When Google suspends your account, it means they’ve temporarily or permanently disabled it. Shockingly, last year, Google suspended 12.7 million advertiser accounts, nearly double the previous year’s number.
But they don’t suspend accounts without reason. They’ll send you an email explaining why. There are various reasons why accounts get suspended.
Google decides which accounts to suspend based on factors like breaking Google Ads policies or Terms & Conditions, unusual payment activity, unpaid bills, unauthorized account access, or serious violations like tricking the system or shady business practices.
Google uses both automated systems and manual reviews to find these issues. Depending on how severe it is, they might suspend your account right away or give you at least a week’s notice.
How CDM Helps You Navigate Your Account Suspension?
Expert Assessment and Analysis
Our expert CDM team begins by employing advanced methodologies to conduct a thorough assessment and analysis of your account. We utilize sophisticated tools and techniques to delve deep into your account’s intricacies, uncovering the root causes behind the suspension.
We leave no stone unturned, scrutinizing every aspect of your account to identify underlying issues. From analyzing ad performance metrics to reviewing account activity logs, our experts take a multifaceted approach to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation.
Drawing upon our extensive knowledge of Google’s policies and algorithms, we meticulously examine potential triggers for suspension, including but not limited to:
Circumventing systems through unauthorized account creation or deceptive redirects.
Unacceptable business practices such as false advertising or impersonation.
Allegations of counterfeit goods or trademark violations.
Compliance issues within the Google Merchant Center or failure to verify business operations.
Our dedication to excellence compels us to uncover even the most elusive discrepancies, leaving no detail unnoticed.
With our rigorous assessment process, we equip you with actionable insights and strategic recommendations customized to address the specific challenges your account faces.
Tailored Strategic Action Plan
In the next step, crafting an action plan to swiftly reinstate your account is our priority. We develop a customized strategy tailored to overcome the specific challenges identified in your account suspension.
We focus on addressing the critical issues that led to the suspension, ensuring a targeted and effective approach to resolution. Leveraging our extensive experience and expertise, we create a step-by-step roadmap designed to navigate the complexities of account reinstatement.
Our action plan includes:
Addressing any policy violations or compliance issues identified during the assessment phase to ensure alignment with Google’s advertising policies and guidelines.
Conducting a comprehensive review of your account to identify and rectify any remaining issues that may hinder reinstatement, such as outdated or non-compliant ads.
Crafting a compelling appeal letter that addresses the identified issues, provides evidence of compliance efforts, and outlines steps taken to prevent future violations.
Engaging directly with Google support channels to escalate the appeal process and provide additional context or clarification as needed.
Account Recovery and Reinstatement
Our team continuously monitors the status of your appeal and account. We make the adjustments and optimizations as necessary to improve the likelihood of a successful reinstatement.
Our team remains vigilant and ensures that all compliance issues are promptly addressed and resolved. In the event of any setbacks or additional requests from Google, we adapt our strategy accordingly and refine our approach to meet the evolving requirements.
Our flexible and strategic mindset allows us to navigate through challenges effectively and maximize the chances of a positive outcome.
Throughout the recovery process, we maintain open and transparent communication and keep you informed of any developments or updates. Our detailed reporting ensures that you have full visibility into the progress made and the steps taken to resolve the suspension.
Once your account is successfully reinstated, our support doesn’t end there. We provide guidance and assistance to help you get back on track with your advertising efforts, ensuring a smooth transition back to full functionality
Commonly Flagged Policies Leading to Google Ads Suspension
Google has a variety of policies, but a few are more commonly encountered than others. These are the ones we often address when businesses seek assistance with account suspension problems.
Suspicious Payment Activity
The Suspicious Payment Activity policy of Google Ads is a significant factor leading to account suspension for advertisers. This policy is designed to maintain a fair and secure advertising environment by flagging potentially suspicious behavior related to payment methods or information.
When Google Ads identifies potential fraudulent behavior, it may temporarily suspend ads to protect advertisers from fraud and ensure the security of transactions made through the platform. Additionally, Google Ads may compare billing information provided by advertisers with payment details to detect discrepancies that could indicate unauthorized use of payment methods.
