Recently, my post on Google Business Profile (GBP) appeal delays in Linkedin gained a lot of attention. Many business owners and agencies struggling with suspensions found it relatable. Today, I want to share one of my many experiences that led me to talk about it in the first place.
A business approached me after their GBP was suspended due to an address change. Their marketing agency had already appealed, but it got rejected.
I reviewed their profile, made minor guideline corrections, and removed the keyword stuffing from their business name (which was a major red flag). Then, I filed an additional appeal, which usually gets a response within 48 hours.
As expected, within 36 hours, the profile was reinstated—but here’s the twist…
After the profile went live, Google automatically added back the same keywords in the business name! But then, something strange happened.
The previous marketing agency, fearing they would lose their client, edited the name again and removed the keywords—since they still had owner access.
The business owner called me, worried that their lead flow had dropped since the keywords were gone. I checked the profile, saw the edit, and quickly figured out what had happened.
✅ Step 1: I advised the owner to remove the agency’s access to prevent further meddling.
âś… Step 2: I attempted to re-add the keywords, but GBP got suspended again!
✅ Step 3: I had then removed the keyword stuffing again, filed another appeal, and it was approved in 24 hours—even on a Sunday!
Since the business had moved addresses, removing the keywords caused a drastic ranking drop. They reached out again, asking if there was a way to add keywords back without triggering a suspension.
I did a deep dive into their online presence—checked their website, social media, and branding. They were a clinic, and their social media prominently featured the doctor’s name.
The Solution: I updated the business name “<Clinic Name>: <Doctor Name”, which aligns with Google’s guidelines.
This time, I filed an appeal—but it’s been two weeks with no response from Google. Since it’s been over 15 days, I’ll now escalate the case to get a resolution.
✔️ Keyword stuffing may seem like a quick ranking hack, but it often leads to suspensions and headaches.
✔️ Google is now auto-updating some edits, which can sometimes work in your favor—or against you.
✔️ Choose your marketing agency wisely for Local SEO, and do not grant owner access to anyone you do not trust.
✔️ There are legit ways to improve rankings, but you need to align with Google’s policies to stay safe.
Drop a comment and share your experience! If you need help fixing your suspended profile, feel free to reach out. Let’s get your business back on track! 🚀
