Step-by-Step Guide to Regain Access to Your Suspended Google Business Profile

A suspended Google Business Profile will greatly impact your online visibility and customer interactions. For a start, it removes your Google Business Listing. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you identify the cause, fix the issue, and get back online.

Understand why Google suspended your profile.

Google enforces policies and guidelines very strictly. For even slight infringements, you will be suspended, and there are two types of suspension:

Soft Suspension: Your account looks unverified, and you lose access to control your account management.

Hard Suspension: Your profile is totally removed from Google Search and Maps.

Common causes for suspension:

• Keyword stuffing: This implies the inclusion of too many extra words to an existing business name.

• The use of a P.O. box or virtual office as an address.

• Creation of duplicate profiles for one business.

• Other ways of violating Google’s Business Profile guidelines.

Audit and Correct Your Google Business Profile

Before an appeal, make sure that you have reviewed your profile and corrected any compliance issues noted. Pay attention to:

Business Name: It must match your registered business name exactly, without added descriptors.

Address: It should represent an existing physical location where you engage your customers.

Categories: Check off all relevant categories for your business, without overloading.

Additional Information: Remove unnecessary links, keywords, or spammy content.

Gather the supporting documents.

Google may request proof and verifying documentation of your business as part of the appeal process. Prepare the following documents:

• Documentation of official business registration or incorporation.

• Tax certificates showing your business address.

• Utility bills that match the address on the profile.

• Business licences or professional certification, when applicable.

Submit a Reinstatement Request

Once you’ve remediated your profile, submit a request for reinstatement by utilising the Business Profile Appeals Tool provided by Google.

How to File the Request:

1. Log in to your Google Business account.

2. Then, select the suspended profile.

3. Complete the appeal form: Answer all the questions about your business in a forthright manner.

4. Attach all the necessary documentation that may be required for verification.

Success Tips:

• Be elaborate yet brief in your explanations.

• Highlight in the profile any corrections you have made.

Follow-up and Monitoring of Your Appeal

After filing your appeal:

• Regularly check your email for any communications from Google.

• The review process usually requires 3–5 days, depending on business conditions.

• Avoid sending multiple appeals; this may delay the processing.

Ways to Avoid Suspensions in the Future

Here’s how you can keep your profile in good standing after reinstatement:

• Keep it Accurate: Business information needs regular updates, like addresses, hours, etc.

• No Keyword Stuffing: Only your official business name should appear in the profile.

• Stay Compliant: Ongoing compliance requires periodic checks of Google’s Business Profile Guidelines.

If Google denies your appeal, start by carefully reviewing the feedback provided to understand the reasons for the rejection. Use this information to make any necessary corrections or updates to your profile, addressing the specific concerns raised. If required, prepare additional supporting documentation and submit a second appeal to provide a stronger case for reinstatement.

Need expert help managing your Google Business Profile? Let Lincolnshire Marketing ensure your business stays visible, compliant, and accessible online. Contact us today for personalised solutions to keep your customers connected and your online presence thriving!