Here are some key insights related to the Suspicious Payment Activity policy:
Irregularities in billing details
Multiple failed payment attempts
Unpaid balance
New Google Ads accounts
Promotional code abuse
Unusual spending hikes
Account technical problems
The good thing to know is that the appeal process for suspended accounts due to suspicious payments has a high success rate, with the majority of issues being resolved after a thorough review and submission of necessary documentation.
Google Ads’ Circumventing Systems policy is designed to prevent advertisers from manipulating or bypassing Google Ads systems, policies, or practices to gain an unfair advantage over others. Violating this policy can result in severe consequences, including account suspension or permanent banning.
Google considers violations of this policy egregious and up to 85% of advertisers may encounter serious difficulties in resolving the issue.
Circumventing Systems involves deliberate attempts to deceive or bypass Google’s advertising systems, policies, or practices. This can include using software or bots to generate clicks, manipulating ad serving to avoid fees, or misrepresenting the origin of traffic.
Several actions can lead to Google Ads account suspension under the Circumventing Systems policy, including:
Using cloaking techniques
Repeatedly breaking policies across accounts
Creating rejected versions of ads or websites
Obscuring explicit material within text, images, or videos
Abusing product features in Google Ads
Circumventing Systems is considered a serious violation by Google Ads, with accounts often suspended without prior warning upon detection.
This policy is often flagged for businesses that engage in unethical or deceptive business practices, such as misleading or false claims, promoting prohibited content, or violating copyright or trademark laws.
The issue of “Unacceptable Business Practices” is a significant concern for Google Ads, as it can lead to account suspension if not addressed promptly.
Some common reasons for account suspension due to unacceptable business practices include:
Misleading or False Information
Impersonation or Brand Association
Deceptive Practices
Dishonest Pricing
Clickbait Ads
Additionally, other practices such as misleading design and unclear relevance can also lead to account suspension.
Google takes a firm stance against unacceptable business practices and expects advertisers to comply with its guidelines to maintain trust and integrity within its advertising ecosystem.
If an account is suspended for unacceptable business practices, Google recommends submitting a new, relevant appeal with updated information to increase the chances of reinstatement. However, spamming the appeal form can worsen the situation.
Google Ads has implemented a Business Operations Verification program to strengthen transparency and security within the advertising ecosystem. This program requires advertisers to undergo a step-by-step verification process to prove the legitimacy of their business operations.
Advertisers are required to provide comprehensive information about their business, including details about their business model, registration information, product or service offerings, business practices, and relationships with advertised brands or third parties.
Google does not accept zipped documents, links to folders, or screenshots of webpages. Documents must be clear, legible, and free from glare or blurred text.
Failure to complete business operations verification by the deadline can lead to the pausing of Google Ads accounts, resulting in ads being unable to serve until successful completion of the program.
If verification fails, Google will notify advertisers via email and in-account prompts, outlining the reasons for failure.
Common reasons include for business operations verification failure are:
Inconsistent or mismatched information, such as organization name, name on government-issued photo ID, or details mentioned in the verification form.
Missing or incomplete documentation required for verification.
Providing unclear or illegible documents.
Failing to adhere to Google’s guidelines for document submission, such as submitting zipped files, links to folders, or screenshots of webpages.
Providing false or misleading information about business operations.
Lack of clarity or transparency regarding business practices or relationships with advertised brands or third parties.
Coordinated Deceptive Practices refer to activities where individuals or entities work together to conceal or misrepresent their identity or other crucial details related to political, social issues, or public concerns.
This type of deceptive behavior involves coordinating with other sites or accounts to manipulate information for personal gain or to mislead users.
Here are some key insights related to these deceptive practices:
Misrepresenting identity or affiliations without consent.
Providing inaccurate business names that do not clearly represent the advertised business.
Making misleading statements or omitting material information about identity, affiliations, or qualifications.
Google takes Coordinated Deceptive Practices very seriously and considers them egregious violations of their policies. They review information from various sources, including ads, websites, and third-party sources, to detect violations.
