate feed uploads?

Make sure that you register and upload your feed to Merchant Center at least once. Then, create a schedule for automatic feed uploads. Learn more about available upload options

Can I have one inventory feed for each shop instead of a single inventory feed for all shops?

We recommend one single local product inventory feed; however, you may upload multiple inventory feeds if multiple feeds are easier for you. If you have shops in several countries and want to show your local products in each, you'll need to submit a local product inventory feed for each country and every language. Use our Contact Us form if you run into issues.

Can I show products that I have on display and that customers can order?

Yes. Use the on display to order (ODO) feature.

Tracking

What insights do I get when I use Google Analytics to track my local shop front?

Google Analytics measures actions that customers take while on your Google-hosted local shop front, such as page views and clicks to get directions or call your shop. It's important to measure these online behaviours to get the full picture of your local shop front's performance. Learn how to set up Google Analytics

General

Can I change the maximum radius for ads or free listings showing my local products?

No. Google does not allow changes to the maximum radius for ads or free listings showing your local products.

What if my shop is too busy to participate in Google inventory checks?

Google works with you to make sure that the inventory verifications are scheduled during the best time for each shop. Our goal is to minimise impact on your shop operations. Learn more about inventory verification

Can I direct customers from local inventory ads and free local product listings to my website instead of a Google-hosted local shop front page?

Yes. If your website meets Google's requirements, you can use the merchant-hosted local shop front feature to direct customers to your website when they click on your local inventory ads. In order to direct customers to your website when they click on your free local product listings, you need to meet the requirements of the merchant-hosted local shop front (full) feature.

How do I prevent outdated shop information from showing up on my local shop front?

Make sure that you keep the details in your Business Profiles current for all of your shops. If you can't manually maintain your Business Profiles regularly, you may want to use the API to manage your Business Profiles. Learn how to use the API

How do I show the click and collect option on ads showing my local products?

To get started, contact our support team through our Contact Us form to confirm your eligibility for the click and collect feature. Learn more about the click and collect feature

If you're having issues with your local inventory ads or free local product listings, go to our Contact Us form.