FAQ

Can you handle more than one location?

If you have more than one location with a Google Business Profile, we know first hand how hard it can be to juggle all of those coconuts.

No joke! We’ve managed thousands of profiles, including those for multi-location businesses in banking, education, finance, healthcare, legal, retail, travel (and beyond). We know first hand the pain and agony you’ve probably experienced trying to get the most of out of your dashboard full of profiles.

Whether you have 5 profiles or 500, are a franchise, GMB team can provide you with a turnkey way to offload the tedious (and often time consuming) tasks required to properly manage and promote multiple Google Business Profiles.

Google My Business account suspended: What steps should I take?

Here are the steps we take to fix a suspension:

1. Review the Google Business Profile TOS

Read the Google My Business terms of service before making any changes to your account. The terms of service spell out for you what is acceptable for the various fields and functions of a Google Business Profile. If you are not familiar with the terms of service, you could have very well violated one of the rules without evening knowing it.

2. Check your suspended profile for issues

Google will not inform you as to why your account was flagged, but many factors can lead to a suspension, such as:

• Keyword stuffing the business name field

• Using a P.O. Box or virtual office for the company address

• Multiple listings exist for the same company

• Google or users detect fake reviews on your profile

• Users reported your profile as spam via the search results or maps

• Profile ownership was recently transferred

• A manager or owner account was suspended, leading to a profile suspension

Examine your profile for any of these common suspension reasons above. Note that “others are doing it,” is not a reason that will be accept by Google. It is only a matter of time before they are suspended too.

3. Fix the issues with the suspended profile

You need to ensure your profile is compliant with GBP policies before you can request reinstatement. If you see one (or more) of the common issues listed above you must take action by updating it. You want to put your best foot forward, but also avoid end less back and forth with Google support, since they will not tell you specifically what is wrong.

If you are in a high-risk industry such as escort services, online pharmaceuticals, locksmith services, lotteries, and home services, you may have difficulty getting reinstated. We have seen time and time again that businesses in these industries will have to provide plenty of documentation in order to get reinstated after a suspension. Thank your peers 🙂

Google will not walk you through the process of getting your account reinstated, but GMB GMB Team will!

4. Submit the GBP Reinstatement Form

Once you are certain you’re in compliance with Google terms of service, you will need to fill out a reinstatement form. In addition to the basic questions in the form, you will be asked to submit proof of ownership and location. If so, include one or more of the following:

• A copy of your business license

• A utility bill or phone bill with your business name and address

• Articles of incorporation

• A government-issued I.D. with your name and address

• Photos of your business and signs

• Proof you are not sharing a location with another business

These can be easily attached to your request to unsuspend your account. Remember, the more information you can provide to prove you’re a legitimate business operating at this location in real life, the sooner you will get your suspended account back.

5. Wait for a response from Google

It takes two weeks, on average, to hear from Google. It respond sooner, or take longer. You may also be asked for additional information.

Unfortunately, Google may state that it can’t reinstate your profile because there are still policy violations. If this occurs, you may appeal the decision after fixing the remaining issues with the account.