If found, Google suspends accounts without prior warning. Advertisers can appeal if they believe there was an error, but reinstatement only occurs in compelling circumstances.
According to Google’s policies, a compromised website refers to a site whose code has been manipulated to benefit a third party, often at the expense of the site’s users.
This manipulation can involve actions such as:
Injecting scripts or code that transmit user data without consent
Installing malware on end-user devices
Launching pop-up ads
Redirecting users to other websites
Performing actions with user data without their consent
Google takes this policy seriously and considers it an egregious violation if an advertiser intentionally spreads harmful or unauthorized access-causing software (malware).
Violating this policy can result in the suspension of the advertiser’s Google Ads account without prior warning, and the advertiser may be permanently barred from advertising with Google.
In October 2022, Google updated its policies regarding Malicious or Unwanted Software, splitting it into three separate policies: Malicious software, Compromised sites, and Unwanted software.
Google employs automated processes to detect malicious software, which gather data from various sources to identify potentially harmful content. If Google detects a violation of the unwanted software policy, labeled as “Google Ads disapproved for malicious software,” the affected ad will be temporarily suspended until the issue is resolved.
To prevent malicious or unwanted software from impacting Google ads, it is essential to take proactive measures:
Regularly scan your website for malware or malicious code.
Ensure that your website’s content management system (CMS), plugins, themes, and any third-party software are up to date.
Familiarize yourself with Google Ads policies and ensure that your ad campaigns and landing pages comply with these rules.
Secure your website with HTTPS to encrypt data transmission.
Choose a reputable hosting provider that prioritizes security and provides essential security features to protect your website.
Hear from Clients Who Struggled with Suspended Google Ad Accounts
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Frequently Asked Questions About Google Ads Suspensions
To keep your Google Ads account from getting suspended, follow these steps:
Follow Google’s rules: Make sure your ads and website follow Google’s policies.
Watch for unusual activity: Keep an eye out for any strange changes in your account.
Pay your bills: Keep your billing information updated and pay on time.
Make good ads: Create high-quality ads that don’t mislead people.
Respect others’ work: Don’t use copyrighted material without permission.
Verify your identity: Let Google confirm you are who you say you are.
Get help if you need it: Work with a trusted partner for advice.
Don’t break the rules multiple times: Check your ads often to avoid mistakes.
Respond to Google: If they ask for info, give it to them quickly.
Account suspensions are based on individual violations of Google Ads policies. Each account is evaluated independently, and suspensions are not blanket actions affecting all accounts within the same industry.
If your competitors are not violating policies, their accounts will remain active. It’s important to adhere to Google’s guidelines to maintain account health and avoid suspensions.
Google aims to review account suspension appeals promptly, but the exact timeframe can vary based on the complexity of the case and the volume of appeals.
Typically, Google strives to provide a response within a reasonable timeframe to address the appeal effectively. Advertisers should monitor their email for updates and follow up if necessary.
Yes, hiring a professional service can significantly improve your chances of successfully appealing a Google Ads account suspension. These specialized services possess expert knowledge in Google Ads account management and suspension appeals.
They can help pinpoint the reason for the suspension, construct a persuasive appeal, and offer guidance to avoid future violations. Although not a guarantee, collaborating with experienced professionals increases the likelihood of reinstating your account, making it a worthwhile investment for advertisers facing account suspension issues.
No, there is no set limit on the number of appeals you can submit to Google for a suspended Google Ads account. However, it is not recommended to submit numerous appeals, as Google’s representatives are busy and may not spend much time reviewing each one.
Instead, focus on making a strong case in your initial appeal. If your appeal is denied, you may be eligible to submit another appeal after making the necessary changes. For egregious violations, creating new accounts will also result in suspensions, and suspended advertisers cannot set up or use other accounts.
Get Back on Track with CDM’s Expert Guidance
Regain control of your Google Ads campaigns with CDM’s specialized support. Our experienced team is dedicated to resolving Google Ads suspensions swiftly and effectively, ensuring your advertising efforts continue uninterrupted.
