Google business profile suspended? Here are some possible causes and fixes

A suspended Google Business Profile (GBP) can feel like a brick wall between your client and their customers. And, if you’re the end customer, It just gets to you. It’s also a frustrating situation for agency owners, especially those managing multiple profiles, who cannot afford to ignore it. A suspended GBP can impact your client’s visibility, hurt their reputation, and create unnecessary headaches for your agency or your small business. 

In this guide, we’ll look into why suspensions happen, the steps you can take to resolve them, and how to prevent future issues. Whether you’re handling one suspension or many, this can act as your go-to resource for handling suspension issues, both big and small. 

Let’s continue. 

What are GBP suspensions and why do they happen?

A Google Business Profile (GBP) suspension happens when Google either restricts or removes a business profile from showing up in search results or on Google Maps. It usually means Google has flagged the profile for breaking its rules or has noticed something suspicious. Google does this to protect users from wrong or misleading information.

For businesses, this can be a huge problem. It makes it harder for them to get found online and can even hurt their revenue. 

For agency owners, it’s more than just fixing a single issue, it’s about showing your clients that they can trust you as the expert here and rely on you. 

Suspensions are either soft, where the profile is still visible but the owner loses access. Or hard, where the profile disappears entirely. While they can feel frustrating or even unfair, suspensions are Google’s way of keeping its platform trustworthy. 

Types of GBP suspensions

Soft Suspensions

In a soft suspension, the Google Business Profile (GBP) that has been put under suspension remains visible to the public, allowing customers to find the business in search results and on Google Maps. However, the owner or manager loses administrative access to the profile. This type of suspension often arises from minor violations, such as discrepancies in the business name or unauthorized changes. While not as severe as a hard suspension, it still restricts the business owner’s ability to update or manage the profile.

💡How to fix a soft suspension?

✅Make sure the name, address, and phone number (NAP) on your Google profile match exactly with what's on your website and other platforms (like social media or directories).

✅Look for issues flagged by Google, like wrong categories or incorrect edits. Update anything inaccurate or out of place.

✅Go to Google’s support page and explain what you fixed. Attach proof of your business, like a utility bill or lease, to show you’re legit.

If you follow these basic steps, your profile should be out of suspension soon. 

Hard Suspension

A hard suspension is far more serious, as the business profile is completely removed from Google Search and Maps. This means the business cannot be found by customers searching for it online, leading to a significant loss in visibility and revenue. Hard suspensions often result from severe violations, such as fraudulent activity, guideline breaches, or attempts to manipulate Google’s algorithms.

💡How to fix a hard suspension?

✅Look through your Google Business Profile (GBP) for anything that might break the rules such as - wrong categories, fake reviews, or incorrect details.

✅Collect documents that prove your business is real, like licenses, utility bills, or registration papers.

✅Go to the Google Business Profile Help page and file a request to get your profile back. Explain what went wrong and share the documents you’ve gathered.

✅If you’ve done things like fake reviews or used a virtual address, stop immediately and fix these issues so it doesn’t happen again.

Some common reasons for your GBP being suspended

1. Violating Google’s guidelines

Google enforces strict policies to maintain the integrity of its platform. Violating these guidelines often results in suspension. 

Some of these common violations include: 

• Adding irrelevant or excessive keywords to the business name to improve search rankings, e.g., “Joe’s Pizza Best Pizza in New York” instead of “Joe’s Pizza.”
• Selecting business categories that do not accurately describe the services offered by the business
• Listing service areas or locations where the business doesn’t operate.

To avoid these mishaps, make sure to regularly review Google’s guidelines and make use of accurate and correct information that reflects your core business areas. 

2. Incomplete information does not look good 

Google relies on accurate data to connect users with businesses. Even small errors in NAP details or discrepancies across platforms can raise red flags.

These issues include:

• Listing an address or phone number that’s no longer valid.
• Having mismatched details between your GBP, website, or social media profiles.

How to avoid this? Make it a habit to audit your business details regularly. Make use of tools like Synup to keep your listings consistent across platforms. 

3. Duplicate Listings

Creating multiple GBPs for the same location might seem like a good idea to get more visibility, but Google sees it as spammy behavior and might penalize you for it.

