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Totally lost when it comes to closing a deal? Read this and become an expert!

Last Updated: October 14, 2010

At Prospect Genius, we work with hundreds of small businesses and have a front-row view of their advertising and deal-closing techniques. That puts us in the pretty unique position of being able to see what actually works and what isn’t terribly effective… I thought it might be helpful to share some tips and tricks that may help you close more business deals, allowing you to learn from the experiences of other local companies just like yours. Keep reading to find out how simple steps can help your company get ahead!
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
As a business owner, you may already know that adding pictures and images to your advertising can be quite helpful, but did you realize that the types of photos you use can make a huge difference? While photos of products are better than nothing, using images that include you and your staff are actually more effective. That’s because when a potential customer can see a picture of the person who will be performing services in their home, they are subconsciously put at ease and feel more secure in calling the business to set up an appointment. And if the staff members in your photo are smiling, even better! Smiling, happy employees convey to your customers that you’re a friendly, happy, wonderful company to do business with. Using photos of smiling professionals in your advertising, particularly online, can help you convert more potential customers into satisfied, paying clients.
Customer Reviews
But just because you have some great “people pictures” on your website doesn’t mean you’ll automatically end up with more business. Another important aspect of any small business’s Internet presence is customer reviews. Having a number of great reviews on your website can work magic; not having any reviews can actually break the deal for a customer who’s wavering about calling. The simple truth is that when customers search for a plumber, electrician, appliance repair shop, etc., they want to see that other people in the area have previously used your company and have good things to say. Positive reviews make your company look more professional, reputable, and appealing to potential customers.
However, we all know that it can be hard to get clients to fill out reviews for you, even if they were fully satisfied. The PG team has seen a few tricks that can help you collect the reviews you need, though. Try:

  • Offering incentives. Providing a small incentive, such as $5 off or a 5% discount on their next service call, can encourage a customer to take a minute or two to send you an e-mail or fill out a review form.
  • Printing postcards. Postcards with prepaid postage are another great way to get the reviews to come flooding in. Have postcards printed with your address and space for a customer review and then have all of your technicians leave a card at every job site. That makes it super easy for clients to give you a review–if you do part of the work, they’re far more likely to meet you halfway!

Making sure you make the best impression on potential customers with smiling photos and positive customer reviews can go a long way when you’re trying to attract new business to your company and close deals. Take advantage of these easy steps to help your local business get ahead!
And if you’re interested in learning more about local online advertising and how Prospect Genius can help you, just give us a call today or visit our website for additional information.

ScamWatch: Review Extortion Scams Are On the Rise

Last Updated: December 19, 2025

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There’s a troubling new scam making the rounds, and it’s picking up steam fast. Fake 1-star Google reviews are being posted on small business listings, followed by extortion-style emails demanding payment to take them down. Unfortunately, two of our clients (BNP consulting & Lock Works) have already been hit by it.

For small and local businesses that depend on online reviews to build trust and bring in new customers, this kind of scam is more than just annoying, it’s a real threat to your reputation and your bottom line.

So let’s talk about what this scam looks like, how to tell if you’re being targeted, what to do if it happens to you, and how to tell the difference between real help and bad actors just looking to make a quick buck.

What Is a Review Extortion Scam?

Here’s how it usually works:

Someone leaves a 1-star Google review on your business profile. You can’t find any record of this person being a real customer. Then, you get an email or message saying something like:

“If you pay us $500, we’ll take down the 25 one-star reviews we just posted on your GBP.”

It’s straight-up blackmail. And unfortunately, it’s effective, especially when a small business is desperate to protect their hard-earned reputation.

How to Spot a Fake or Scam Review

Some of these review scams are more obvious than others, but here are a few key things to watch for when you’re trying to figure out whether a review is legitimate:

  • Phone numbers in the review: If the review text or profile image includes a phone number, that’s a major red flag. Never call the number, this is just another way to lure you into direct contact.
  • Check the reviewer’s history: If the profile has no other reviews or only one or two, that’s a sign it may be fake. Real reviewers usually have a history of rating other businesses.
  • Look at the name and photo: Does the name sound made up? Is the profile image missing or clearly fake? Generic usernames like “John Doe” are often used by scammers.
  • Cross-check your own records: Look in your CRM, booking system, or customer database. If the reviewer never showed up in your workflow, they probably never interacted with your business.
  • Trust your instincts: If something feels off, it probably is. Scam reviews often use vague or generic language and may follow a similar structure or tone across multiple reviews.

Why Are Small and Local Businesses Being Targeted?

Scammers go after small businesses because they know your reputation matters, and they know you already have more on your plate than hours in the day.

Local businesses often rely heavily on Google reviews to attract new customers. Whether you run a restaurant, a local shop, or offer professional services, those gold stars are often the first thing people see when they search for what you offer.

