Having a Google Business Profile (GBP) is the best way for local businesses to rank well on Google – on Local Pack, Local Finder and Google Maps.
For many local businesses, having a Google business profile is often their only local SEO strategy and a way for them to promote their business online.
So when businesses log into Business Profile Manager or see in Google Search that their Google Business Profile is suspended and their phone stops ringing, they go into panic mode.
In many cases, the first thought is that they did nothing wrong.
After all, they have years of business files, so it’s impossible for them to do anything inappropriate.
The problem is that Google has Specific Guidelines All businesses must comply.
Just because a business has gotten away with breaking the rules so far, doesn’t mean they won’t end up getting caught.
And now they’ve just been busted!
(Google caught them or a competitor or someone else via Remedy Form.)
Screenshot of Google Business Profile Manager, December 2021Google won’t tell you when your Business Profile is suspended or disabled why They cancel your business.
As a business owner, it is your responsibility to know, understand and follow Guidelines for representing your business on Google.
Screenshot of Google Business Profile Manager, March 2022Google updates these terms of service frequently—and sometimes, the updates are subtle.
Be sure to review this document at least every other month for changes that may affect your business profile compliance.
So what do you do if your business profile is suspended?
First, you need to read Google Business Profile Guidelines and restricted content Identify the rules your profile violates.
Read the guide line by line – It’s a good idea to pull up the “Information” section of your business profile on the screen so you can check your profile for irregularities as you read the guide.
Another tip: think about the changes you made in your business profile before you were suspended.
Will this change trigger a pause?
When a suspension occurs, you must put on your detective hat and get to work to find out which rules your profile is breaking, fix the violations on your business profile, and fill out a reinstatement request form.
Then keep your fingers crossed!
Top Reasons for Google Places to Suspend
There are some common reasons for a Google Business Profile to be suspended. These are typical guidelines for corporate error or deliberate misuse.
Occasionally, business profiles are incorrectly suspended.
These suspensions can sometimes be flukes.
For example, Google is cracking down on a particularly spammy industry if a business mistakenly falls into a suspended “sweep.”
Or, you might be making some changes to your Business Profile that Google suspects and will pause.
Pause is a mystery you need to solve.
To help, here are some of the most common reasons for suspension.
Spam Industry/High Risk Category
Certain categories are considered spam or high risk.
These categories are known for spam profiles and fraudulent or fake business profiles.
Google puts additional scrutiny on these industries and often suspends profiles — especially if they violate even the smallest guidelines.
Some of these business categories include:
- Garage Door.
- plumber.
- locksmith.
- real estate.
- insurance.
- lawyer.
- Pest control.
- HVAC.
- Tree trimming.
- Plant trees.
- gardener.
- Rehabilitation Center.
- and others.
If you fall into the high-risk business category, your business profile is already marked in red, so be sure to follow the rules and follow the guidelines.
Keyword stuffing business name
There’s nothing more annoying than seeing a company stuff their business name with keywords. keyword stuffing Your company name looks particularly rubbish.
Google is finally starting to realize this.
In fact, with the recent Proximity Algorithm Updateresearch shows that companies that have keywords in their sterling business names have dropped in the rankings.
(That’s great news, Google!)
So stop stuffing your Google Business Profile business name with keywords – or make up your business name entirely!
Your profile may be suspended.
According to Google’s guidelines:
“To help customers find your business online, Accurately represent your business name. Your name should reflect the real name of your business, such as your storefront, website, stationery, and a consistent name known to your customers.
Unnecessary information in your business name is not allowed and may result in your business profile being suspended. “
Google screenshot, March 2022Use PO Box or UPS store address
Google Business Profiles are for local businesses that meet customers at their place of business or travel to a customer’s location.
Let’s be honest: you can’t run a business at a post office or a UPS store.
If your business address is in a remote location (such as a PO Box or UPS mailbox), you are not eligible for a Google Business Profile.
if you do, Get sterling by accident and your profile will eventually be suspended.
According to Google:
“P.O. Boxes or Post Boxes located in remote areas will not be accepted.”
Screenshot from Google.com, December 2021Businesses are using a virtual office or co-working space address
As with PO Boxes, UPS Boxes, and “remote location” addresses, virtual office and co-working space addresses can be problematic.
