Google Just Got Tougher on Rule Breakers
- Colleen Brabender
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
Google has quietly raised the stakes for businesses that don't play by the rules. If your Google Business Profile gets restricted and you keep repeating the same violations, Google can now hand out even tougher penalties, making it much harder to get your profile back in good standing. Think of it like speeding through a school zone: the first ticket hurts, but the second one is a whole different conversation.
The tricky part is that many business owners don't even realize they're breaking the rules because some of the most common mistakes seem completely harmless. So this week, let's cover three of the biggest offenders we see every day so you can keep your profile safe and ranking where it belongs.
The Easiest Mistakes to Make on Your GBP:
Changing Core Business Info: Google views your business name, address, website, phone number and primary category as foundational business information that shouldn’t change without a good reason. Only update these fields when your business has actually changed, not because you're trying to outsmart Google's algorithm.
Adding Your Phone Number in Posts: Google considers it “phone stuffing” when you add your phone number to your posts. Your phone number is already listed on your GBP, so let your profile do its job and use posts to highlight offers, updates, or helpful information.
Buying Fake Reviews: Buying reviews might seem like a shortcut, but it's one of the fastest ways to earn a restriction or even worse. Google is getting much better at spotting fake review patterns and placing warning labels on profiles that have been caught red handed. Recovering from that headache is far more expensive than earning reviews the right way.
The good news is that avoiding these issues is actually pretty simple once you know what Google is looking for. A little patience and a healthy respect for the rules will save you from a lot of unnecessary stress (and support tickets). Remember, Google wants authentic business information and real activity, not businesses trying to take shortcuts to game the system. Follow Google’s guidelines and our optimization advice, and your profile will be ranking at the top of Google Maps in no time!
If keeping up with all the work on your GBP feels like another full-time job, that's exactly what we built MWW GBP for. MWW GBP automatically optimizes your GBP the right way so you don't have to think about it.
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