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Suspended From Google Ads For Unacceptable Business Practices? Here’s The Solution
Google Ads has tightened its policies around transparency and trustworthiness, increasing the number of accounts wrongly getting suspended for “unacceptable business practices”. Its automated system now regularly flags accounts without warning. While these policies are essential to maintain a safe environment for all users, many legitimate advertisers find themselves suspended without clear explanations or seemingly over minor issues. We are going to explore why suspensions happen, what steps you can take to resolve them, and how to avoid them in the future.
Table of Contents
Understanding Google’s Unacceptable Business Practices Policy
Before we start, make sure to go over our Google Ads Policy checklist. Google’s Unacceptable Business Practices policy aims to prevent deceptive, misleading, or harmful ads from reaching its audience. This means your ads, landing pages, and overall business practices need to meet high standards of transparency and accuracy. Violations often include:
- Misleading claims about a product’s features or price
- False promises of “limited availability” or “exclusive deals”
- Lack of clear information about what a user is signing up for
For example, if you advertise a product as “free” but it actually comes with hidden fees, this could trigger a violation. Similarly, landing pages that collect personal information without a clear purpose might also fall under unacceptable practices.
Steps to Take If Your Account Was Suspended
- Carefully Review the Suspension Notificatio
When Google suspends your account, they’ll send a notification with a general description of the policy violation. While these messages can be vague, they’re a starting point. Pay close attention to any details provided. Was it a specific ad, landing page, or overall site issue? Use this information to narrow down potential problem areas. - Identify and Correct Problematic Elements
Once you have an idea of the cause, review every element of your campaign. Common issues that trigger suspensions include:
Reused Content: If you’ve repurposed content from previous campaigns or used a landing page template from a flagged account, Google may detect this as a sign of potentially misleading practices. It’s usually safer to build new content from scratch.
Inconsistent Branding or Language: Any discrepancies in your branding, claims, or terminology between the ad and landing page can trigger suspensions. Ensure that the information is consistent and clear.
Transparent Pricing and Terms: If your offer has conditions, make them clear. Avoid hidden fees or surprise costs, as these can appear deceptive to Google’s algorithm. - Appeal the Suspension with a Detailed Explanation
If you believe the suspension was a mistake, appeal directly through Google’s support. Here are tips for a successful appeal:
Be Thorough and Transparent: Explain exactly what happened and the steps you took to resolve the issue. Share any corrective actions you implemented, like updating landing pages or ad copy
Provide Documentation: Include any business registration documents, proof of legitimacy, or anything else that verifies your business as credible
Be Patient but Persistent: It’s not unusual for appeals to take time. If you’re not hearing back within a few days, follow up with Google support to show you’re actively invested in resolving the issue. - Consider Running Initial Campaigns for an Established Domain
Google’s system often flags new domains or landing pages that look “too fresh” without sufficient content history. To reduce this risk, consider using a domain with an established history. You could also create a few “soft launch” campaigns that build credibility by running safe, low-stakes ads over a few weeks before promoting higher-value campaigns. - Test with Multiple Ad Elements to Identify Triggers
If suspensions are recurring, experiment with different ad elements. Try changing ad copy, keywords, or landing page formats to pinpoint the trigger. This trial-and-error approach can reveal which aspects of your setup might be inadvertently causing policy flags.
Tips for Avoiding Future Suspensions
Once you’re back up and running, taking steps to avoid further issues will help keep your account in good standing:
- Double-Check Every Campaign for Compliance: Run each campaign through a checklist to ensure it aligns with Google’s advertising policies. This should include transparent pricing, clear business practices, and consistent branding.
- Avoid High-Risk Tactics Like Cloaking or Keyword Stuffing: While it can be tempting to use cloaking (showing different content to users and Google), this is a fast track to suspension. Stick with transparent methods that don’t risk violating Google’s policies.
- Set Up Google’s Verification Programs: Some business types, like healthcare or finance, require extra verification due to their high sensitivity. Check if your business falls under these categories and complete any necessary verification to avoid future flags.
- Monitor Ad Performance and Respond to Feedback: If you notice any unexpected changes in ad performance or alerts in your Google Ads dashboard, act quickly. Google’s feedback may include hints that your campaigns are treading close to policy boundaries.
Wrapping Up
Recovering from a Google Ads suspension can feel like navigating a maze, but don’t lose hope. Reversing the suspension will hinge on transparency. So you need to ensure your ads and landing pages align with Google’s policies, appeal any mistakes with clear documentation, and make necessary updates to avoid future issues. While Google’s system can seem harsh, it’s designed to protect users, and by following these guidelines, you’ll keep your ads running smoothly.
If you want to ensure that your Google Ads campaigns keep running smoothly without disruption, check out Media Blast. This platform streamlines account-creating, overseeing multiple accounts, and most importantly, prevents account suspensions. Sign up today and make sure your campaigns keep running smoothly!
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