Did you notice a sudden drop in organic traffic? Or your profile is no longer appearing in search results or Google Maps? You’re most likely dealing with a Google Business Profile suspension. Not all suspensions work the same way – and the impacts hard and soft GBP suspension will have on your business are very different.
The two types of GBP suspension – soft and hard – come with their own implications. The most severe one is the visibility of your listing, how it’s managed, and what the reinstatement process will look like. Our guide breaks down the key differences and walks you through what to do next.
What Is Soft GBP Suspension?
If you have to choose between the two, soft Google Business Profile suspension is “less evil.” This means that it is less severe than the hard suspension. Your Google Business Profile is still visible and searchable by users on Google, but you temporarily lose access to manage it, meaning you can’t make any updates or changes. They usually happen as a result of Google’s automated flagging system that targets suspicious accounts or those with inconsistent information.
Although this is a major inconvenience on your end, the customers won’t notice this, since your business can still be found in searches, they can still get relevant information regarding your working hours, check reviews, and get directions to you. However, it’s crucial to have this information correct and updated, since you can’t make any alterations to it or respond to questions and reviews until your suspension is lifted.
What Is Hard GBP Suspension?
Hard Google Business Profile suspension comes with more serious outcomes, since it means that your profile is completely removed from results in Google search and Google Maps. Essentially, this means that your business is no longer available as a listing to your customers, they can’t find it online, and you become invisible to potential new customers.
Hard GBP suspension never happens out of the blue – it always comes as a result of serious Google Business Profile policies violations. Common reasons for this can be policy abuse, fraudulent activities, or repeated violations. Hard GBP suspension results in a very serious drop in organic traffic, since your profile is no longer discoverable.
What Are the Differences Between Soft and Hard GBP Suspension?
01. Visibility
The most obvious difference between soft and hard GBP suspension is in the profile’s public visibility. With soft GBP suspension, your profile stays limited, but is “locked” for any edits and alterations on your end. Even though this has its consequences, the customers don’t notice them on their end. On the other hand, with hard GBP suspension, your profile is deleted and unavailable in local pack results or Google Maps, which means it’s also unavailable to your customers.
02. Management
Another difference between soft and hard GBP suspension is in the profile’s management. With soft GBP suspension (that is, most often triggered by some minor issues and inconsistencies), you lose access to making any changes to your profile. This means that the profile is still there, but you are not allowed to change anything. With hard GBP suspension, your profile is completely removed (the whole listing is gone), so there is nothing you can manage or edit at all. Most often, this leads to business owners creating a new listing, which can again result in another policy violation, so make sure to avoid that.
03. Causes
Soft GBP suspension is most often triggered by Google’s automated system that flags accounts with some information inconsistencies, such as recent changes to your business name, address, phone numbers, etc. Soft GBP suspension also happens when someone flags your profile. On the other hand, hard GBP suspension happens as a result of serious policy violations – operating a service area with a publicly listed address, keyword stuffing, misleading information, a virtual office address, having multiple listings for the same location, etc.
04. Severity
When it comes to severity, the soft GBP suspension is the one that has the least impact on your business. This is because the listing is still visible, and your customers are not affected, meaning your organic traffic is intact. The reinstatement process is generally less complicated and more straightforward. The hard GBP suspension is more damaging since you lose your online visibility, and the efforts for reinstatement are greater (video verification or direct contact with Google is required).
How to Identify Your GBP Suspension Type?
If you wake up with an email or notification that your GBP account has been suspended, the easiest way to determine what type of GBP suspension you are dealing with is to do a simple search of your business name on Google and Google Maps. Depending on the results, you can determine the type of suspension:
- You appear in the results – you are dealing with soft GBP suspension.
- You don’t appear in the results – you are dealing with a hard GBP suspension.
This information can also be checked directly from your GBP dashboard. You will see a banner indicating your suspension status and, in some cases, you will also see the reason for the suspension. However, this is not a rule, and for some profiles, this information may be lacking or very vague.
How Does the Reinstatement Process Work?
Depending on the type of suspension, the process for reinstating it will be different. For a soft GBP suspension, the process of reinstatement is simpler and more straightforward through the Google Business Profile Help Center. You need to submit documents that verify your business is legit, such as a business licence, utility bill, or storefront photos that confirm your address.
For the hard GBP suspension, the process is more complicated and may involve some extra steps, such as providing a video verification (live or recorded walkthrough of your business, where the signs and equipment are shown – basically providing evidence that your business is real and legit).
Conclusion
The main difference between soft and hard Google Business Profile suspension really comes down to whether your profile stays visible to your customers or gets completely removed. Regardless of the type, don’t panic, try to find out the reason for the suspension, and start preparing your appeal. Time is everything, so make sure not to delay the reinstatement request. The request itself should be backed up with documentation, so make sure to prepare everything beforehand. The sooner you address the issue, the sooner your profile will be reinstated.
