Google MyBusiness listing suspension: causes and remedies
One day you access your Google My Business listing and see that your business has been suspended.
You probably had a shock, but luckily for you, Ottobix is here to help you. In this article, we will discuss why Google My Business listings are suspended and what you can do about it.
Before we answer these questions, though, we need to understand what type of suspension has occurred.
There are two types of suspensions, a “soft” suspension and a “hard” suspension.
- A “soft” suspension marks your business as suspended, but it continues to appear in search results. It typically requires recovering and re-verifying your listing with a new Google account. These suspensions are typically less common.
- A “hard” suspension will remove your business listing from search results. To resolve this hard suspension, you must follow Google’s protocol and be very patient. We’ll discuss this process later.
Why has your Google listing been suspended?
When Google decides to suspend a business listing, you have probably (and perhaps unknowingly) violated Google MyBusiness policies.
While Google will never officially tell you why a listing has been suspended, there are common situations that tend to lead to listing suspensions:
If you have changed any of this information within your GMB, it is likely the cause of the suspension:
- Primary or secondary categories
- Business name
- Address
- Phone number
- Site URL
- Change in management or ownership, especially when access locations change
- Moving to a hidden address service area (after operating under a visible address)
- The primary category is a high-risk industry:
- Locksmiths
- Boiler technicians
- Plumbing
- Other service businesses a domicile
- Address violates Google’s policies
- Fake address (PO boxes entered as addresses do not count)
- Forward URL
- Phone Number Forwarding
- Multiple listings for the same business/location
- The listing is for an online-only business
- You do not have the authority to say that the address listed belongs to your business
While these are not the only things that can cause Google to suspend your business listing, they are very common and may help you find out why your listing was reported and suspended.
How does a suspended listing affect your business?
A suspended listing is not something that cannot be fixed.
While a forced suspension will remove your listing from search results, these suspensions do not always mean that your business is doomed. Google will provide you with solutions to restore your business listing as long as you follow their protocols.
When Google suspends a listing, it does so in the best interest of your business industry, your customers, and Google itself.
With fraudulent listings on the rise in recent years, Google has used GMB listing suspension to filter out illegitimate businesses and expose honest, legitimate businesses to users. A legitimate business will have very little trouble getting out of suspension.
How do I fix my suspended Google listing?
To remove your listing from suspension, Google may (but not always) require you to provide proof that you are a legitimate business. Here are some examples of the type of proof you’ll need to provide:
- State business license (if required by state)
- Professional license (if required by law)
- Proof of occupancy of the premises
- Utility bills
- Lease agreements/deeds
- Photo of the business location
- Clearly visible business logo
- Address of building/suite numbers on the door
- Business vehicles with logos parked at the building
- Tax identification documents
- Video verification
However, to find out exactly what you need to provide, contact Google My Business support.
There may be some cases where Google will remove the suspension through alternative methods such as video or phone verification. Google will determine if your business is eligible for these less intensive solutions.
Regardless of the process Google uses to reinstate your listing, it is absolutely critical that you follow their instructions quickly and thoroughly. You will also need to be patient with Google. Trying to rush the process can result in your business being permanently blacklisted by Google.
Google MyBusiness Listing Suspension: Conclusion
In conclusion, a suspended GMB listing is not the end of the world and happens to a large number of businesses around the world.
Contact Google My Business support and follow their protocols and you will have a good chance of being reinstated and returning to your usual local search ranking.
If you need strategic advice, contact us via the form in the section here.
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