A GMB or Google My Business listing is a very useful marketing tool for business owners, big or small.
It is very easy to set up a Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business listing). Since it is free to open a Google Business listing it is great for small businesses, start-ups, or companies on a limited budget.
But Google My Business (GMB) account suspension is a major setback for any company trying to increase local organic traffic. The number of Google Business Profiles that have been suspended recently appears to be significantly higher than expected. As a result, more companies with Google Maps listings are being suspended and delisted from the Google local search results.
If you are also one of those whose profile has been suspended this “Ultimate Guide on Google My Business Suspension – Reasons and Fix” will explain everything to reinstate your Google Business Profile.
Let’s get into the detail.
What is Google My Business Suspension?
Due to the rise in fake listings over the past few years, Google implemented a listings suspension. With the Google My Business suspension, users will only see trustworthy, legal businesses when they search because fraudulent businesses will be filtered out.
Google My Business suspends your account when your GMB listing is no longer visible on Google and Google Maps or you no longer have control over it (your business listing is essentially “unverified” and you can’t manage it).
When you get the following warning in your GMB dashboard, you will know that your listing has been suspended:
What are the different Types of Suspension?
Well, your approach to resolving the Google listing suspension will depend on the nature of the suspension. First, you need to know the different types of suspension which are explained below:
1. Soft suspension:
If your business is soft suspended, it signifies that it has been flagged as unverified for unknown reasons. If you are subject to a soft suspension, you will see a notice of suspension when you go into your GMB account, but your listing will continue to appear on Google and Google Maps. You will no longer able to control your business until you show verification documentation.
2. Hard Suspension:
This is a very critical issue. Google has determined that your listing is either ineligible for a listing or violates its policies. If you experience a hard suspension, you won’t be able to see your listing record when you log in to your account and will instead get a removal notification.
3. Manager account suspension:
Suspension of an account might be either manager- or owner-related. A manager’s ability to work with a listing is suspended, but the listing itself is not changed.
4. Owner account suspension:
This entirely deletes the owner’s Google account. All reviews and listings will be deleted. Listings will be restored if the account is successfully reinstated, but it’s possible that any reviews may be lost.
Major Reasons for Google My Business Suspension
The Google listing for your company is suspended for a variety of reasons. The following list of the major reasons for suspension may help you understand the situation better and take the necessary action:
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Inappropriate Content:
Users should not be misled by the information you post. You can concentrate on prices, discounts, offers, and special promotions. Users will become distracted if you display unsuitable, irrelevant, or low-quality content related to your business.
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Keyword stuffing in the Business Name:
Your business should be the same that appears on your website, in-store signage, and in customer communications. You may write “Kalakriti, but not Kalakriti – Exclusive Designer Boutique,” for instance.
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Business without any Physical Location:
You cannot have a Google My Business listing if your company only conducts business online. The same applies to company profiles whose address is a post office, virtual office, or co-working space.
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Inadequately Defined Business:
You must set up your business listing as a service area if you are a business that provides home services or doorstep services. Above all, you must hide your address if you don’t have staff to serve customers.
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Multiple Listings for the same Business:
It is not at all right and advisable to create duplicate or multiple listings for the same business even if you provide several services. You must delete the duplicate listings immediately else your business listing surely going to suspend.
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Website Address or URL:
If you own a website for your business then you must add the website URL in the respective places.
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Incorrect working hours:
If you simply have a website and your listing displays as open 24/7, you must add your business hours.
Other elements might also be:
- High-risk industry sectors including for lawyers, plumbers, HVAC, locksmiths, rehabilitation facilities, etc.
- You recently made numerous updates/changes to your Google My Business listing.
- Make the switch from a storefront to a service area business in your listing (SAB).
- The same address is shared by another company or business.
How does Google Business listing suspension affect your business?
When your Google listing is suspended, it is not ideal since depending on how long it is suspended, it may have varying effects on your company.
As your listing is removed from search results and you are no longer visible on Google Maps or search results, a hard suspension is concerning. You run the danger of being detected online by potential clients and your online visibility could be compromised. The easiest approach to get found by potential clients and to build your business is through local search.
A soft suspension might also have an impact on your business because it prevents you from accessing your listing while the public can.
Since anyone may update your Google listing, there is a greater likelihood that it will show inaccurate modifications and inaccurate information.
It is crucial to remember that when Google removes a listing, they are operating in the best interests of the clients and customers of your company. Google will provide alternatives to reinstate the listing for your company, and there is a means to fix the Google my business suspension.
How to fix a suspended Google My Business listing?
You’ll undoubtedly feel panicked when you read the suspension notification, and you might be inclined to immediately complete the reinstatement form.
But hold on!
You must correct the issues with your listing before you can submit an application for reinstatement.
Many people who have their listing suspended believe that the easiest way to avoid fixing the suspended profile is to simply create a new one.
Do not create a new business listing!
That will complicate things even more.
The first thing that you do to fix a suspended Google My Business listing is to review the Google guidelines. When you have checked the guidelines and verified that your business profile meets all the guidelines you can request a reinstatement of your Google Business profile suspension using the reinstatement form supplied by Google, following the instructions.
After that, you might need to meet further criteria, to prove your legitimacy as a business, before your Google listing suspension is lifted.
For Google to reinstate your suspended Google listing, you will need to provide the following types of proof:
- Actual photographs of your business location
- The company’s logo is clearly shown
- Proper Address of the business location
- Business or company vehicles with proper logos parked on-site of the building
- State business permit or license (if required by the state)
- Any Professional license (if required by law)
- Proof of your business occupancy like
- Utility bills
- Rental agreements/contract
- Tax identification documents
In some cases, Google can decide to reinstate your account using different techniques like a phone or video verification. Google will decide whether or not your company is eligible for less proof to be provided.
It is unquestionably essential to adhere to Google’s instructions promptly and carefully. Rushing the procedure could cause more problems and result in your business being permanently blacklisted.
How to manage Google Business Profile?
Make sure that any information you submit to the GMB form is accurate and up-to-date to set yourself up for success right away. Regular audits and updates convince Google that the listed business is legitimate and of high quality, thus lowering your risk of incurring an expensive suspension.
When the Google My Business app is no longer available you can easily create and manage your business profile with a free tool viz “Google Business Profile Growth Manager”. This is an absolutely free app and you can have a premium version for additional features.
With this app, you can manage your profile with ease, schedule your posts in advance, manage your reviews, geo-tag your images, and much more.
This is not just a replacement for the Google My Business app but it has more features to make you visible in top pages in local searches..GBPGM is a free local SEO tool and useful for every business owner having a Google business listing.
Final Words
There may be a number of reasons for your Google My Business suspension. Don’t panic, though—first things first. The goal is to understand why GMB troubles occur, despite the fact that they can have a negative impact on your operations and cause you a great deal of tension.
It’s crucial that you comprehend every detail of your GMB profile and adhere to the rules. After all, the only way to get yourself back in business is to be a knowledgeable and honest owner.
Now with better knowledge regarding GMB suspensions, you should be more ready if the Suspended alert appears on your dashboard.
Keep in mind that GMB suspensions can occasionally occur for random reasons, such as if you make too many changes at once, if a rival suggests an edit, or even if there is a bug on Google’s end.
Be sure to be ready and not solely rely on Google My Business for your web marketing activities.
And always try to follow Google’s guidelines and rules while maintaining your Google Business Profile.
Still, if you find it difficult to fix your suspension, don’t hesitate to consult the best local SEO agency to help you out. Expert Local SEO agency deals with listing issues including Google My Business management as a part of their local SEO work. They have experts to fix the Google Business Profile suspension.