First, virtual offices are often used only as mailing addresses.
Therefore, a virtual office or company that provides you with a mailing address is not feasible.
In most cases, Google will not consider a coworking address to be a true business location unless:
- You rent a dedicated space (preferably a dedicated office).
- Keep your company’s signage outside of the dedicated office space so customers can find your location (we’re not talking about Post-It® Note – it has to be permanent signage).
- Your employees (not in the co-working building) are there during business hours.
Therefore, in most cases, coworking locations are not allowed to have Google Business Profiles.
Let’s look at a simple example.
This virtual office company rents out private offices as well as virtual and co-working spaces.
Screenshot from Google.com, December 2021
Screenshot from Google.com, March 2022Their suite number is #2201.
If you search for this address and suite number online, you will find multiple businesses with the same address and suite number.
What does this tell you?
All of these businesses share the space (i.e. work together).
None of them are eligible for Google Business Profiles, and they are all at risk of being suspended from the pound.
Screenshot from Google.com, March 2022Guess which company knowledge Where are the big virtual office companies?
you are right! Google, with Google Maps.
They can easily find businesses at Regus, WeWork and other co-working and virtual office locations.
So if you think it’s safe to use a virtual office or coworking address on your Google Business Profile, you’re not.
There is likely to be a pause.
According to Google’s guidelines:
“If your business leases a physical mailing address but doesn’t operate outside of that location (also known as a virtual office), that location is not eligible for a business profile.
A business cannot list an office in a coworking space unless the office maintains clear signage, receives clients at the location during business hours, and is staffed by your business staff during business hours. “
Service Area Business (SAB) shows its physical address in the business profile
If you operate a Service Area Business (SAB), you may operate your business from your home or other location that your customers cannot access.
You go to your customers and serve them at their location.
Since no one needs to drive or get directions to your business location, Google doesn’t want your business address to appear on Google Maps.
As such, Google does not allow service area businesses to display or display their physical addresses on their Google Business Profiles.
Let’s say you’re a service area business and don’t have a storefront with permanent signage and have employees there during business hours (among many other rules). In this case, your business address cannot be included on your Google Business Profile.
Screenshot of Google Maps, March 2022If you’re an agency and you’re helping a client on hold (or trying to hit one of your client’s competitors), a handy tool is Melissa Net.
You can enter an address and the tool will tell you whether it is a residential or business address.
Screenshot via Melissa.com, March 2022There are several guidelines that service area businesses must follow, so please dig into them and make sure you follow all in.
Here are guidelines for not showing your address on your Google Business Profile:
“If you’re a service business, you should hide your business address from customers.
For example, if you are a plumber and operate a business from your residential address, clear that address from your business profile. “
Online business only
Google Business Profiles are for local businesses serving local customers.
Are you running an e-commerce or only online business without meeting with local customers?
Then you are not eligible for GBP.
Screenshot of Google Business Profile Support Forum, March 2022
Google screenshot, March 2022According to the guide:
“Brands, organisations, artists and other online-only businesses are not eligible for business profiles.”
Two businesses share the same address
This can happen if you have a home based business or service area business trying to set up multiple businesses at a single home address.
For example, a business owner might own a lawn care company and a handyman service. Instead of creating one company and one business profile and choosing different categories, they might try setting up multiple Google business profiles.
In most cases, this violates Google’s guidelines and will result in a suspension.
Screenshot from Google.com, December 2021If you have a business offering similar or related services, it’s a good idea to create a legal business name or entity that covers all of them. Then use GBP categories to add services to your business profile and let your website tell customers about your company’s business.
From the guide:
“A service area business, or a business that serves customers at its location, shall provide a file for the central office or location with a designated service area.”
Pause is a reality check
Please note that this list is not a complete list of Google Business Profile issues that may result in suspension.
There are several other common reasons why your profile may be suspended.
But the bottom line is: follow the guidelines and you probably won’t have to worry about any of that.
If you do find that your profile has been deleted, you can read this article to find out if your Google Business Profile is suspended.
More resources:
Featured image: RoseRodionova/Shutterstock
