Google My Business Suspended? 10 Common Pitfalls That Can Lead to Suspension

Patrick McFadden • September 22, 2023

In today's digital age, a robust online presence is essential for businesses looking to thrive. Among the myriad tools available, Google Business Profiles (GBPs) stand out as a critical means of connecting with customers. However, as with any digital platform, there are challenges that businesses must navigate.


A single misstep can result in the suspension of your business profile, potentially impacting your visibility and customer reach. In this article, we'll explore ten factors that are most likely to get your Google Business Profile suspended and provide guidance on how to steer clear of these common pitfalls.


1. False Addresses or Virtual Offices:

Address precision is paramount when it comes to your Google Business Profile. You should always use a precise and accurate address or service area description to represent your business location. Avoid listing PO boxes, UPS Mail Stores, virtual offices, or any other false addresses. These inaccuracies can lead to google business profile suspensions with your profile.


Now, for service-area businesses, the rules are slightly different. Service-area businesses, which deliver services to customers at their locations, should typically maintain one profile for their central office or primary location, with a designated service area. However, it's crucial to note that "virtual" offices can only be listed if they are staffed during regular business hours.


In some cases, like auto repair shops that have a physical garage for repairs but also offer roadside service, you fall into the hybrid category of service-area businesses. These hybrids can display their storefront address while designating a service area on their Business Profile. But remember, if you choose to set a service area and still serve customers at your address, your location should be staffed during the hours you've stated.

Google determines how to display your business address based on the information you provide and other data from various sources. So, always ensure your address and service area are precise and aligned with your actual business operations.


2. Reports of Violations:

Google encourages users to report violations they encounter in GBP listings. Any suggested edits aimed at rectifying a violation may lead to your profile's suspension. This self-policing mechanism helps maintain the platform's integrity but can pose a risk if your listing inadvertently violates the guidelines.


3. Association with Suspended Listings:

A significant risk comes when a Google account with ownership rights to your GBP listing gets suspended. This can result in a cascading effect where all listings owned by that account may be suspended. While reinstating the owner's account often reinstates the listings, it's a situation best avoided.


In situations where a manager account faces suspension, the impact is somewhat selective. Specifically, Google will suspend the manager account on the listing, but the individual listings themselves remain unaffected. Now, if Google decides to reinstate the manager account, it promptly restores managerial rights to the listings where they were previously suspended.


4. Review Gating:

Let's talk about an aspect every business cherishes - reviews. We all strive for those coveted 5-star ratings, but here's the reality check: negative reviews are bound to happen sooner or later.


Enter the concept of 'review gating.' This is essentially a way businesses filter customers before asking for reviews on platforms like Google or Facebook. Here's how it typically works: customers receive an email asking if they had a positive or negative experience. If it's positive, they are encouraged to leave a review on Google, Facebook, or the chosen platform. However, if their experience was less than stellar, they're directed towards leaving private feedback for the business, without the option to post a public review.


Sounds like a great way to ensure a squeaky-clean online image, right? Well, here's the catch - Google has strict guidelines against review gating. While business owners might have loved this strategy to avoid negative reviews, it's a big no-no in Google's rulebook. They want reviews to reflect genuine customer experiences, both positive and negative, to maintain the integrity of the platform.


5. Website Hacking or Malware:

If your website contains content that violates Google's guidelines, engages in deceptive practices, promotes illegal activities, or hosts malware or harmful software, it may lead to suspension. Regularly monitor and secure your website to prevent such issues.


Here are some potential explanations:


  1. Violation of Google's Guidelines: If your website engages in practices or contains content that goes against Google's guidelines, it could lead to suspension. This might include things like deceptive practices, promoting illegal activities, or hosting malware or harmful software.
  2. Malware or Security Issues: Google takes user safety seriously. If they detect malware or security vulnerabilities on your website, they might suspend the listing to protect users from potential harm. Regular monitoring and security measures are essential to prevent such issues.
  3. Inaccurate or Misleading Information: Consistency is key. If the information on your website, such as contact details or business description, doesn't match or is inconsistent with your Google Business listing, it could result in a suspension.
  4. User-Generated Content: If your website allows users to contribute content, like reviews or comments, and Google finds that this content violates their policies, it might lead to a suspension. Keeping an eye on user-generated content and moderating it according to Google's guidelines is crucial.
  5. Repeated Violations: If your website has been suspended multiple times in the past, and you haven't addressed the underlying issues, Google might take stricter measures, including suspending the website again.


In a nutshell, it's essential to maintain a clean, secure, and accurate online presence that aligns with Google's rules to avoid these frustrating suspensions.


6. Multiple Profiles at the Same Address:

This is a common pitfall for businesses operating from home or as service-area businesses. Attempting to set up multiple GBPs for one address typically violates Google's guidelines and can result in suspension. Consolidating under one profile is a safer approach.


Here's a situation that can lead to a suspension, especially if you run a home-based or Service Area Business (SAB) and attempt to set up multiple businesses at the same home address.


Imagine you're a business owner wearing two hats - one for a lawn care company and another for a handyman service. Now, rather than simplifying things by creating one unified company and a single business profile with different categories, some might opt to set up multiple Google Business Profiles.


