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Google My Business Suspensions: How to Recover and Reinstate Your Listing Like a Pro
Nothing kills visibility faster than a Google My Business (GMB) suspension. One day, your business is showing up in local searches, bringing in leads, and driving foot traffic. The next? Gone.
Google doesn’t explain why. They just slap a “Suspended” label on your listing and leave you scrambling.
If you’re here, it means you’ve either already been suspended or you want to avoid the nightmare altogether. Good news: We’ve got the blueprint to fix this.
This guide will break down why GMB listings get suspended, how to get reinstated, and the exact steps to prevent it from happening again.
Types of Google My Business Suspensions
Google isn’t always clear about why they pull listings, but suspensions usually fall into two categories:
1. Soft Suspension (The Lesser Evil)
Your listing still appears in Google Search and Maps, but you can’t manage it.
The “Suspended” label shows up in your dashboard, and your listing is no longer verified.
What causes it? Usually a user account issue, not the business itself.
Impact: You lose control over updates, reviews, and posts. If wrongfully suspended and later reinstated, you may still lose photos and customer reviews.
2. Hard Suspension (The Black Hole)
Your listing is completely removed from Google Search and Maps.
Reviews, images, and business info disappear.
What causes it? Google believes your business violated their guidelines—or worse, doesn’t exist.
Impact: You lose everything—visibility, rankings, and traffic. This is the hardest type of suspension to recover from.
How to Fix a Google My Business Suspension (Step-by-Step)
If your GMB listing got suspended, here’s how to fix it fast.
Step 1: Review Google’s Guidelines
Before submitting an appeal, make sure your business is fully compliant.
Check the Google Business Profile Guidelines here
Remove anything that violates Google’s policies (duplicate listings, inaccurate addresses, etc.)
Step 2: Identify the Cause of Suspension
Google won’t tell you why they suspended your listing. You have to figure it out.
Did you change your business name or address? (Google flags inconsistent info.)
Are you using a virtual office, P.O. Box, or co-working space as your address? (Instant red flag.)
Do you have multiple listings for the same location? (Duplicate listings get nuked.)
Are you keyword-stuffing your business name? (“Austin Personal Trainer – Best Gym & Weight Loss Experts” = Suspicious.)
Were you reported by a competitor or customer? (Google suspends listings based on user reports.)
If you made a change before the suspension, that’s probably the reason.
Step 3: Fix the Issues & Gather Proof
If your listing breaks the rules, fix it.
If Google made a mistake, prepare proof that your business is real.
Acceptable Proof of Business Ownership:
- Business license, lease, or utility bill (must match GMB address)
- Photos of your storefront, signage, and interior (to prove it exists)
- Screenshots of your GMB dashboard (to confirm business details)
- Website link showing consistent business information
Step 4: Submit the Reinstatement Request
Once everything is clean and correct, request reinstatement:
1️Go to the Google Business Profile reinstatement form
2️Fill in the requested details accurately
3️Attach proof of ownership
4️Submit and wait (can take a few days to several weeks)
Important: Do not spam multiple requests. It slows down the process.
Step 5: Follow Up with Google Support
Google moves at its own pace. If your reinstatement is stuck, you can:
Contact GMB Support on Twitter: @GoogleMyBiz (They actually respond.)
Post in the Google Business Community: Forum Link
Request a Callback from Google Support here
How to Prevent GMB Suspensions (So You Never Have to Deal With This Again)
If you got reinstated, don’t get lazy. Google will permanently kill your listing if you keep violating guidelines.
1. Keep Your Information Consistent
Business Name = Real-World Name (No keyword stuffing.)
Address = Physical Location (No P.O. Boxes or virtual offices.)
Phone Number = Actual Business Contact
2. Remove Unnecessary Users from GMB Access
If an agency manages your GMB and gets suspended, your listing gets suspended too.
Keep Manager access limited to only those who actually need it.
3. Avoid Black Hat SEO Tricks
Fake Reviews = Instant Suspension
Buying Backlinks to Your GMB = Risky
Adding Fake Locations = Google Will Find Out
4. Don’t Over-Edit Your GMB Listing
Frequent edits (especially name, address, or category) trigger suspensions.
Major changes? Make them gradually, not all at once.
Common GMB Suspension Mistakes That Will Kill Your Reinstatement
Submitting multiple reinstatement requests at once (slows things down)
Not fixing the issue before appealing (Google won’t tell you what’s wrong—you need to figure it out)
Listing a P.O. Box, virtual office, or co-working space (violates guidelines)
Having multiple listings for the same location (one listing per physical location only)
Keyword-stuffing the business name (your GMB name should match your signage)
If you ignore these rules, your listing is going to get suspended again.
Final Gonzo Takeaway: GMB Suspensions Are a Test of Who Actually Knows SEO
- Most businesses panic when they get suspended. The smart ones fix it and come back stronger.
- Google doesn’t care if your suspension is “unfair.” You either follow the rules or you disappear.
- Prevention is everything. The easiest reinstatement is the one you never have to make.
Need Your Google My Business Listing Reinstated—Fast? We Can Help.
A suspended GMB listing is losing you leads, visibility, and revenue—every single day. We’ve helped countless businesses recover their listings and prevent future suspensions.
Full GMB audit to find out exactly why you got suspended
Step-by-step reinstatement process that maximizes approval chances
Google-compliant optimization to keep your listing safe in the future
Don’t let Google kill your local search traffic. Let’s get your GMB back online today.
Contact us now for expert GMB reinstatement services.
