Google ads account suspended – it’s something any advertiser hates to face, but you have to be ready for it happening one day. To be able to respond to this situation promptly, you need to know all the potential reasons for it and the essential steps to take once it arises.
That’s what this article is going to clear up. Read on until the end!
Table of contents
What Happens If Google Suspends Your Ad Account?
If Google suspends your ad account:
- Your ads won’t run.
- You can’t create new ads, ad groups, or campaigns.
- You can still access your account to check past data and reports.
- Sometimes, related accounts like linked Merchant Center accounts or those managed by the same manager account might also get suspended. These suspensions will be lifted when the original issue is resolved.
Why Is My Google Ads Account Suspended?
Google ad account suspension can happen due to various reasons, with the most common one being Google policy violations. Check the list below and examine your ads & website to figure out the cause behind:
Google policy violations
Google has set a list of advertising policies that you have to strictly adhere to. Violations on these policies are the primary reason for getting Google ads account suspended. Some common violations include:
- egregious violations
- making false claims about products or services
- inappropriate content, like promoting prohibited or illegal content, endorsing illegal activities
- engaging in deceptive advertising practices
While the first three reasons are straightforward, deceptive ad practices can be more subjective. Intentionally deceiving customers is never a good idea, but sometimes customers may misunderstand information, leading to false claims of deception.
To protect your business, ensure that your advertising only includes accurate and easily verifiable information.
Unreal business information
Google may suspend your ads account if it finds that your business information is unreal or unclear.
Using secondary addresses for business purposes is common among online sellers, offering better security than using a home address. However, if that address belongs to a non-business entity, like a friend or relative, it can raise concerns.
To avoid suspension, ensure your business identity is clear and unambiguous.
Be diligent in providing accurate and up-to-date registration and paperwork, as Google won’t verify it for you but will suspend your account if it seems questionable.
Business Operations Verification Failure is another common reason for suspension, especially as Google introduces Business Operations Verification globally. This suspension can be due to unclear answers to questions, insufficient documentation, or creating confusion about your relationships with third parties.
Payment issues
Another potential culrpit of your Google ads account suspended is payment issues. This may happen if you enter incorrect billing information, decline a charge from Google, issue a chargeback, or use a virtual address as your business address. Using the same credit card across multiple Google ads accounts can also lead to suspension.
Dealing with this suspension can be frustrating because Google doesn’t provide clear indications of what they find suspicious about your payments.
Sometimes, accounts get suspended even before any payments are made, causing further frustration.
Fake clicks/reviews
Fake clicks and reviews are a significant reason for getting Google ads account suspended. While it may be tempting to use bots or click farms to boost traffic or generate positive feedback, engaging in such practices can lead to severe consequences.
Google actively detects and suspends accounts involved in click fraud or fake reviews. Even if others seem to get away with it, Google will focus on shutting down your account if they detect any fraudulent activity.
Instead of resorting to fake clicks or reviews, it’s crucial to earn them authentically. While it may require effort, earning genuine customer feedback is the best approach.
Your website has been hacked
Your ads, website, landing page, or app contains harmful elements like malware, unacceptable content, deceptive content, or redirects, which can harm visitors. Many website owners are unaware of these issues until their AdWords account gets suspended.
If your WordPress website has been hacked, your suspended Google Ads account is just the beginning of the problem. Your website may still appear active, but if Google Safe Browsing detects malware, it could lead to your site being blacklisted.
Other suspicious activities
Google account suspended due to suspicious activity is also the very case.
Unlike a Google agency account which often appears legit in Google’s eyes, a self-served one is more prone to suspensions even when you do nothing wrong.
Read more: What Is A Google Ads Agency Account?
Google is highly sensitive with suspicious activities. If Google suspects something irregular about your business practices or model, they may suspend your ad account.
Such suspicious activities include:
- Pretending to be a different business.
- Receiving a high volume of negative reviews on third-party review websites.
- False advertising.
Violating Google’s Unacceptable Business Practices policy is considered an egregious violation, particularly for businesses using logos and brand names associated with other websites.
This includes franchisees, resellers, authorized dealers, and companies with multiple websites or ad accounts for different geographic regions.
How To Recover A Suspended Google Ad Account?
If your Google Ads account has been suspended, it’s not the end of the road for your business. You can take steps to recover and resume using the service.
Review your website
First, you’ll need to use a malware scanner to check if your website has any malware and get rid of them from your website.
For example, MalCare (https://www.malcare.com/) is a tool that scans thoroughly through all parts of your website, including files and the database, to find hidden malware that other online scanners might miss. After that, you simply upgrade and clean to remove malware within minutes.
