What to Do If Your Google Business Profile Is Taken Down for Policy Violations

Having your Google Business Profile taken down for policy violations can significantly impact your business’s online visibility and customer interactions. Fortunately, there’s a structured process to appeal and restore your profile. Below, we outline Google’s official recommendations, incorporate practical advice from our own experience, and provide actionable steps to guide you.

Step 1: Understand the Issue

The first step is identifying why your profile was suspended. Google usually provides a reason for the moderation action, along with a link to the violated policy, in their notification. Carefully review this information, as it will guide your appeal process.

Step 2: Prepare to Submit Your Appeal

Google allows businesses to submit appeals for suspended profiles. Here’s how to get started:

1. Open the Google Business Profile Appeals Tool:

   - Sign in to the Google Account associated with the profile in question.

   - Confirm the correct account or switch accounts if necessary.

   - Select the affected Business Profile and click Continue.

2. Review the Information Provided:

   - Google will show the profile's restricted status, the reason for the action, and a link to the violated policy.

   - Click Submit Appeal at the bottom right.

Step 3: Gather Evidence to Strengthen Your Appeal

Google strongly encourages submitting additional evidence to support your case. Evidence should clearly establish your business’s legitimacy. Documents that can strengthen your appeal include:

- Official Business Registration: e.g., Companies House records.

- Business Licence: Relevant to your industry or location.

- Tax Certificates: Corporation tax documents.

- Utility Bills: For electricity, phone, water, or internet services associated with your business.

Important Tips for Evidence Submission:

- Ensure the business name and address on all documents match your Google Business Profile exactly.

- Organise documents before beginning, as Google’s evidence form must be submitted within 60 minutes once opened.

Step 4: Submit the Evidence

If prompted to submit evidence:

1. After submitting your appeal, select Add Evidence to open the evidence form.

2. Verify your business details.

3. In the "Upload Documents" section, click Choose File to upload your supporting documents.

4. Provide additional context explaining why your profile should be reinstated.

5. Click Submit.

Step 5: Track Your Appeal

Google reviews appeals and evidence submissions and will email you with a decision. If your appeal is successful but certain elements, like reviews, are missing from your restored profile, don’t panic. Google notes that features like reviews may take a few days to fully reappear.

Key Considerations Based on Our Experience

We recently helped a client successfully restore their Google Business Profile. Here’s what we learned:

- Be Honest and Concise: When explaining the issue, avoid speculating or overexplaining. If you made recent edits or changes to your profile, mention them briefly.

- Submit Robust Documentation: In our case, we included a mix of business registration records, tax documents, and bank statements, leaving no doubt about the business’s legitimacy.

- Leverage Support Forums: If you’re struggling to navigate the process, Google’s help forums often provide useful insights and links to additional tools, like the appeals form.

 Prevent Future Issues

Once your profile is reinstated, take steps to avoid future suspensions:

- Regularly review Google’s Business Profile policies.

- Be cautious when making profile edits, as even minor changes can inadvertently trigger a suspension.

- Keep documentation up to date and readily accessible.

Final Thoughts

Restoring a suspended Google Business Profile requires persistence, clear communication, and strong supporting evidence. Following Google’s official process and preparing thoroughly can significantly improve your chances of a successful outcome.

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure, Lincolnshire Marketing is here to help. We’ve guided businesses through the appeals process and are ready to assist you in reclaiming your online presence. Contact us today for expert support!