Here's the catch: In most cases, this goes against Google's guidelines and could trigger a suspension. Google prefers a more streamlined approach, and setting up multiple profiles for one address can lead to some confusion and potential issues.


7. Fake Reviews:

Another reason you might find your Google Business Profile taking an unscheduled vacation is if you're caught up in some spammy or manipulative tactics aimed at boosting your online presence. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for businesses to resort to such tactics, which can include things like conjuring up fake reviews or deploying shady SEO techniques in an attempt to climb the rankings.


However, here's a tip for the wise: Rather than going down that murky path, it's best to focus on what truly matters – delivering top-notch service. Let your customers do the talking with genuine reviews. Sure, the occasional negative comment may come your way; it's just a part of the game. But by having a solid review management strategy in place that encourages regular, authentic feedback, you're likely to have a bustling collection of positive comments gracing your Google Business Profile.


8. Keyword Stuffing in Business Name:

Tempting as it may be to add extra words to your business name, like a city name or keywords, this practice is discouraged. Keyword stuffing can provide short-term gains but puts your GBP at risk of suspension. Maintain a clear and accurate business name.


Here's an example of keyword stuffing in a business name for a fictional plumbing service:


  • Original Business Name (No Keyword Stuffing):
    "SwiftFlow Plumbing Services"
  • Keyword-Stuffed Business Name:
    "SwiftFlow Plumbing Services - Best Plumbers, Emergency Plumbing, Local Plumbing Repairs"


In the keyword-stuffed example, you can see that the business name has been artificially elongated with additional keywords like "Best Plumbers," "Emergency Plumbing," and "Local Plumbing Repairs." This practice is against Google's guidelines and can lead to the suspension of the Google Business Profile. It's important to use a business name that accurately represents your business without excessive keywords or unnecessary information.


9. Multiple Profiles with the Same Phone Number:

While using one phone number for multiple listings may seem efficient, it's discouraged. Google wants each listing to have unique and accurate data. Using the same phone number for multiple listings may result in suspension.


For example, your business operates multiple locations, it might seem efficient to consolidate phone numbers into one for easier management. However, doing so could lead to Google Business Profile suspensions.


Imagine this: You decide to streamline and set up a toll-free number for all your business listings, thinking it will simplify tracking queries and complaints. But, after a few weeks, you notice that several of your locations have been suspended. You reach out to Google for assistance and eventually realize that the common change you made was adding the same phone number to all your listings.


To avoid such suspensions, it's crucial to understand that Google values uniqueness and accuracy in business listings. When multiple listings under the same brand share identical phone numbers, it raises red flags and could result in suspension, negatively impacting your SEO and rankings.


While using one phone number may appear convenient, it's advisable to assign each of your listings a distinct, accurate, and working phone number. This practice not only aligns with Google's guidelines but also helps maintain the integrity and visibility of your Google Business Profiles.


10. Rapid Influx of Reviews:

Receiving an unusually high number of reviews in a short period can trigger a review by a Google employee. While there may be legitimate reasons for such an influx, it's best to encourage reviews organically to avoid unwanted scrutiny.


In conclusion, maintaining an active and effective Google Business Profile is crucial for businesses in the digital age. Avoiding these ten common pitfalls is key to ensuring your profile remains operational and your online presence robust. Stay vigilant, provide top-quality service, and adhere to Google's guidelines to navigate the digital landscape successfully and keep your GBP thriving.


Contact Your Marketing Consultant at Indispensable Marketing

If you’re a established and local service based business that need insight into Google Business Profile or Google's local search algorithm to improve local search rankings showing up on the first page of search results at Indispensable Marketing we can help. We offer marketing strategy consulting, marketing audits, monthly marketing packages, consultations, exploratory calls or monthly local SEO services. Contact us for more information.

The Missing Layer in AI: Why Judgment, Not Just Data, Will Define the Next Era of Intelligence

By Patrick McFadden • May 2, 2025
Everyone is scaling outputs. Almost no one is scaling judgment.

Everyone Talks About AI Judgment. We Built It.