After scanning, compare the information on your website with what’s in your Google Ads account. Check details like shipping charges, the “about us” page, terms and conditions, and other pages containing important information.
Any discrepancies, such as recent updates on the website not reflected in your Ads account, could be seen by Google as misrepresentation and might be the cause of the suspension.
Once you clean your website, clear the WordPress and browser caches to ensure that old cached versions, which may still contain malware, are removed completely.
If spam pages were on your site for more than a couple of days, they likely got indexed by Google. You can check this using Google’s site search operator and then regenerate and resubmit your sitemap to Google.
Review your ads
To begin, check the email you received from Google for clues. The email might directly mention which policy was violated, providing a good starting point for addressing the issue. If the violation isn’t explicitly stated, the email could include a link to the specific policy that was breached, which helps narrow down the possible reasons for the suspension.
The most common issue we’ve encountered in these emails is related to malicious or deceptive content on the website, which is also the most serious scenario to address.
Once you know what needs to be changed, go ahead and make those changes.
Correcting misrepresentation or meeting editorial and technical requirements can be complex. Review Google Ads policies carefully as they can be open to interpretation.
If you need help, consider consulting an expert or reaching out to forums and groups where businesses like yours discuss similar challenges. Platforms like Reddit, Facebook, or Quora can be great resources for advice. If all else fails, you can reach out to Google SearchLiaison on X (formerly Twitter) for guidance.
Pay Up
First, check if your old payment method is no longer valid. If it’s expired or no longer working, add a new payment method to ensure uninterrupted service.
Next, you have to to ensure any outstanding payments are settled promptly.
Google should restore your account once the payment is processed. However, it’s essential to verify the legitimacy of any email claiming suspension due to unpaid fees.
Reach out to Google directly to confirm the status of your account before making any payments, as scammers may attempt to deceive you with phishing emails pretending to be from Google. Always exercise caution and verify the authenticity of such communications to avoid falling victim to fraud.
Contact Google’s support team
To recover a Google ads account suspended, you need to contact the Google support team, either by filing an appeal or calling 1-866-2-Google to speak with a representative.
Google usually sends an email explaining the reason, but if you’re unsure, reach out to Google Ads support for clarification.
Prepare your appeal with a detailed explanation of what happened and why you believe it was a mistake. Include any supporting evidence like screenshots or emails.
Submit your appeal online or via email to support@google.com. Make sure all relevant information is included for review.
When speaking to a representative, emphasize your seriousness about your ads and business. While representatives may not handle suspensions directly, they can provide insight into why your account was suspended.
Avoid submitting appeals repeatedly
While there’s no limit to how many appeals you can make, it’s not advisable to submit numerous appeals. Each successive appeal, especially if it’s for the same issue that has been previously rejected, is less likely to be reviewed.
Just as you wouldn’t repeatedly appeal a judge’s decision without new evidence, only submit a new appeal if you have updated, relevant information.
If Google detects misuse, such as repeatedly submitting appeals without meaningful updates, they may suspend processing of future appeals for 7 days.
* After you submit an appeal:
- If Google accepts your appeal, and your account is reinstated, you can go back to running your campaigns on Google Ads like before. However, it’s important to be careful not to violate the same policy again in the future. If you repeatedly break certain policies, you could face permanent suspension from Google Ads.
- If your appeals continue to be denied, it’s time to stop and seek assistance from a professional marketing agency specializing in reversing Google Ads account suspensions who can help you identify what you’re doing wrong and craft a stronger, more effective appeal.
How To Prevent Google Ad Account Suspension In The Future?
We highly suggest you rent Google agency account from a reputable agency like SpeedX for running your Google ads.
Agency accounts are generally stronger and less prone to suspension if they come from highly reputable sources. SpeedX agency gives you access to a reliable account with a solid reputation, potentially increasing the chances of recovering a suspended account and resuming advertising efforts smoothly.
Besides, it’s crucial to stay informed of Google’s policies. Regularly reviewing and staying updated on these policies will help ensure ongoing compliance.
Another important step is to conducting regular audits of your online presence. This includes reviewing your website, landing pages, and ad content to identify and address potential issues that could lead to suspension.
Prioritizing website security is also important. Implement HTTPS, conduct regular security audits, and address any vulnerabilities promptly to prevent security-related suspensions.
Google Ads Account Suspended: That’s Not The End!
All in all, facing a Google ads account suspended can be a daunting experience, but it’s important to remember that it’s not the end of the road. By taking proactive steps and following the strategies outlined in this article, you can work towards resolving the suspension and getting your campaigns back on track.
Stay patient, diligent, and adherent to Google’s policies and guidelines, we promise you will navigate through the suspension process and emerge stronger.