To avoid this, if you have any duplicate listings, merge them using Google’s support tools. Also, make sure that you stick to one well-managed profile for each business location. So that it doesn’t look spammy and you’re clean. 

4. Unauthorized Changes 

Frequent edits, unverified user changes, or login attempts from random locations can trigger Google’s red flags. This might result in a temporary suspension of your profile.

To make sure that this doesn’t happen you can limit access to your GBP to only trusted team members. You can also secure your account with strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication to ensure that this doesn’t happen. 

5. Use of Virtual Offices or PO Boxes

Google requires businesses to have a real, physical location. Using virtual offices, PO boxes, or coworking spaces without permanent staff can get your profile flagged or suspended.

You can use the address of a legitimate, staffed location where customers can reach you. If needed, provide photos of your business premises to verify its legitimacy.

6. Review Manipulation

Buying fake reviews, swapping reviews with others, or offering rewards for reviews violates Google’s policies. Their systems are designed to catch this and will penalize your profile.

To make sure that this doesn’t happen, focus on getting organic and honest reviews from your actual customers. Make use of reputation management tools such as Synup that can help you stay on track with your reviews and respond to them regularly. Skip shady tactics like buying reviews or offering incentives for them, it’s not worth the risk.

Impact of GBP Suspensions 

1. Loss of Visibility

A suspended GBP removes the business from Google Maps and local search results, significantly reducing its visibility to potential customers. For businesses that rely on walk-ins or local searches, this can mean fewer leads and opportunities.

2. Customer Trust

A missing or unverified GBP can make customers question a business’s legitimacy. For many, Google is the first stop for checking reviews, location, and contact details. If the profile is unavailable, customers might assume the business is closed or unreliable.

3. Revenue Loss

Without a GBP, local businesses lose vital leads from search traffic. Service-based businesses, such as salons or repair services, may experience cancellations or booking declines.

4. Reputational Risk

Agencies managing multiple GBPs for clients face reputational risks when suspensions occur. Prolonged resolution times can erode client trust, especially if the suspension leads to revenue losses.

5. Confused Customers 

Customers can't find key details like your hours or contact information without an active profile. They may get frustrated and turn to a competitor.

6. Recovery takes time 

Getting your GBP back online isn't instant. You have to follow Google's reinstatement process, which can take time. During this period, you're missing out on crucial visibility.

Recovering your Google Business Profile

Let’s break down the process of appealing a GBP suspension in a way that’s simple and easy to understand. I’ll walk you through each step, so you’ll know exactly how to reinstate your profile.

1. Know Why Your GBP Was Suspended

Before you can appeal the suspension, you must figure out why it happened. Google doesn’t always tell you exactly what went wrong. 

Here are some common reasons why:

❌Wrong or inconsistent business details: For example, if your business name, address, or phone number isn’t consistent across all platforms, Google might suspend your profile.

❌Violating Google’s rules: This could be anything from using keywords in your business name to uploading inappropriate content.

❌Misrepresenting your business: If you’ve listed a P.O. box instead of a physical address or claimed to serve a location where you don’t actually operate, your profile might get suspended.

❌Not completing the verification process properly: If you haven’t verified your business or did it incorrectly, Google might suspend your profile.

❌Fraudulent activity: For example, if someone is trying to trick Google by using fake information, your business might be flagged and suspended.

To get your GBP back, it’s important to first figure out which of these reasons (or other issues) caused your suspension.

2. Review Google’s Guidelines

Google has a set of guidelines for Business Profiles that all businesses need to follow. If you don’t follow these guidelines, you risk having your profile suspended.

Here’s a quick rundown of the most important rules:

➡️Your business name: It needs to be the real name of your business extra keywords or phrases. For example, “Joe’s Pizza” is fine, but “Joe’s Pizza - Best Pizza in Town” would not be.

➡️Address: Your address must match the one where you actually do business. If you’re a home-based business, you can hide your address but still list the area you serve.

➡️Categories: Make sure your business is listed under the most relevant categories. Don’t stuff your profile with unnecessary ones.

➡️Photos and content: Don’t upload fake or irrelevant photos. Make sure everything on your profile accurately represents your business.

Once you’re familiar with these rules, take a look at your profile and check if anything is off. If you spot any issues, fix them before moving forward with the appeal.

