Reclaiming Your Google My Business Listing: A Comprehensive Guide

Google My Business (GMB) is a powerful tool for driving online visibility and interactions with potential customers. However, there may be instances where your listing gets suspended or deleted. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you reclaim your GMB listing, get it verified, and understand the suspension process.

Understanding Google My Business Guidelines

Before we delve into the steps to reclaim your GMB listing, it's crucial to understand the core guidelines that dictate whether your listing is compliant or suspended. The Google My Business guidelines cover a wide range of topics, such as accurate business information, consistent branding, and respectful interactions. Additionally, the Restricted Content Guidelines also play a critical role in maintaining the quality and integrity of your listing.

Steps to Fix the Suspension of Your Listing

When your GMB listing is suspended, it typically means that your listing contains content that violates these guidelines. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you fix and re-enable your listing:

Review the Google My Business Guidelines: Take the time to read and understand the guidelines thoroughly. This includes both the core business information and the restricted content guidelines. Review Your Listing for Compliance: Check your listing for any non-compliant content or outdated information. Ensure that all the required information is accurate and complete. Renew and Submit Your Listing: After rectifying any discrepancies, resubmit your listing to Google. This is necessary to demonstrate your commitment to compliance. Request Reinstatement: Once you are sure that your listing is in full compliance, request Google to reinstate it.

Claiming Ownership of Your Listing

Claiming ownership of your listing is a critical step in activating and managing your GMB profile. Follow these steps to claim your listing:

Storefront Business Profiles: If you need to claim ownership, go to Google My Business as you would to get a new listing. Enter and Verify Information: Enter the name and address of your business. Select it from the search results and click 'Continue.' You should see a message indicating that you’ve successfully entered your location. Request Access and Fill Out the Form: Click 'Request access' and fill out the form with the required details. Submit the Request: Click 'Submit' to send your request to Google.

After submitting your request, you may have the option to claim the listing yourself within 7 days:

Sign in to Google My Business. Look for a 'Claim' or 'Verify' button on your dashboard. If the button is not available, proceed to the next steps.

If you are unable to claim after 7 days, follow these additional steps:

Go to Google My Business. On the Help panel, look at the end of the panel and choose 'Need help claiming your business?' Select 'Request access to claim your business.' Choose the Google My Business category that best matches your business.

Handling a Deleted Listing

Unfortunately, once a listing is deleted, it is no longer possible to claim it. However, you can start fresh by creating a new listing with updated and accurate information.

Conclusion

Reclaiming and maintaining your Google My Business listing is a significant step towards enhancing your online presence and increasing your customer base. By following the guidelines, reviewing your listing, and requesting reinstatement if necessary, you can ensure that your listing remains active and compliant.

If you need further assistance or have any questions, feel free to reach out to a Google My Business Trainer or support team. Happy optimizing!