Why is my Google business suspended?

AGMBorGoogle My Businesslisting is an essential online marketingtoolforbusiness owners, big or small. A Google My Business account is easy to set up, reliable and free, which is great for start-ups or companies on a limited budget.

The problem, however, begins when your GMB gets suspended. And Google wont even tell you why. Read on and learn some crucial points that you should know.

Common Reasons for Google My Business Suspension

If you suddenly have nocontrolof yourGoogle My Businesslisting or cant find it on GoogleSearchandGoogle Maps, that only means aGMBsuspension. Naturally, it also results in lost leads,clicksand, at times, reviews. The worst part is, you wont even know about the suspension unless you regularly monitor yourbusiness profile. And there are two types:

1. Soft suspension. Google disables your listing. You can still see it on Search, but you cannot edit it anymore. Your listing will be on unverified status, making it atriskfor removal.
2. Hard suspension. Google removes yourentire listing. You no longer see it on GoogleSearchandGoogle Maps. Worse, you also run theriskof losing yourreviewsforever.

Why doesGoogledo this? No, its not to make ourbusinesslives miserable. Google only wants to ensure an ideal business setup, where we all get accurate and trustworthysearchresults. Googles highstandardsand strictrulescan be difficult to follow sometimes.

Obvious errors are easy to avoid. Unfortunately, even minormistakescan unintentionally get you into the suspension situation. Here are some of them.

1. Address or contact information issues

Business ownersoften encounter thistype of suspension, as there are variousreasonswhy they occur. Moreover, Google likes to keep aneyeon yourbusiness location,phonenumber,URLand other related fields.

Remember:suspicious activitiesordetailsalmost always lead to suspension. So, to avoid problems, check if yourGoogle My Businesslisting account has:

• Misleading contact number or website.Does your registered number orURLdirectly connect yourcustomersto your business?Googledislikes central call centre numbers and irrelevant URLs or contact details.
• Illegitimate business address.Is yourphysical addressshowing aP.O. Box, UPS, FedEx or any rented mailbox? Keep inmindthatGoogleonly recognises permanentoffice locations. Forstorefrontlocations,permanent signages should be in place as well.
• Residential address.Do you deliver services orproductsto clients without meeting them in your residential address? Then that means you are aservice area business(SAB) operator. If thats the case, register your home address but keep it hidden from the public. Or foronline businesseswithout aphysical storefront, consider creating a Google+ Brand Page.
• Co-working space address. Are you operating in anoffice buildingor establishment you do not own? Even if it is the only place where your operations or transactions happen,Googlewont allow it.

According to its guidelines, operators do not have theauthorityto represent abusiness addressif you do not own or have an official lease for it.

• Multiple listings (type 1).Did you create severalGMBlistings under the samebusiness address? If you do not do something about it,Googlewill likely removeduplicate listings and put the primary account undersoft suspension.
• Multiple listings (type 2).Did you create severalGMBlistings under differentbusiness addresses? Business operators would often createvirtual offices torankin various locations. However,Googleverifies your GMB listing by sending you apostcardwith a code. And if no one receives the card in your virtual office, well, we know what will happen next.

2. Business name keyword problems

This problem started when past business operators resorted to spammyGMBlistingsandkeyword stuffingforsearch engine rankings. Even then, competition foronline presencewas strict and being on top of the search pages proved was challenging. Addingextra keywordsto theirbusiness name fields was an effective technique to cut corners at that time.

But Googles upgradedalgorithmis now smarter. Puttingspecial characters,marketing taglines,phonenumbers, store codes,locationand the like to your business name only means one thing:soft suspension.

So, forget about catchphrases orunnecessary keywords, and stick to youractual businessname. You can still apply yourSEOtechniques, though. Just reserve them for your website content, metadata and other more appropriate fields.

3. GMB guideline or TOS violations

Google has set up itsGMB guidelines,website policiesandterms of serviceto protect all users. As abusinessowner, yourroleis to know and follow these rules. Some violations you should know include:

• usingGMBfor spamming, phishing or malware transmission
• posting graphic or explicit material or promoting hate and violence onGMBwebsites
• unauthorised use of personal data like peoples credit card, social security or license numbers
• unauthorised publishing or sharing of copyrighted content
• creating copies that deal with child abuse or exploitation
• display of fraudulentactionslike terrorism or dangerous drug promotion

Keep inmindthat Google mayupdate itsGoogle My Business guidelinesfromtimeto time. So, make sure to habitually reread thepolicieseverymonthand understand any new rule.

4. Multiple GMB profile changes

Before updating yourGoogle My Businesslisting profile, keep inmindthat making several changes at once looks unusual and questionable. So, rather than alert Google andrisksuspension, do youreditsintimeintervals. Better yet, ensure that you create your account with accuratedetailsthe first time.

Payattentiontodetailslike your name, location, category,business hours,phonenumber andservicearea. They should be consistent with the website and other social mediaplatformsyou are using. Also, for yourbusiness description, keep it specific and honest. Leave out any unclear information that seems suspicious.

5. Google bugs

Finally, in some instances, your GMB listing can get suspended even if you have everything right or dont make any changes to it at all. Bugs due to GMB dashboard updates, for example, is one likely reason. Another is Googles algorithmic sweep. This activity often happens to sensitive industries that have higher chances of spammy or fake listings.

Examples of high-risk business types are criminal lawyers, locksmiths and plumbers. Businesses that handle regulated goods like pharmaceuticals or firearms are also susceptible to mass suspensions. In case this happen, make sure that you are complying with the guidelines before submitting areinstatement form or request.

Conclusion

Your Google My Business listing may be subject to various suspension reasons. But first things first: dont panic. While GMB issues can affect your operations, and give you so much stress in the process, the key is to understand why they happen.

Whats important is that you understand every aspect of your GMB profile and follow the guidelines. After all, being an informed and honest owner is your only way to put yourself back to business. For more tips and solutions to recover from a GMB suspension, check this article!