Why your Product Listing Ads aren't working (and how to fix it)

Google Shopping ads are supposed to boost your sales. However, your PLAs run empty: low volume, CPC too high, disappointing ROAS. If you've ever had that feeling of “wasting” a budget, you're not alone.

In this article, we decipher the reasons why your Shopping campaigns are not giving the expected results — and above all, what you can do to fix them quickly.

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1. Wobbly product flow: the number one cause of slow campaigns

At Google, it all starts with product data. If your flow is incomplete, poorly structured, or outdated, you are leaving with a disability.

Common mistakes to watch out for:

• GTIN missing or invalid
  
  
• Inconsistent data (price, stock, delivery)
  
  
• Too vague titles and descriptions
  
  
• Images that are absent or do not comply with Google guidelines
  
  

👉 For a quick diagnosis, remember to check the alerts in Google Merchant Center, or contact us to a flow audit!

How to fix it:

• Update your feeds at least once a day.
  
  
• Use a tool like Feed Enrich by Dataïads to automatically enrich your product attributes (title, description, product type, etc.), correct errors and improve the perceived quality of your sheets.
  
  
• Test the impacts via A/B testing to validate the improvements (CTR, ROAS, rate of addition to the basket).
  
  

📚 Read also: How well-filled attributes boost your Shopping campaigns

2. Titles and descriptions that don't help the algorithm... or the Internet user

A good title is a title designed for research. And that changes everything.
Example:
❌ “Women's running shoes”
✅ “Nike Pegasus 40 Women — Lightweight cushioned running shoes”

Our advice:

• Integrate keywords truly typed by your customers (size, material, gender, color, use).
  
  
• Structure your titles to adapt them to automated campaigns (PMax, Meta catalog campaigns).
  
  
• Write your descriptions like a mini product sheet with concrete benefits.
  
  

3. Product images that don't measure up to par

Google doesn't work miracles with blurry images or gray backgrounds. Your visuals are the number one differentiator.

Checklist picture:

• Square format, high definition, on a white or very light background
  
  
• No text or watermark
  
  
• A single product view (avoid lifestyle photos as the main image)
  
  

If you have a large catalog, consider automation.

4. A poorly structured campaign = wasted budget

Even with a super flow, your media strategy can limit your results.
Here are the most common mistakes:

• Targeting too broad or not localized
  
  
• Inappropriate bidding strategy (e.g.: ROAS objective that is too high compared to the margin)
  
  
• No segmentation by product performance (top sellers vs zombies)
  
  
• Misuse of Performance Max (no dedicated landing page, poorly differentiated flow)
  
  

Tip:

Segment your campaigns by profitability or seasonality (sales, new deals, etc.).
And above all, personalize the post-click experience for every purchase intention.

📚 To discover: Optimize your Shopping campaigns during sales

5. Landing pages that are not engaging

The majority of Shopping visitors are not there to “browse.”
They want a quick validation : the right product, at the right price, with the right information. If not? They're leaving.

And that's where a lot of campaigns lose their effectiveness.

Common problems:

• Pages that are too slow or not responsive
  
  
• No alternative if the product is unavailable (e.g. missing sizes)
  
  
• No relevant cross-selling or product reviews
  
  
• No social proof (customer reviews, badges, remaining stock...)
  
  

How to fix this:

• Use dynamic landing pages that show content tailored to the initial query.
  
  
• Test pages designed specifically for post-click with Dataïads Smart Landing Pages, which incorporate:
  
  
  
  • personalized recommendations,
    
    
  • filters by discount or size,
    
    
  • and dynamic banners according to your commercial operations.
    
    

******

Successful Google Shopping campaigns are based on Three pillars :

1. A clean, enriched, up-to-date product flow
   
   
2. A campaign structure adapted to your business goals
   
   
3. A post-click experience that transforms
   
   

The good news? All of this can be automated (almost).

🔧 Need help regaining control of your Shopping performance? Talk to a Dataïads expert — and discover how our solutions can make your ROAS take off, without IT complexity.