Why Is My Google Business Profile Suspended?

If you’ve received the dreaded, “Google Business Profile Suspended” email or notification in your Google Business Profile dashboard, don’t panic. Depending on your situation, getting your profile reinstated may not be as impossible as it sounds.

In this blog, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about Google Business Profile suspensions, common reasons why profiles get suspended, and steps you can take to get reinstated.

What is a Google Business Profile Suspension?

Although Google will not specify the exact type of suspension you have received, digital marketers have found that GBP suspensions typically fall under two categories:

• Soft suspension

This type of GBP suspension means that your business profile has become unverified. In this case, your business profile will still show up in the search results and in Google Maps, but you will no longer be able to manage the listing.

• Hard suspension

This type of GBP suspension is the most problematic of the two as it means that your business listing has been completely removed from the search results. If you believe this is the type of suspension you have received, it is likely that your profile violated Google’s guidelines, or the type of business you have is ineligible to have a GBP listing in the first place (more on that later).

Potential Reasons Why Your Google Business Profile Got Suspended

Google Business Profiles can get suspended for all kinds of reasons. And what some may find even more frustrating is the fact that Google will not give you the exact reason why your listing has been suspended.

Here are some common reasons GBP listings get suspended:

• Using a P.O. box as your address
• You have an online-only business
• Keyword stuffing in your business name
• Another business shares your same address
• Made too many updates at once
• Your website has a forwarding URL
• Address/hours don’t match your website or other directories
• A manager or owner on your listing had their account suspended
• You created duplicate listings
• Your hours were listed as 24/7
• Violating Google Business Profile guidelines
• You recently changed your address, primary categories, name, site, or phone number
• You selected that you are a service area business but did not disable your physical address

How to Get Your Google Business Profile Back After Suspension

Getting your business profile back can be quite the process depending on the type of suspension you received.

For soft suspensions, you’ll need to re-verify your GBP listing. This may mean having to open a new Google account (especially if a manager or owner suspension occurred) to reclaim the listing.

For hard suspensions, do not try to create a new listing (it won’t work). Instead, we recommend following these steps:

1. Carefully read through Google’s Business Profile Guidelines to ensure you are eligible to hold a GBP listing.
2. Fill out a local business reinstatement request form.
   • Read through each preliminary question and answer them honestly – If your business is in fact eligible for a GBP listing and you believe your listing complies with GBP guidelines, you’ll gain access to the form.
   • Fill out the form and upload any relevant, non-sensitive business documents including official business registrations, business licences, or tax certificates.
   • You should expect a response from Google in at least 3 business days. Note: do not send multiple reinstatement forms as that could move your request further down the queue.
   • If it has been weeks since you have submitted your reinstatement form, try reaching out to GBP support on social media.
3. If your listing is reinstated, fix any issues that could be interpreted as a violation of Google’s guidelines promptly to avoid re-suspension.
4. If your request was denied, we recommend getting in touch with a Google rep about your case (social media direct messages are often the quickest way to get an answer) and/or ask for advice in the GBP Help Forum.

Avoid Future Suspensions by Following GBP Best Practices

If you have recently had your Google Business Profile suspended, the best way to avoid future suspensions is to follow best practices:

Regularly check in on your business profile

This is a good way to ensure incorrect user-submitted business information doesn’t automatically get published and that any new information such as phone numbers and addresses are updated promptly.

Optimize your listing (but not too much)

Fill out as much of your Google Business Profile as possible but avoid the urge to keyword stuff.

Review the GBP guidelines

Always read through the quality guidelines when making any significant changes to your profile to ensure you aren’t violating them.

Hire a digital agency to take care of it for you

If you don’t have time to keep track of your GBP, hire an experienced and knowledgeable SEO team to do it for you.