3. Fix Issues Before You Appeal

Google is much more likely to reinstate your profile if you show them that you’ve fixed whatever caused the suspension. Here’s what you should do:

✅Correct your business details: Double-check that your business name, address, phone number, and website URL are accurate and consistent across all platforms.

✅Update your business category: Make sure your business is listed under the right category. For example, a bakery should be listed as “Bakery,” not “Restaurant.”

✅Complete verification: If the suspension was due to verification issues, make sure to complete the verification process (usually by receiving a code at your business address).

✅Review your photos and other content: Remove any photos or content that violate Google’s rules, such as misleading images or offensive material.

✅Be honest: If you’ve made a mistake or violated a rule, fix it and explain in your appeal that you’ve taken care of it.

Taking these steps will show Google that you’re serious about following the guidelines and help improve your chances of getting reinstated.

4. Submit an Appeal for GBP Suspension

Once you’ve made the necessary fixes, it’s time to submit an appeal to Google. Here’s how:

Step 1: Log into Google My Business

Head over to the Google My Business site and sign in to the account tied to your suspended profile.

Step 2: Find Your Suspended Profile

If your profile is suspended, you should see a message about the suspension. Google may give you an option to request a review of the suspension. If you don’t see this option, you can also go to the “Support” section for more options.

Step 3: Choose the Right Appeal Option

Google will usually give you a couple of ways to appeal:

• Request a review: If you think the suspension was a mistake, you can ask Google to review your case.
• Fill out a form: Google might give you a form to fill out with more details about your business and the issue. This is where you can explain why you think the suspension shouldn’t have happened.

Step 4: Provide Supporting Info

If you’ve made updates to your profile (like correcting your business details or uploading new verification), mention it in your appeal and attach any necessary documents to support your case. This shows Google that you’ve made an effort to fix the issues.

Step 5: Wait for Google’s Response

After you submit your appeal, it might take a few days or even weeks for Google to get back to you. Be patient, as they have to review your profile and the changes you made. During this time, avoid submitting multiple appeals, as this can slow down the process.

If Google decides to reinstate your profile, you’ll get a notification and can start managing it again. If your appeal is rejected, Google may give you more details on why, and you can make any further fixes before appealing again.

Things to do when your appeal is denied

If Google denies your appeal, don’t panic. Here’s what to do:

➡️Read the rejection message: Google usually provides some explanation for the rejection. Pay attention to any specific guidelines you violated.

➡️Fix any remaining issues: If there’s something else that needs fixing, go ahead and update it, then submit a new appeal.

➡️Reach out to Google Support: If you’re still not sure why your appeal was denied, contact Google Support for more guidance.

Once your profile is reinstated, take steps to prevent future suspensions:

• Regularly check your business details to make sure everything is correct.
• Stay informed about the latest Google Business Profile rules to ensure your listing stays compliant.
• If you notice any weird changes to your profile, investigate it right away to prevent any issues.

By keeping your profile in line with Google’s guidelines and staying on top of updates, you’ll reduce the chances of getting suspended again.

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In Conclusion 

Handling Google Business Profile suspensions might seem like a hassle, but once you know the type of suspension and what caused it, fixing it becomes a lot more manageable. Whether it’s a soft suspension that locks you out or a hard suspension that takes your profile offline, the goal is simple: identify the problem, fix it, and stay within Google’s rules.

Keep your business info accurate, avoid mistakes like fake reviews or duplicate listings, and tackle issues quickly to safeguard both visibility and trust. For agencies, clear communication with clients during these hiccups goes a long way in maintaining credibility.

At the end of the day, your Google Business Profile is more than just a tool, it’s how people find and trust your business. Keep it clean, consistent, and legit to steer clear of future suspensions. 

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FAQs

How do I fix my suspended Google Business Profile?

Start by identifying the reason for suspension, check your email or Google’s guidelines. Then, address the issue (like updating inaccurate details or verifying ownership) and submit a reinstatement request through the Business Profile Manager.

Why does Google keep suspending my business account?

Google might suspend your account if there’s a violation of its guidelines, like inaccurate info, prohibited content, or suspicious activity. Sometimes, even technical issues or multiple accounts for the same business can trigger it.

How long does it take to unsuspend a Google Business account?

It typically takes 3–7 business days after submitting the reinstatement request. However, the timeline can vary based on the complexity of your case and Google’s review process.

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