How to Fix a Suspended Google Ads Account

Sam Jacobs
Paid Search Director

5 min read

02nd May 2023

• Why Does Google Suspend Ads Accounts?

• What Happens When Google Suspends Your Ads Account?

• What Are The Main Policy Violations That Cause Account Suspensions?

• How To Reinstate a Suspended Google Ads Account?

• Things to Avoid After a Google Ads Account Suspension

• What to Do If Your Review Request Got Rejected?

You’re not alone if you’ve found yourself with a suspended Google Ads account. It’s a common issue that can happen for a variety of reasons. However, getting your account back up and running isn’t impossible.

With the right approach and knowledge, you can fix your suspended Google Ads account and start advertising again. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to reinstate your account.

Why Does Google Suspend Ads Accounts?

Google has strict policies to ensure users and advertisers have a safe and enjoyable experience on the platform. The company designed its terms and conditions and ad policies to protect its users and advertisers.

What Happens When Google Suspends Your Ads Account?

If Google suspends your Ads account while you’re running advertising campaigns on Google Ads, it will immediately halt all your active campaigns, ad groups, and ads, causing them to stop running. This can significantly impact your business, especially if you rely heavily on Google Ads for customer acquisition.

What Are The Main Policy Violations That Cause Account Suspensions?

Suspicious Payment Activity

Suspicious payment activity is among the most common reasons for account suspension on many online platforms. This can occur when advertisers attempt to pay for ads using stolen credit cards or other fraudulent means.

Malicious or Dangerous Software

Malicious or dangerous software on a website can be detected by Google’s automated systems or reported by users. If Google detects such software on a website, the account associated with that website may get suspended.

Other policy violations that can cause account suspensions include:

Inappropriate content includes content that promotes violence, hate speech, discrimination, or sexually explicit material.
Misrepresentation includes misrepresenting products or services or falsely claiming to be associated with a particular brand or company.
Copyright infringement includes using copyrighted material without permission or proper attribution.

Business Verification Suspension

Google itself initiates the Business Verification Suspension, unlike other types of suspensions. They will email the business owner requesting that they verify their business, specifying a deadline for completion of the verification process.

The verification process involves confirming details about your business, such as the business name, address, phone number, and website URL.

Misrepresentation

This refers to any attempt to deceive users or misrepresent products or services, false claims, inaccurate information, or fake reviews. Some examples are:

Missing information about accepted payment methods: State clearly on your website the payment methods you accept for your products or services or risk account suspension.
Unclear pricing on product pages: It is essential to clearly state the price of your products or services on your website.
Unsupported claims about products: Credible evidence must support claims about products or services.
Inadequate shipping and return policies: Your website should clearly state your products or services’ shipping and return policies.
Missing contact information: It should also state your contact information, including your phone number and email address.

Counterfeiting

Counterfeiting is making or selling fake products identical or similar to genuine products. Google takes counterfeiting very seriously and has strict policies to protect its users from fraud. If you violate copyright or trademark law, Google can suspend your Ads account.

Violating the Law

One of the most common reasons for account suspension is violating the law, specifically through selling illegal drugs or counterfeit products.

Selling drugs is not only a violation of Google’s policies, it is also illegal. In addition, Google Ads prohibits the promotion of substances that alter mental state for recreational purposes, including illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.

Restricted Business

Google has a list of businesses it considers “restricted” and may not allow ads. Some of these restricted businesses are listed below.

Firearms: Only licensed firearms dealers are allowed to advertise on Google Ads.
Adult Services: Google does not allow ads for adult services, such as prostitution or escort services. Even if the service is legal in your area, Google may still suspend your account if you attempt to advertise it on their platform.
Alcohol: Ads for alcoholic beverages are heavily regulated, and Google has strict guidelines for advertising them. For example, ads must not target underage individuals or promote excessive consumption.
Gambling: Google prohibits ads for online gambling, as well as ads for land-based casinos or sports betting. In addition, only licensed gambling operators may advertise on Google Ads.
Weight Loss: Ads for weight loss products or services are heavily regulated. For example, Google Ads prohibits ads that make false or misleading claims or promote dangerous weight loss practices.
Third-party Technical Support: Google Ads does not allow ads for third-party technical support services. This is to prevent scams and ensure that users receive legitimate support from the manufacturer or authorised repair services.
Addiction Treatment: Google Ads has strict guidelines for advertising addiction treatment services. For example, ads must not make false or misleading claims, and advertisers must be certified by LegitScript.
Financial Services: Google Ads requires advertisers to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. This includes providing accurate and transparent information about their services, fees, and risks.
Assistance with Government Services: Google Ads prohibits ads for services that claim to assist users with government services, such as applying for passports or visas. This is to prevent scams and ensure that users receive legitimate assistance from government agencies.
Authorized Dealers/Resellers: Google Ads requires authorised dealers and resellers to provide proof of authorization before advertising. This ensures that users receive genuine products and services from official sources.

