Why Your Google Business Profile Got Suspended and How to Fix It

1. Introduction

A Google Business Profile (GBP) is a key tool for boosting local visibility and earning customer trust online. But when it gets suspended, it can be very frustrating. It may also cost your business valuable leads and hurt your local SEO.

Many local business owners wake up to find their profile missing from Google Maps and Search results.

• No phone calls.
• No direction requests.
• No website clicks.

That’s the harsh reality of a suspended GBP.

At Connect SEO, we help businesses every day. We fix suspensions and get their profiles reinstated quickly and correctly. This guide covers the main reasons for suspensions, how to recover your account, and how to protect it in the future.

Table of Contents

1. Common Reasons for Google Business Profile Suspension
2. Hard vs. Soft Suspensions
3. How to Recognise a Suspended Profile
4. Step-by-Step Guide to Reinstating Your Profile
5. What Supporting Evidence Google Expects
6. Communicating Effectively with Google Support
7. Tips to Prevent Future Suspensions
8. How Connect SEO Can Help
9. Final Thoughts

1. Common Reasons for Google Business Profile Suspension

Suspensions typically happen when your GBP violates Google’s guidelines. Even minor infractions can trigger a suspension, and in many cases, businesses are unaware of what they have done wrong.

Here are the most common causes:

• Keyword Stuffing in Business Name: Adding service or location keywords to your business name when they aren't part of the brand.
• Incorrect or Ineligible Address Use: Using a P.O. box, co-working space, or virtual office without proper signage or staff may lead to immediate suspension.
• Multiple Listings for the Same Business: Duplicate listings confuse Google's algorithm and break its single-location rule unless you have several verified physical locations.
• Inappropriate Business Categories: Choosing unrelated categories or cramming too many into your profile can raise red flags.
• Inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone): If your NAP details differ online, especially on your website, directories, and citations—Google may penalise you.
• Deceptive Practices: Linking to irrelevant or misleading websites, posting fake reviews, or impersonating another business can lead to a ban on your listing.
• Rapid Profile Changes: Making sudden edits to your business name, category, address, and services all at once can trigger automatic reviews or suspensions.

2. Hard vs. Soft Suspensions

Before you start fixing anything, you need to identify the type of suspension. There are two primary types:

Hard Suspension

This means your entire profile is removed from both Google Search and Maps. You can’t see or manage your listing publicly. This typically happens due to a major violation or Google finding your business ineligible.

Soft Suspension

Here, you still have access to your dashboard and can see your listing, but it’s marked “Suspended.” It is usually triggered by minor infractions, such as an incorrect category or keyword misuse.

Important: In both cases, you’ll lose visibility and interaction with potential customers—so it’s critical to act quickly.

3. How to Recognise a Suspended Profile

You won’t always get a detailed email explaining the issue. Google simply places a “Suspended”  banner across your profile in your dashboard, and that’s often your only clue.

Here’s how to confirm:

• Log in to your Google Business dashboard.
• If your business is suspended, you will see a red alert at the top.
• Your listing won’t appear on Google Search or Maps.
• You may receive a brief email notification, but it is often vague and unhelpful.

Bonus Tip: Check your business from an incognito browser or ask a friend to look it up on Maps or Search to confirm it is not visible.

4. Step-by-Step Guide to Reinstating Your Profile

Getting reinstated doesn’t need to be stressful if you follow a methodical process:

Step 1: Audit Your Profile

Go through every section of your GBP and compare it against Google’s current guidelines. Identify issues such as:

• Suspicious keywords.
• Incorrect address or category.
• Duplicate listings.
• Fake reviews or ratings.

Step 2: Prepare Your Documentation

Before filling out the reinstatement form, gather the right proof (more on that below). Google wants to verify your legitimacy.

Step 3: Fill out the reinstatement form

Go to the Google Business Profile reinstatement request page. Be honest and accurate.

Step 4: Wait for a Response

You’ll usually get an email confirmation that your request has been received. Reinstatement can take anywhere from three to twenty-one days.