Just one 1-star review can hurt your ranking or cause customers to look elsewhere. Scammers are counting on that fear and hoping you’ll pay just to make the problem go away.

Google’s Official Guidance: What You Should Do

Because this has become such a common problem, Google now has an official support article that outlines what to do in the case of review extortion: How to report and remove review extortion scams.

Here’s a summary of the steps:

  1. Don’t engage with the scammer
    Never respond directly. It only encourages them.
  2. Flag the review as inappropriate
    In your Google Business Profile, report the review by selecting “Off-topic” or “Spam.”
  3. Use the Business Profile Help
    Head to your Google Business dashboard and get in touch with their support team. You can request a callback or chat with a representative to escalate the issue.
  4. Keep a record
    Take screenshots of the review, any messages you’ve received, and note the dates. This can be helpful if the issue escalates or if additional reviews appear.
  5. Encourage real reviews
    One of the best ways to fight back is to flood your profile with authentic 5-star reviews from real customers.

Constantly working to get those 5-star reviews is your best defensive strategy. It helps you in tons of other ways by driving better rankings and conversions, but it also makes you a harder target. Overcoming 200 5-stars is much harder than burying someone who has only 20.

But What If You Need Help Navigating It?

Yes, you can tackle this mess yourself. Google has a process, and if you’ve got the time and patience to follow it step by step, you can get through it.

Most of the time, our clients see this as high-stakes and time-consuming enough to hand off to a pro. Every day your listing is down or your rating is trashed can cost you real money so this isn’t something most people are willing to play with.

Put it this way: If you had a compound fracture (bone sticking out, blood everywhere) you wouldn’t try to fix it yourself. You’d head straight to the hospital. Same goes here. When your business’s reputation is bleeding out, you want someone who knows how to stop the damage fast and get things back to normal.

Unlike the scammers, we’re not the arsonist pretending to be the firefighter. We’re just here to help clean up the mess. Our Star Saver service was built for situations like this, and it’s been a quick solution to a sticky problem for a lot of clients.

Final Thoughts

Review extortion scams are an unfortunate reality of doing business online today. But you’re not powerless.

With Google now officially acknowledging the problem, it’s more important than ever to stay informed and act quickly when suspicious activity shows up on your listing. Whether you handle it yourself or work with a trusted partner, the most important thing is to protect your reputation without giving in to threats.

Need a hand? We’re here for you, because you shouldn’t have to fight scammers, or Google’s policies, alone.

 

 

 

Review Extortion Scam FAQs


A review extortion scam happens when fake 1‑star reviews are posted on your Google Business Profile and you receive a demand to pay money to have those reviews removed, which is essentially blackmail targeting your reputation.


To spot a fake or scam review, look for phone numbers in the review text, a lack of reviewer history, generic or fake profile images, and check your own customer records. Scam reviews usually have vague or similar wording across multiple accounts.


Scammers target small and local businesses because their online reputation heavily influences customer decisions and search rankings, making these businesses more likely to fear negative reviews and consider paying to remove them.


Do not engage with the scammer. Instead, flag the review as inappropriate on your Google Business Profile, contact Google Business support for help, and save screenshots and details of all correspondence.


Encouraging authentic 5‑star reviews from genuine customers strengthens your overall rating, making your business a harder target for scammers using fake negative reviews.


Yes, you can work with reputation management professionals who specialize in navigating review removal and Google Business Profile issues to quickly stop damage and restore your ratings.

2025 Changed the Game. If You’re Feeling A Little Behind, This Checklist Will Get You Caught Up Fast

Last Updated: December 8, 2025

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2025 was one for the books. Especially for small business owners, things shifted fast and it caught a lot of folks off guard. AI got smarter, customers got pickier, and the way people find (and choose) you changed practically overnight.

Before you shut the shop for the holidays, here’s the no-BS checklist of what actually mattered in 2025… and what you need to fix right now if you want 2026 to be your best year yet.

AI Chatbots Are Stealing Searches, and You’re Probably Not in Them Yet

People aren’t just Googling “plumber near me” anymore. They’re opening ChatGPT, Grok, or Perplexity and asking:

“Who’s a reliable, fairly priced plumber in Tulsa that shows up on time?”

Why? Because when you ask Google, you get a list. Then you have to click around, read reviews, and figure out who’s both affordable and will do the job right.

When you ask ChatGPT the same question, it reads the reviews for you, compares the info, and gives you a direct answer, in seconds. It saves time and skips the guesswork. That’s why so many people are skipping Google and heading straight to AI tools.

But, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Since the bot gives so few names, space is ultra-limited. No ten blue links. No map pack. Just an answer. That leaves just one, or maybe a few spots for you to show up… so the competition is now fierce, and the losers are all but invisible.