How To Reinstate a Suspended Google Ads Account?

Step 1. Identify the Cause for Google Ads Suspension

The first step is to understand the reason for the suspension. Read the notification carefully to determine which policy you violated. This will help you identify the issue and address it appropriately.

Step 2. Fix the Google AdWords Suspension Issue

Once you have identified the problem, take proactive steps to fix it. This may involve removing malware, cleaning up your landing pages, rectifying mistakes, and ensuring you follow white-hat advertising and SEO practices.

Step 3: Submit a Review Request

After thoroughly cleaning up your website, submit a review request to Google. In your request, explain what happened, the steps you took to correct the issue, and how you resolved any malware issues.

Step 4. How to Prevent Future Google AdWords Account Suspensions

To prevent future suspensions:

Fortify your website against malware with regular backups, firewalls, and malware scanning tools.
Review Google’s content policies to ensure you aren’t violating any rules. Clean up your website if you previously purchased links, hired black hat SEOs, or implemented tactics against Google’s guidelines.
Regularly review Google Ads policy changes and consider consulting with a Google Ads specialist to ensure you stay on the right track.

Things to Avoid After a Google Ads Account Suspension

Here are a few things to avoid after a Google Ads account suspension:

Don’t Submit an Appeal Hastily

When your Google Ads account gets suspended, it can be a frustrating and stressful experience. However, it’s essential not to rush into submitting an appeal.

You want to ensure that your appeal is professional, clear, and concise to have the best chance of getting your account reinstated. Take some time to review your appeal carefully and make sure you haven’t included any emotions that might come across as unprofessional.

Don’t Make Your Appeal Emotional

Despite feeling frustrated or wronged, it is essential to present the facts clearly, concisely, and objectively. Focusing on the facts will allow Google to understand the situation and make an informed decision about the ad account’s suspension. Leaving emotions out makes the appeal more likely to be successful.

Don’t Submit Lots of Appeals

While there is no limit to the number of appeals you can submit, there are better strategies than submitting lots of appeals. For example, if you submit multiple appeals for a previously rejected appeal, you can decrease the likelihood that the administrator will review your appeal next.

Don’t Hire Someone Cheap to Make Your Appeal

When it comes to appealing, hiring someone cheap from Fiverr may not be the best idea. While some legitimate professionals are on the platform, most people offering these services are only looking for side gigs and need more experience to get results.

Remember, investing in a reputable, experienced professional who can increase your chances of a successful appeal is better.

Don’t Get Your Hopes Up — Some Suspensions Are Permanent

While reinstating a suspended account may be possible, this is not always the case. In particular, Google Ads accounts are known for their strict policies, and even legitimate technical errors can lead to permanent suspensions. While it’s worth trying to appeal a suspension, preparing for the worst-case scenario is also important.

What to Do If Your Review Request Got Rejected?

A rejected review request can be disheartening, but it’s important not to give up. To increase your chances of success, you need to find the proper leverage to prove that you deserve to have your account reinstated. Remember that Google’s representatives receive countless appeals daily and may need more time to review your case thoroughly.

If you’re still unsure how to reinstate your suspended ads account, speak to a PPC Agency who might be able to help resolve your problem.

What if I didn’t violate any policies?

Even if you didn’t commit a major violation, you might have unknowingly violated some smaller, less apparent policies. Therefore, it’s essential to read and understand all the policies and guidelines set forth by your organisation or institution to ensure that you remain compliant.

Can I create a second account to fix a Google AdWords account suspension?

Creating a second account to fix a Google AdWords account suspension is not a recommended solution. Google has strict policies regarding multiple accounts, and it is against their terms of service to create a new account to bypass a suspension.
Additionally, this can result in further suspension or even permanent account termination.

Is Google Ads suspension permanent?

If your account gets suspended for violating their policies, Google will manually inspect it, and if they find everything compliant, they will restore it. However, if you repeatedly breach their terms and regulations, they may decide to suspend your account permanently.