Step 5: Respond to Google Support

If additional info is requested, respond promptly and clearly. The faster you reply, the faster they will resolve it.

5. What Supporting Evidence Google Expects

This step can make or break your reinstatement case. Google wants proof that your business is legitimate and operating at the location stated.

Here are the documents you should prepare:

• Utility Bill: Gas, water, or electricity bill with your business name and physical address.
• Business Licence: Local authority documents with your registered name.
• Tax Certificate or Registration Number: Especially for UK businesses (e.g., Companies House).
• Photos: Storefront with signage, interior shots showing workstations or team.
• Website Screenshots: Your homepage or contact page showing your address.
• Lease Agreement or Rental Contract: If you rent commercial space.

Make sure all documents are recent (within 3 months) and readable. Upload them via the reinstatement form or email if requested by a support agent.

6. Communicating Effectively with Google Support

After submission, the communication stage is critical. A professional, respectful tone can move things faster.

Best Practices:

• Be concise: Avoid lengthy emails. Stick to the facts.
• Avoid Emotional Language: Don’t accuse or beg—Google is a process-driven organisation.
• Follow Up Respectfully: If you don’t hear back within 5 business days, send a short follow-up.
• Stick to One Thread: Avoid creating multiple cases or resubmitting repeatedly—it can delay your reinstatement.

7. Tips to Prevent Future Suspensions

Once your Google Business Profile is reinstated, your next priority is making sure it never gets suspended again. Google’s algorithm frequently updates, so staying compliant and vigilant is essential.

Follow These Best Practices:

• Use a valid, staffed business address: Never use a virtual office, P.O. box, or location that is not staffed during stated business hours.
• Be transparent with Business Info: Your business name should match exactly what is on the signage and your website. Avoid adding extra keywords to game the system.
• Verify All Categories and Details: Double-check that your business category accurately reflects your services. Use secondary categories sparingly.
• Avoid frequent, drastic changes: Repeated edits to your name, phone number, address, or services over a short period may flag your listing for review.
• Regularly audit your profile: Keep business hours updated. Remove outdated images. Monitor user-suggested edits, and respond quickly to reviews and Q&A.
• Keep NAP data consistent across platforms: Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone Number match exactly across your website, directories, and GBP.
• Do Not Solicit Fake Reviews: Organic reviews are valuable. Don't risk suspension with incentivised or fraudulent reviews.

8. How Connect SEO Can Help

At Connect SEO, we focus on keeping your Google Business Profile active, optimised, and in line with Google’s changing rules.

Here’s how we support businesses across the UK:

Our GBP Suspension Support Services include:

• Suspension Diagnosis & Troubleshooting: We investigate what triggered the suspension—technical error, guideline breach, or verification conflict.
• Reinstatement Case Management: We handle the reinstatement form, documentation, and ongoing communication with Google.
• Documentation Preparation: We gather and verify the exact documents that Google will accept to ensure your application is strong.
• Profile Clean-Up: We fix any issues in your GBP, including keyword stuffing, duplicate listings, or misleading content.
• Ongoing Compliance Monitoring: We regularly audit and update your profile to avoid future penalties and maximise local visibility.
• Full GBP Setup for New Businesses: Need help setting up a new listing? We take care of verification, category selection, and optimisation from day one.

By letting Connect SEO manage your Google presence, you can focus on running your business while we ensure your local listings stay visible and work for you.

9. Final Thoughts

Getting your Google Business Profile suspended can be a shock—but it’s fixable. The key is understanding why it happened, responding correctly with accurate evidence, and putting safeguards in place to prevent future issues.

Summary Checklist:

• Identify the suspension type (hard or soft).
• Audit your profile for violations.
• Gather appropriate documentation.
• Submit a reinstatement request.
• Communicate professionally with Google Support.
• Prevent future suspensions through good practices.

If your business relies on Google Maps, don’t risk going offline. Connect SEO is here to help you recover a suspended listing and keep your GBP optimised for the long term.

Need help right now? Get in touch with our team for personalised reinstatement support and GBP management.