Explanation of Google Business Profile policy violations and restrictions
What is Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile is a service provided by Google for businesses and stores. By using Google Business Profile, companies and stores can display essential information, links to websites or social media, reviews, images, and more in Google Search and Google Maps search results.
In the desktop version of Google Search, the information is displayed on the right side of the search results, as shown in the following image.
How Google Business Profile appears in web search
Even without using this service, information automatically gathered by Google may be displayed. However, by using the service, you can display or add your desired information. You can also respond to customer reviews.
Google Business Profile is also commonly referred to simply as "Business Profile." It was previously known as "Google My Business."
Official website (English)
Get Listed on Google - Google Business Profile
Official website (Japanese)
Google ビジネス プロフィール - Google にビジネスを掲載
Policy Violations and Penalties
Policies and penalties are regularly updated, and according to a post made by Google Business Profile expert and local SEO consultant Tim Capper on X (formerly Twitter) on September 21, 2024, the policy regarding fake reviews has been newly updated.
Its about to get Real !https://t.co/2kY2T6NXsD pic.twitter.com/CT3plxivjh
— Tim Capper (@GuideTwit) September 13, 2024
The following types of content are prohibited or restricted on Google Business Profile:
- Deceptive content & behavior
- Fake engagement
- Impersonation
- Misinformation
- Misrepresentation
- Inappropriate content & behavior
- Harassment
- Hate speech
- Offensive content
- Personal information
- Obscenity & profanity
- Sexually explicit content
- Adult-themed content
- Violence & gore
- Restricted content
- Dangerous content
- Illegal content
- Child safety
- Terrorist content
- Off-topic
- Advertising & solicitation
- Unclear and Repetitive Content
- Defacement & Mischief
Google warns that violations of these policies may result in penalties, ranging from temporary suspension of account privileges to account termination or feature restrictions.
Among the prohibited or restricted content, violating the policy on "fake engagement" may result in the removal of content from Google Business Profile or restrictions on the service features, as stated on the official page.
I was surprised to get to know that it is also not allowed that content posted in exchange for incentives, such as discounts.
This means that campaigns such as "Post a review and get a coupon" are not allowed. I think we need to keep this mind.
Here is a quote from the official page:
Contributions to Google Maps should reflect a genuine experience at a place or business. Fake engagement is not allowed and will be removed.
This includes:
- Content that is not based on a real experience and does not accurately represent the location or product in question.
- Content that has been posted due to an incentive offered by a business - such as payment, discounts, free goods and/or services.
- This includes content posted following requests for revision or removal of a negative review in exchange for an incentive.
- Content that has been posted from multiple accounts to manipulate a place’s rating.
- Content that has been posted using an emulator or other device tampering service, modified operating system, or other method to mimic genuine engagement, manipulate sensor data or results, or otherwise thwart or confuse normal operations.
We do not allow merchants to:
- Solicit or encourage the posting of content that does not represent a genuine experience.
- Offer incentives – such as payment, discounts, free goods and/or services - in exchange for posting any review or revision or removal of a negative review.
- Discourage or prohibit negative reviews, or selectively solicit positive reviews from customers
- Post content on a competitor’s place to undermine that business’ or product’s reputation.
We do allow merchants to:
- Solicit or encourage the posting of content that does represent a genuine experience, without offering incentives to do so.
Source : Prohibited & restricted content - Maps User Contributed Content Policy Help (https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114?sjid=10466652058023321420-AP&hl=en#zippy=%2Cfake-engagement)
If you violate the policy regarding "fake engagement" shown above, you may receive the following restrictions, in addition to the removal of reviews:
- Business Profile will not be able to receive new reviews or ratings for set period of time
- Business Profile’s existing reviews or ratings will be unpublished for set period of time
- Business Profile will display a warning to let consumers know that fake reviews were removed
If you violate the policy, you will be notified by email.
For more details, please refer to Google's official page.
Official page (English)
- Business Profile restrictions for policy violations - Google Business Profile Help
- Prohibited & restricted content - Maps User Contributed Content Policy Help
Official page (Japanese)
- ポリシー違反によるビジネス プロフィールの制限 - Google ビジネス プロフィール ヘルプ
- 禁止および制限されているコンテンツ - マップユーザーの投稿コンテンツに関するポリシー ヘルプ
