Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is crucial for local SEO and driving foot traffic to your business. However, careless mistakes can lead to profile suspension, impacting your visibility and credibility. Google’s policies are stringent, and even minor errors can result in temporary or permanent suspension. To keep your business thriving online, it’s essential to avoid these 18 common mistakes that often lead to Google Business Profile suspension which we are going to explain in this blog.
Top 18 Mistakes to Avoid to Prevent Google Business Profile Suspension
1. Providing False Business Information
Accuracy is critical. Entering incorrect business details—such as the wrong address, phone number, or business name—can lead to suspension. Google requires that your profile information matches your business’s real-world identity.
How to Avoid: Use consistent and accurate details across all platforms. Double-check your business name, location, and contact info before submitting.
2. Using PO Boxes or Virtual Offices as Business Addresses
Google wants real, physical locations. Using a PO Box or virtual office address violates their guidelines, especially for businesses that rely on local visibility.
How to Avoid: Only use a legitimate business address where customers can physically visit or receive services.
3. Keyword Stuffing in the Business Name
Adding keywords to your business name that aren’t part of the legal business name is a clear violation. This can lead to suspension as it misleads users and goes against Google’s policy on spammy practices.
How to Avoid: Keep the business name in your profile identical to your legal, registered business name.
4. Operating Multiple Listings for the Same Location
Duplicating your business listing to gain more visibility can lead to suspension. Google treats multiple listings for the same business at the same location as spam.
How to Avoid: Stick to a single listing per business location and consolidate any duplicates.
5. Operating in a Restricted Industry
Certain businesses, such as those related to adult services or gambling, are restricted from using Google Business Profiles. Operating in one of these industries while trying to maintain a listing can result in suspension.
How to Avoid: Make sure your business complies with Google’s policies on restricted industries.
6. Inconsistent Business Hours
Mismatched or confusing hours can frustrate customers and lead Google to suspect inaccurate business information. This can trigger a profile review or suspension.
How to Avoid: Regularly update your business hours, especially during holidays or special events.
7. Failing to Verify Your Profile
Verifying your business is a crucial step in claiming your Google Business Profile. Unverified profiles have a higher risk of suspension, as Google cannot confirm their authenticity.
How to Avoid: Complete the verification process through the mail, phone, or email options provided by Google.
8. Inaccurate or Misleading Categories
Choosing irrelevant business categories or filling your profile with unnecessary categories to rank for multiple keywords violates Google’s guidelines.
How to Avoid: Select only the most relevant primary and secondary categories for your business.
9. Posting Prohibited Content
Google has a strict policy regarding the types of content that can be posted. Inappropriate images, spammy posts, and misleading offers can lead to suspension.
How to Avoid: Adhere to Google’s content guidelines, ensuring all uploaded media is professional, accurate, and relevant to your business.
10. Review Gating
Encouraging only positive reviews and filtering out negative ones, known as “review gating,” is a violation of Google’s review policies. This can lead to account suspension or loss of review privileges.
How to Avoid: Encourage all customers to leave honest reviews without influencing them based on potential review outcomes.
11. Faking Reviews
Google takes review integrity seriously. Buying fake reviews or having employees leave reviews to manipulate ratings can lead to immediate suspension.
How to Avoid: Never engage in review manipulation or fake reviews. Focus on organic, legitimate feedback from real customers.
12. Not Securing Your Google Business Profile
Many businesses forget to assign proper ownership and management roles for their Google Business Profile. If your profile isn’t properly secured, unauthorized access could lead to changes or even malicious activity that results in suspension.
How to fix it: Make sure you have the correct primary owner and managers assigned to your profile. Regularly review your user permissions and remove anyone who no longer needs access to avoid any unwanted changes.
13. Misleading Service Areas
Listing service areas where you don’t actually offer services is a violation. This is common for businesses attempting to expand their reach artificially.
How to Avoid: List only real, serviceable areas in your profile, and keep them updated.
14. Abusing Special Offers or Promos
Posting fake or misleading promotions in your Google Business Profile can trigger a suspension.
How to Avoid: Ensure that all promotions, offers, and deals are legitimate and reflect your current offerings.
15. Setting Up Listings for Businesses Without Physical Presence
Google requires businesses to have a physical presence or serviceable area. Setting up listings for locations you do not operate out of can lead to penalties.
How to Avoid: Only create listings for places where your business legitimately operates.
16. Ignoring Profile Updates or Requests
Google may request updates or additional information to verify your business. Ignoring these requests can result in suspension.
How to Avoid: Always respond promptly to any requests from Google regarding updates or verification.
17. Having Multiple Service Area Listings for the Same Business
Google allows businesses to list a service area. However, creating multiple listings to target different service areas for the same business is against the rules.
How to Avoid: Use one service area per business, or provide a central location with a well-defined service area radius.
18. Failure to Manage and Update Profile Regularly
An outdated or unmanaged Google Business Profile risks suspension due to inactivity. If Google detects a lack of management, they may temporarily disable the profile.
How to Avoid: Regularly log in to update hours, post new content, and engage with customer reviews to keep your profile active.
Also Read: Ultimate Guide on Google My Business Suspension – Reasons and Fix
Conclusion
Suspension of your Google Business Profile can result in lost revenue, customer trust, and visibility. Understanding and avoiding these 18 common mistakes will protect your profile and ensure your business maintains a strong online presence. By keeping your profile accurate, engaging, and up to date, you can avoid the frustration and impact of a suspension.
Make sure to stay on top of the latest Google Business Profile policies and review your listing periodically to ensure compliance.
Worried about managing your Google Business Profile effectively? Save time and effort with GBPGM (Google Business Profile Growth Manager)—a powerful tool designed to help you monitor and manage your profile with ease. With GBPGM, you can regularly update your business information, respond to customer reviews, and ensure your profile stays compliant with Google’s policies, all in one platform.
Don’t risk suspension—let GBPGM handle the details so you can focus on growing your business. Contact us today to learn how GBPGM can streamline your profile management and enhance your local SEO!