Story Based Question
Imagine you’re the owner of a local restaurant called “The Green Plate,” and everything is going well—your customers are happy, your reviews are positive, and your business is booming. One day, you log into your Google My Business (GMB) account only to find that your listing has been suspended. You’re left wondering why it happened and how to fix it. How do you handle a GMB suspension and get your business back on the map?
Exact Answer
To handle a GMB suspension, first, understand the cause of the suspension by reviewing Google’s guidelines. Then, correct any issues with your listing, such as invalid information or policy violations. After making necessary adjustments, appeal the suspension by submitting a reinstatement request through your GMB account.
Explanation
A GMB suspension can happen for a variety of reasons, and it can be frustrating. But understanding the issue and following a few clear steps can get your business back on track. Here’s what you should do:
- Understand the Suspension Cause
Google suspends business listings when they believe the information provided doesn’t comply with their guidelines. This could be because:- Incorrect or inconsistent business information (like an outdated address, fake reviews, or mismatched phone numbers).
- Violation of Google’s policies (such as using a GMB listing for a service area business but providing a physical address or using a keyword-stuffed business name).
- Duplicate listings (having multiple GMB profiles for the same location).
- Inaccurate business categorization. Review Google’s GMB guidelines to ensure your profile follows them strictly.
- Fixing the Issues
Once you identify the problem, it’s time to fix it. Here’s what you should focus on:- Update Your Information: Ensure your business name, address, phone number, and website match the details on your website and any other directories where your business is listed.
- Address Policy Violations: If you used a keyword in your business name or listed a service area business incorrectly, make changes to align with Google’s rules.
- Remove Duplicate Listings: Google may suspend your GMB if there are duplicate listings for your business. Check for and remove any redundant listings.
- Submit a Reinstatement Request
After correcting the issues, you can request to have your GMB listing reinstated. Here’s how:- Go to your GMB account.
- Find the “Business Profile” section.
- Click on “Request Reinstatement.”
- Complete the form by providing any necessary details and explaining the steps you’ve taken to fix the issue.
- Be patient—Google can take a few days or weeks to review and reinstate your listing.
- Follow Up
If you don’t hear back after the first request, follow up with Google’s support team. You may need to provide more details or explain the actions you took to resolve the issue. Persistence is key!
Example
Let’s go back to your local restaurant, “The Green Plate.” Imagine you recently updated your phone number, but your GMB profile still lists the old number. Google flags this inconsistency and suspends your listing. Here’s what you’d do:
- Understand the Issue: You check the GMB guidelines and realize that your phone number is outdated, which violates Google’s consistency rule.
- Fix the Issue: You update your phone number on your GMB profile and double-check that it matches the number on your website and any other listings.
- Submit a Reinstatement Request: You submit the reinstatement request explaining that you’ve fixed the outdated phone number.
- Wait for Reinstatement: After a few days, your listing is reinstated, and your restaurant is visible to customers again in local search results.
GMB suspensions can be frustrating, but understanding why it happened and taking the right steps can get you back on track. By reviewing Google’s guidelines, fixing any issues, and submitting a reinstatement request, you can restore your business profile and get back to serving your customers.