What Does It Mean When a Google Business Profile Is Suspended or Shut Down?
A suspended or shutdown Google Business Profile (GBP) means your business listing is either restricted or completely removed from Google Search and Maps. This can affect your visibility and ability to manage your online presence.
How to determine if your GBP is suspended?
1. Dashboard Alert
When you log in to your Google Business Profile Dashboard, you'll see a banner or notification “Your business is not eligible to display on Google” or “Suspended due to quality issues.”
2. Profile Visibility Drops
Your Business no longer appears in Google search or Maps.
3. Limited Functionality
Losing access in updating or editing business info, responding to reviews or posting updates.
4. Email Notification (Sometimes)
You might receive an email notification about your account suspension, but this is not always guaranteed.
Common Reasons for Suspension:
Violating Google’s guidelines (e.g., misleading business name, virtual office address) Incomplete or inconsistent business information
Multiple listings for the same business
Suspicious activity or flagged businesses.
How reviews are generated reviews with Applause, follows Google's guidelines and would not contribute to suspended or shut down Google Business listings.
What can you do to restore your Google Business Profile?
If a marketing agency manages your Google Business Profile, they can coordinate with Google on your behalf to address and resolve the suspension efficiently. Having their support often speeds up the review and reinstatement process.
What You Can Do in Applause until your GBP is restored
While waiting for Google to resolve your Business Profile suspension, you can take the following steps within Applause to maintain review visibility and customer engagement:
In your location settings, change out your public review link for another working GBP or other third party review link.
Contact Applause support and your customer success manager if you need additional help
Reach out to Applause to inform them of the suspension and request assistance with temporary adjustments.
Provide an Alternative GBP Link
If you manage multiple locations or have a backup GBP, share that link with Support to keep reviews active.
Switch to Facebook Review Link
If no alternative GBP is available, you can request to temporarily display your Facebook review link instead.
Request to Disable Public Reviews
If neither option is viable, ask Support to disable public review visibility until your Google profile is reinstated