Suspension Recovery

A suspended GBP listing disappears from search. Understanding why suspensions happen and how to recover is critical.

Types of Suspensions

Soft Suspension

• Listing still visible in dashboard
• Not showing in search/maps
• "Suspended" status shown
• Can appeal directly

Hard Suspension

• Listing may be removed entirely
• Multiple violations or repeat offense
• Requires more extensive appeal
• Longer recovery process

Account-Level Suspension

• All listings under account affected
• Severe policy violation
• May lose access entirely
• Most difficult to recover

Common Causes

Business Name Violations

• Keywords stuffed in name
• Location added to name (when not part of legal name)
• Taglines or descriptors added
• Name doesn't match real-world signage

Examples:

• "Best Pizza Chicago - Fast Delivery"
• "Mario's Pizzeria"

Address Issues

• Virtual office without staff
• P.O. Box (not allowed for most businesses)
• Residential address for ineligible business
• Address doesn't exist or is unverifiable

Category Misuse

• Irrelevant categories selected
• Lead generation categories misused
• Multiple listings for one location
• Category spam

Review Policy Violations

• Fake reviews purchased
• Review gating (only asking happy customers)
• Offering incentives for reviews
• Employee reviews without disclosure

Other Violations

• Multiple listings for same business
• Listing for ineligible business type
• Impersonating another business
• Promoting illegal products/services

Prevention

Know the Guidelines

Read and understand:

• Google Business Profile guidelines
• Prohibited content policies
• Category-specific requirements
• Review policies

Maintain Compliance

• Use legal business name only
• Legitimate physical address
• Accurate categories
• Honest practices

Regular Audits

• Check for guideline changes
• Review your listing regularly
• Monitor for unauthorized changes
• Stay informed on policy updates

Recovery Process

Step 1: Identify the Cause

Check for:

• Email from Google explaining violation
• Dashboard messages or alerts
• Recent changes that might trigger suspension
• Compare against guidelines

Step 2: Fix the Issue

Before appealing:

• Correct any violations
• Update business name if needed
• Verify address accuracy
• Remove policy-violating content

Step 3: Gather Documentation

Prepare:

• Business license
• Utility bills showing address
• Signage photos
• Other proof of legitimacy

Step 4: Submit Reinstatement Request

Through GBP Dashboard:

1. Sign into Google Business Profile
2. Select suspended listing
3. Click "Learn more" on suspension notice
4. Follow reinstatement process
5. Submit required documentation

Through Support:

1. Contact GBP support
2. Explain situation
3. Provide documentation
4. Request review

Step 5: Wait and Follow Up

• Initial review: 3-5 business days
• Complex cases: 1-2 weeks
• Follow up if no response
• Be patient but persistent

Appeal Best Practices

Be Honest

• Acknowledge mistakes if made
• Don't try to deceive Google
• Explain corrective actions taken
• Show commitment to compliance

Be Thorough

• Provide all requested documentation
• Include clear photos
• Answer all questions completely
• More evidence is better

Be Professional

• Calm, factual communication
• No accusations or anger
• Focus on resolution
• Thank reviewers for their time

Be Patient

• Process takes time
• Multiple appeals may be needed
• Don't spam requests
• Follow proper channels

Documentation Guide

Essential Documents

• Business registration/license
• Tax documents with address
• Lease or mortgage showing address
• Utility bills in business name

Photo Evidence

• Exterior signage with business name
• Interior of business
• Business cards and marketing materials
• Street view context

Additional Support

• Customer testimonials
• Media coverage
• Professional association membership
• Industry certifications

After Reinstatement

Immediate Actions

• Verify all information is correct
• Don't make sudden changes
• Monitor for issues
• Document the reinstatement

Ongoing Compliance

• Regular guideline reviews
• Careful about any changes
• Monitor for unauthorized edits
• Stay conservative with optimization

Prevent Recurrence

• Understand what caused suspension
• Implement prevention measures
• Train team on compliance
• Set up monitoring

Special Situations

New Business Suspension

Sometimes new listings are suspended for verification:

• Provide clear documentation
• Photos of physical location
• Business registration
• Usually resolved quickly with proper docs

Competitor-Reported Suspension

If reported by competitor:

• Focus on proving legitimacy
• Document compliance
• Don't engage with competitor
• Let documentation speak

Multiple Listing Suspension

If suspended for duplicates:

• Identify which listing should remain
• Remove/consolidate duplicates
• Provide documentation for primary listing
• Explain the situation clearly

When Recovery Fails

Consider

• Was the violation legitimate?
• Is the business model compliant?
• Are there alternative approaches?

Options

• Create new listing (only if legitimately compliant)
• Focus on other marketing channels
• Address underlying business issues
• Seek professional help

Key Takeaways

1. Prevention is easier than recovery
2. Fix violations before appealing
3. Document everything thoroughly
4. Be patient and professional
5. Learn from the experience