The Google Business Suspension Tool You Need To Create Right Now

Step-by-Step Guide to Restore Your Google Business Profile

Receiving a suspension email from Google can feel like a punch to the gut for any business owner.

In an instant, the visibility you’ve worked hard to build, can vanish into thin air, leaving every business owner with the exact same questions.

• Why did this happen?
• What did I do wrong?
• Why can’t Google just tell me exactly what to fix?
• How can they do this without warning?
• How much will this cost me to fix?
• How long will this take to fix?
• How much business am I going to lose while I’m waiting!

The frustration mounts as you scramble to understand the vague reasons behind the suspension, not knowing where to turn or how to rectify the situation.

It’s a maddening experience, filled with uncertainty and stress, as you struggle to piece together the next steps to get your business back online.

This guide is here to help clear the fog and provide a clear path to reinstating your Google Business Profile.

Step 1: Prepare a Suspension Package!

Whether you’re facing a suspension, worried about one, or just setting up a new Google Business listing for the first time, start by preparing a comprehensive “Suspension Package”.

This will be about the closest thing to a “Get Out Of Jail Free” card that you can have, but don’t think it’s that either.

This package should include:

• Business Documents: Business Registration, Business License, DBA, Tax Certificates. **These must have the same business address and phone number on them that you’re trying to get back or DONT send them!
• IP Information: If you have registered your name as a trademark, you’ll want to keep a copy of that here. If you have not registered your name, my advice is to do a TESS search on uspto.gov for your name, and versions of your name. It’s possible that someone has reported you as violating their trademark. You want to make sure that’s not a possibility.
• Utility Bills: Electric, phone, cable, internet showing the same address, phone, and business name.
• Visual Proof:
  • Photo of permanent signage on the outside of the building.
  • Photos of vehicle wraps or signage outside the building.
  • Photos of the office interior showing your business license and tax ID (if required in your state) hanging on the wall ($2 fame is fine)
  • A 90-second continuous video, starting outside, showing street signs, walking to your office, *unlocking the door, and walking into an an interior working area that could meet a client (this doesn’t have to be a high end salon lobby, it just needs to look like an actual business. *Bonus if you can show the business license and/or tax ID framed on the wall.

Once you have copies of all of these documents put together, put them in a zip file, include the date in the file name, and store these documents in a cloud folder for easy access when you need it.

Step 2: Figure out what the hell happened?

There are several possible culprits to a disabled profile, or suspended profile.

In order to figure out what it was, (if you even can) you will need to go through this entire list, fixing and correcting everything.

Ensure the following details are accurate and consistent:

1. Business Name on Google Business profile: Matches the Business License exactly. If you are Jens Bridal Shop LLC, you can be Jens Bridal Shop, or Jens Bridal Shop LLC, but you can’t be Jens Bridal Shop In San Diego
   • *NOTE: Using this “trick” will actually help you perform better in your category if you actually incorporate your category in the name of your business. If this company pictured above changed their name, or got a DBA (doing business as, or assumed name) registered with the name “Shine Bright Day Care In Chicago” they could use this on their business profile, and it would be a good strategy.
2. Address Validity: No PO Boxes or similar non-physical addresses can be used, even if you’re a service area business. Some people have gotten around this for service businesses, but if you can avoid it, avoid it.
3. Business Type: Confirm if you are a Service area, Local, or Hybrid business. Hybrid and local require visible signage and a physical space that customers can visit. If you are a service business, ensure that your address is hidden from the public.
4. Don’t purchase or use fake reviews: There are lots of offers out there from services that will create fake reviews for you. I can’t advise against this enough, Google has lots of data, they are well aware of this practice and will react with a heavy hand, just don’t do it.
5. Review your reviews: You may have noticed from time to time, that you will get a review, but it will not appear on your profile? This can happen a lot when you’re first starting out. I can’t say for sure, but my guess is Google thinks these are not valid reviews, if you have a pattern of this, you will likely have issues, don’t ask for reviews from anyone other than your real customers. If you are having trouble getting your happy customers to leave you reviews, check out our REAL 5 Star Review Service that gives you the tools to get more reviews from your real customers.
6. Video Proof: If you had to or will have to shoot a video, make sure it includes all of the following, it’s a god idea to practice this ahead of time and even give yourself a brief script. It should be A 90-second continuous unedited video that includes:
   • You standing outside showing the nearest cross street signage.
   • Nearby businesses
   • You unlocking the door (with signage on it), and entering the office
   • Visible office equipment (desk, chair, counter, reception area)
     If you are asked to provide a video, be prepared. You will not be able to just randomly take this and send in your copy.
     You will need to likely use two phones, one to scan a QR code that google gives you to start the video, and the other one to start filming right away, one take. Be prepared.
7. Information Consistency: Don’t change key listing details until updates are made everywhere else first. If you’re moving, try to change everything at one time the same day with your Google business profile being the last one.
8. Physical Location: Must have signage if you have a physical location. If not, you must be a service business with a local service area.
9. Business Hours: Ensure accuracy and consistency; do not claim 24-hour availability if untrue.
10. Website Link: Should lead to your actual website or be left blank; avoid linking to social media or link in bio pages
11. High-Risk Business Types: Be cautious if you’re in high-risk categories (e.g., locksmiths, plumbers, and hvac,possibly more). Google has found that these types of companies frequently try to break the rules, what it got them is more attention, so if you’re in one of these businesses, keep everything squeaky clean and accurate.
12. Listing Changes: Switching from storefront to service or vice versa often requires new validation.
13. Multiple Listings: Avoid overlapping listings; service areas should not exceed a 2-hour drive.
14. Shared Locations: Multiple businesses at the same address, especially with the same phone number, can lead to suspension. Consolidate listings when possible and include map URLs in appeals. This could be if you are an concrete repair shop, but also operate a remodeling company out of the same location with the same phone number, even though you are a separate business, with a separate name and website, Google will likely suspend both, instead get a different phone number and address, or list one of the two as a subcategory of the other.
15. Account Access: Ensure no one with access to your account has a suspended or restricted account.
    • If you have this type of suspension you will get a notice that says something like:

If you receive a violation of this type, you will want to look at two things and take these 3 steps;

1. Who has access to your google business profile?
   • Make a list of every email that has access
2. If you’re a Google Workspace business, go into your workspace admin admin.google.com
   • Make a list of every Google email in your account.
3. Create the following email and send it out to everyone on that list.

Step 3: Launching the Appeal

Prepare the following before launching your appeal:

• Upload Documents: Have your Suspension Package zip file ready as you only have 60 minutes to upload everything. If you did not create the suspension package yet, do that BEFORE you appeal the issue.
• Login Credentials: Make sure you are logged into the Google account that owns the business listing.
• Video Readiness: Be prepared to take a new 90-second video if needed.
• Prepare Statement: Before you start this appeal this statement should explain why your profile should be reinstated and the improvements that were made. Prepare this statement in advance.
  • create a short and accurate 1000 character or less description of the exact steps that you took to fix whatever you believe the issue was.
  • I recommend creating this in a notepad and saving it for easy access for your appeal.
  • You probably will not ever use this particular response again, but it’s good practice to create it in a doc file before you copy and paste it into the appeal so you can ensure it covers everything.
  • Do not get argumentative, it’s not going to help your case, I know it’s frustrating, but this is one of those times where you have to suck it up and just state the facts, adding in everything that you did to fix the issue.

Before submitting, ensure compliance with all guidelines above.

The review process may take several days. Google says 3-5, but sometimes it can take a couple of weeks. If approved, you’ll receive an email. If denied, you have one more chance to appeal. Revisit all steps, address issues, and resubmit.