Google’s Smart Cropping May Be Cutting Your Ad Images
▼ Summary
– Google’s Smart Cropping feature is automatically cropping product images in Google Shopping ads, sometimes resulting in awkward visuals.
– The feature uses automation to zoom in on what Google determines is the most relevant part of the image, which can differ from the original upload.
– Advertisers cannot disable Smart Cropping through the Merchant Center interface and must contact Google support to turn it off manually.
– The issue was first identified by Zato Founder Kirk Williams, who shared his findings and Google’s response with the PPC community on LinkedIn.
– If Shopping ads appear incorrectly cropped, advertisers should check their images and contact Google support to disable the Smart Cropping feature.
Some advertisers are noticing their Google Shopping ads display strangely cropped product images, and the cause appears to be a default automation within Google Merchant Center. This feature, known as Smart Cropping, automatically zooms in on what its algorithm identifies as the most important section of a product photo. While intended to enhance ad appearance, the results can sometimes look awkward, cutting off key elements or presenting products in an unflattering way that differs significantly from the originally uploaded image.
The challenge for advertisers is that Smart Cropping is enabled by default, and there is no direct setting within the Merchant Center interface to disable it. To turn this feature off, businesses must contact Google support directly and request that it be manually deactivated for their specific account. This extra step can be a significant inconvenience for marketers managing multiple campaigns.
The issue first gained widespread attention after Kirk Williams, founder of Zato, publicly highlighted it. He noticed unusual image crops in his ads despite having uploaded correctly formatted product photos. Williams shared his discovery and the subsequent response from Google with the pay-per-click community on LinkedIn, alerting others to the potential problem.
If your own Shopping ad images seem improperly framed or are missing important details, Smart Cropping is likely responsible. It’s a good practice to regularly review your live ad visuals. Should you find the automated cropping undesirable, your only recourse is to contact Google support to disable the Smart Cropping feature for your advertising account.
(Source: Search Engine Land)