By Patrick McFadden • May 2, 2025
Ask anyone in tech where AI is headed, and they’ll tell you: “The next leap is reasoning.” “AI needs judgment.” “We need assistants that think, not just answer.” They’re right. But while everyone’s talking about it, almost no one is actually shipping it. So we did. We built Thinking OS™ —a system that doesn’t just help AI answer questions… It helps AI think like a strategist. It helps AI decide like an operator. It helps teams and platforms scale judgment, n ot just generate output. The Theory Isn’t New. The Implementation Is. The idea of layering strategic thinking and judgment into AI isn’t new in theory. The problem is, no one’s been able to implement it effectively at scale. Let’s look at the current landscape. 1. Big Tech Has the Muscle—But Not the Mind OpenAI / ChatGPT ✅ Strength: Best-in-class language generation ❌ Limitation: No built-in judgment or reasoning. You must provide the structure. Otherwise, it follows instructions, not strategy. Google DeepMind / Gemini ✅ Known for advanced decision-making (e.g., AlphaGo) ❌ But only in structured environments like games—not messy, real-world business scenarios. Anthropic (Claude), Meta (LLaMA), Microsoft Copilot ✅ Great at answering questions and following commands ❌ But they’re assistants, not advisors. They won’t reprioritize. They won’t challenge your assumptions. They don’t ask: “Is this the right move?” These tools are powerful—but they don’t think for outcomes the way a strategist or operator would. 2. Who’s Actually Building the Thinking Layer™? This is where it gets interesting—and thin. Startups and Indie Builders Some small teams are quietly: Creating custom GPTs that mimic how experts reason Layering in business context, priorities, and tradeoffs Embedding decision logic so AI can guide, not just execute But these efforts are: Highly manual Difficult to scale Fragmented and experimental Enterprise Experiments A few companies (Salesforce, HubSpot, and others) are exploring more “judgment-aware” AI copilots. These systems can: Flag inconsistencies Recommend next actions Occasionally surface priorities based on internal logic But most of it is still: In early R&D Custom-coded Unproven beyond narrow use cases That’s Why Thinking OS™ Is Different Instead of waiting for a lab to crack it, we built a modular thinking system that installs like infrastructure. Thinking OS™: Captures how real experts reason Embeds judgment into layers AI can use Deploys into tools like ChatGPT or enterprise systems Helps teams think together, consistently, at scale It’s not another assistant. It’s the missing layer that turns outputs into outcomes. So… Is This a New Innovation? Yes—in practice. Everyone says AI needs judgment. But judgment isn’t an idea. It’s a system. It requires: Persistent memory Contextual awareness Tradeoff evaluation Value-based decisions Strategy that evolves with goals Thinking OS™ delivers that. And unlike the R&D experiments in Big Tech, it’s built for: Operators Consultants Platform founders Growth-stage teams that need to scale decision quality, not just content creation If Someone Told You They’ve Built a Thinking + Judgment Layer™… They’ve built something only a handful of people in the world are even attempting. Because this isn’t just AI that speaks fluently. It’s AI that reasons, reflects , and chooses. And in a world that’s drowning in tools, judgment becomes the differentiator. That’s the OS We Built Thinking OS™ is not a prompt pack. It’s not a dashboard. It’s not a glorified chatbot. It’s a decision architecture you can license, embed, or deploy— To help your team, your platform, or your clients think better at scale. We’ve moved past content. We’re building cognition. Let’s talk.

We Found the Missing Layer AI Has Been Waiting For

By Patrick McFadden • May 2, 2025
In every era of innovation, there’s a silent bottleneck—something obvious in hindsight, but elusive until the moment it clicks. In today’s AI-driven world, that bottleneck is clear: AI has speed. It has scale. But it doesn’t have judgment . It doesn’t really think . What’s Actually Missing From AI? When experts talk about the “thinking and judgment layer” as the next leap for AI, they’re calling out a hard truth: Modern AI systems are powerful pattern machines. But they’re missing the human layer—the one that reasons, weighs tradeoffs, and makes strategic decisions in context. Let’s break that down: 1. The Thinking Layer = Reasoning with Purpose This layer doesn’t just process inputs— it structures logic. It’s the ability to: Ask the right questions before acting Break down complexity into solvable parts Adjust direction mid-course when reality changes Think beyond “what was asked” to uncover “what really matters” Today’s AI responds. But it rarely reflects. Unless told exactly what to do, it won’t work through problems the way a strategist or operator would. 2. The Judgment Layer = Decision-Making in the Gray Judgment is the ability to: Prioritize what matters most Choose between imperfect options Make decisions when there’s no clear answer Apply values, experience, and vision—not just data It’s why a founder might not pursue a lucrative deal. Why a marketer might ignore the click-through rate. Why a strategist knows when the timing isn’t right. AI doesn’t do this well. Not yet. Because judgment requires more than data—it requires discernment . Why This Is the Bottleneck Holding Back AI AI can write. It can summarize. It can automate. But it still can’t: Diagnose the real problem behind the question Evaluate tradeoffs like a founder or operator would Recommend a path based on context, constraints, and conviction AI today is still reactive. It follows instructions. But it doesn’t lead. It doesn’t guide. It doesn’t own the outcome. And for those building serious systems—whether you’re running a company, launching a platform, or leading a team—this is the wall you eventually hit. That’s Why We Built Thinking OS™ We stopped waiting for AI to learn judgment on its own. Instead, we created a system that embeds it—by design. Thinking OS™ is an installable decision layer that captures how top founders, strategists, and operators think… …and makes that thinking repeatable , scalable , and usable inside teams, tools, and platforms. It’s not a framework. It’s not a chatbot. It’s not another playbook. It’s the layer that knows how to: Think through complex decisions Apply judgment when rules don’t help Guide others —human or AI—toward strategic outcomes This Is the Missing Infrastructure Thinking OS™ isn’t just about better answers. It’s about better thinking—made operational. And that’s what’s been missing in AI, consulting, leadership development, and platform design. If you’re trying to scale expertise, install judgment, or move from tactical to strategic… You don’t need a faster AI. You need a thinking layer that knows what to do—and why. We built it. Let’s talk.
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