Whether you’re a local business owner or the founder of a large corporation, your Google Business Profile (GBP) is a key marketing component designed to grant exposure to your online enterprise and, in turn, aid in its growth. Plus, it’s a fantastic and free way to generate online engagement with your business while staying within your budget. For some, a GBP is the only way they can promote their business online. So, what happens when your Google Business Profile is suspended?
When this happens, the profile is completely hidden from Google search results, and users can’t see it. If you rely solely on your GBP for exposure to consumers, this can especially impact your revenue. If your GBP has recently been suspended, we’ve outlined some potential grounds for suspension, ways to avoid future suspensions, and a guide to reinstating your profile.
Reasons Your Profile Can Get Suspended
Since Google actively works to ensure users can access filtered search results from legitimate businesses, they often have specific standards to meet. This can sometimes lead to the smallest infraction on their guidelines triggering a suspension on your Google Business Profile. While Google will notify you that your profile has been suspended, they will never tell you the reason why.
Some reasons your profile can get suspended include:
- Changing your phone number or business address
- Your business is virtual as opposed to physical (P.O. boxes are unacceptable for GBP profiles)
- The presence of duplicate listings
- Mistakes or inconsistencies in your online business name
- An address from which multiple businesses claim to operate
The following photo is what appears on the Google search results page when you try to view a suspended profile:
Types of Google Business Profile Suspensions
Understanding the nature of your listing’s suspension can help you start working to reinstate your Google Business Profile. There are four types of suspensions that can affect your account, including:
- Hard suspension — This is a serious suspension that occurs when Google has deemed your listing in violation of their GBP guidelines. If your profile receives a hard suspension, you will not be able to access its record, and Google will send you a removal notification.
- Soft suspension — This typically indicates that your business needs extra verification. While it will still be visible on Google and Google Maps, you will need to provide proof of verification to manage your profile.
- Owner account suspension — This will remove an owner’s Google account, including listings and any reviews connected to it. When you reinstate the account, your listings will return, but you may lose previous reviews.
- Manager account suspension — This suspension will not affect the listing, but the account manager will lose the ability to manage it.
Reinstating Your Profile
In order to get a profile back, you must prove to Google that your business is legitimate. This involves submitting a business license or tax form and a utility bill with the enterprise’s address to Google. It’s important to note that the address on these forms must match the one listed on the Google Business Profile. Some other proof of legitimacy you may be asked to provide includes photo proof of physical address, proof the office space isn’t shared with another business, and your GBP’s dashboard URL.
When you’re ready to submit an appeal, you can use this reinstatement appeal form and follow the instructions provided by Google.
How to Keep Your Google Business Profile Listed
If you do not use a marketing service to manage your Google Business Profile, it’s important to routinely check it to ensure that it adheres to Google’s guidelines. Having a proper GBP strengthens your online presence and helps drive traffic to your website. Some important components your GBP listing should include are your business name as it consistently appears online; the physical address of the establishment; the business category and hours of operation; an accurate phone number that matches directory listings; and the business’s service area.
If you’re in need of a talented group of marketing professionals to help you manage all aspects of your digital business platform, you can rely on the Aronson Advertising team. Contact us online or call us at (847) 297-1700 for more information about how we can create custom marketing solutions for your enterprise.
