Has Google suspended your business profile?
We know what it feels like to receive an email notification from Google that reads, “Your Business Profile has been suspended.” So, we decided to write a blog post on the topic.
The post aims to help small businesses understand the potential reasons behind the suspension of their GBP account. As you read through the post, you will also find out remedies—steps to restore business listings that have been suspended on the platform. Let’s begin by discussing the profile’s significance.
Google Business Profile: Understanding Its Significance
Google Business Profile, or GBP (formerly Google My Business), is a great free tool for local businesses around the world to have an online presence.
For small-scale enterprises who can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars on marketing campaigns, an adequately optimized GBP listing is the only means to bring customers to their doorstep. Now you can imagine the hardship that an enterprise would have to endure if its listing on the GBP gets suspended.
The following discussion sheds light on some prominent reasons a business’s listing on the platform can be suspended.
Google Business Profile Suspension: Discussing the Reasons
More often than not, the profile suspension is the result of violation of Google’s guidelines. What kind of violation, you asked? Well, read through to find out.
Violation of Google’s Guidelines
#1- If you place too many keywords in your business’s name or description to boost visibility, it violates Google’s guidelines. For example, if you decide to add “the best car repair shop in New York City” or similar phrases next to your car repair shop’s name in the GPB listing, Google will think of it as an attempt to manipulate its search result. To penalize you, it might suspend your Business Profile.
#2- If you intentionally inflate your business’s online reputation illegitimately by placing fake reviews and ratings on your site, your GBP profile might also get suspended. Don’t try to fool Google- the organization that controls the internet. As soon as you place a fabricated review on your business profile from a fake account, Google will know. So, try to earn positive reviews in a legitimate way.
#3- Another reason way your GBP listing might get suspended is that you have provided inaccurate or misleading information about your business’s location. Make sure that your business’s NAP data, such as business name, address, phone number, website, and other details, stay consistent across all online platforms including in your Business Profile. Another noteworthy point is that if someone else is using the same address as yours, it also risks the suspension of your GBP listing.
Suspicious activity or spam
Are you using multiple GBP listings for the same business? It is not ethical by any means (exceptional case- businesses with multiple outlets), and it might result in the suspension of your business profile. Google’s algorithm is innovative enough to identify such deceptive activities aimed at manipulating search results and might penalize your business without a second thought. If the website you have added to your business profile redirects to another site, Google considers it as spam.
As well, If someone reports your GBP listing and questions its legitimacy, the Business Profile can be suspended.
Google Business Profile Suspension: Assessing the Impact
Impact on online visibility
Your business’s online visibility will be drastically reduced if its GBP profile gets suspended. The search engine uses data you provide on your Google Business Profile to rank your listing on the local pack concerning different location-specific search queries. So, obviously if the listing gets suspended, your business’s online visibility will plummet.
Reduced lead generation
Isn’t it obvious??? You are bound to miss out on business opportunities if your GBP listing is suspended. This is something that might contribute to revenue loss. So, if you don’t want your business growth to be stalled, work on optimizing your business listing on GBP and follow Google’s guidelines while doing so. And yes, monitor customer reviews and respond to them promptly and professionally.
Here’s What You Can Do To Reinstate Your Suspended GBP Account
Understand the reason
- Don’t lose your cool. As soon as you get notified by Google about your Business Profile’s suspension, try to figure out the things that you might have done wrong.
- Find out what Google’s guidelines are for presenting a business on Google.
- After a thorough assessment, you should submit an appeal for the reinstatement of your business profile.
- You might be prompted to add evidence to support your appeal, such as a business license, tax certificate, official business registration, etc.
- Once you are done submitting the form, wait for the response.
Seek professional help
If you are having trouble reinstating your suspended business profile or your appeal has been rejected multiple times, it’s time to seek professional help. Reach out to a Local SEO expert who has years of experience in online reputation management to get the issue fixed.
In Conclusion
Suspension of the Google Business Profile can adversely impact a business’s online visibility and might significantly hamper a local business’s productivity. If you don’t want your small enterprise to miss out on business opportunities due to GBP listing suspension, let a professional set up your Business Profile.