By late 2025, AI chatbot usage grew 84% year-over-year. While these tools still handle under 5% of all local discovery, that number is rising very, very fast. Importantly, the quality of those leads is super high so these are the leads that you’re most likely to book. Since they pull from your reviews, listings, and website content to decide who gets recommended, all your SEO efforts are now even more important.

Checklist:

  • Pull up ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity and ask them who they recommend in your city. Today.
  • If you’re not showing up, your AI optimization (the new SEO) needs work.

If you’re ready to solve this problem, you don’t have to figure it out on your own… we’re here to help. We have multiple options and we’re happy to discuss them all.

AI Search Exploded: Google Overviews, Bing Copilot, and More

Google’s AI Overviews showed up in around 45% of U.S. search results by mid-2025. Microsoft’s Copilot gave Bing its first real momentum in years. These AI layers now decide which businesses show up, based on structured data, quality content, and strong reviews.

Checklist:

  • Have you claimed and optimized your Google Business Profile with services and photos?
  • Are you using schema markup so AI tools understand your business at a glance?

Voice Search Is Here, And It Loves Long-Tail Questions

An estimated 52% of all local searches in 2025 were voice-driven. That’s someone talking to Siri, Alexa, ChatGPT, Grok, etc. like they’re talking to a buddy:

“Who fixes water heaters in Broken Arrow on weekends?”
“Find me an emergency electrician open right now.”

These are long, conversational questions (long-tail), and AI tools favor websites that answer them clearly.

Checklist:

  • Are you publishing at least one blog post or new service page per month that answers a real customer question?
    • We get that this is a pain, but we can help you. Many, many businesses like yours outsource this to us with our Social Stream service.
  • Do your pages use spoken-language headings and FAQs like “How much does it cost to replace an HVAC system in 2025?”

Blogging is no longer fluff. It’s how you get found in voice and AI search.

Local Reviews Are the #1 Trust Signal for Humans AND Machines

AI tools pull recent, detailed, high-star reviews to choose who they recommend. Even a small bump in 5-star reviews can move you from invisible to top result in a local AI response.

Checklist:

  • Are you asking every happy customer for a review using a simple text template or QR code?
  • Are your reviews spread across Google, Yelp, Facebook, Angi, and Nextdoor?
  • Are you encouraging customers to mention the service and town in their review?
  • Are you replying to reviews with a thank-you that includes the service and location?

Citations & Listings Are Still the Foundation

AI tools and search engines rely on your Name, Address, and Phone (NAP) data to validate your business. Inconsistent info across 50+ directories leads to lost visibility, or worse, confused AI bots skipping your business entirely.

Checklist:

  • Manually check your top citations (or use a tool) but remember that most “free audit” tools will exaggerate the problem to sell you something. Free = sales pitch.
  • Get listed on niche directories like Angi, HomeAdvisor, Houzz, and Thumbtack.
  • Use a turn-key service like our Directory Dominator to get tons of high-quality listings, and to protect those listings from getting hijacked or changed without your consent.

Using AI on the Job Isn’t Fancy, It’s Just Smart

You don’t need to be a tech wizard to use AI. Some of the busiest, most profitable contractors we work with are using AI tools every day to save time, book more jobs, and stop working late nights just to catch up on paperwork.

Here’s how real home service pros used AI in 2025:

  • Typing a quick customer message into an AI tool and getting a polished, professional reply back in seconds
  • Snapping a photo of a broken unit and using AI to help write the estimate
  • Getting help writing a solid quote or service description, even if spelling and grammar aren’t your thing
  • Auto-generating Facebook or Google post ideas so your page doesn’t look dead
  • Organizing your week with AI-generated checklists, reminders, and follow-up messages
  • Creating a dispassionate, savvy reply to a negative review

Checklist:

  • Have you tested an AI tool to help with quotes, emails, or social media posts?
  • Have you started using any AI-powered tools to cut down your admin time by 5-10 hours a week?

You’re not replacing yourself. You’re just getting a digital helper that doesn’t need lunch breaks or overtime.

Ads Got More Expensive – But Smarter Targeting Saved the Day

In 2025, Google Ads CPCs rose by about 13% for home services, and Facebook lead costs increased 20-25% in many markets. But some owners got even better results by narrowing targeting and letting AI handle creative testing.

Checklist:

  • When’s the last time you audited your campaigns or tested something new?
  • Are you using Google’s “Performance Max” or Meta’s “Advantage+” campaigns yet?
  • Are your ads written in a way that feels human, local, and real?

Mobile-First Is Non-Negotiable

Roughly 78% of local mobile searches result in a purchase within 24 hours. If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, or the “Call Now” button is too small, you’re losing leads daily.

Checklist:

  • Test your site using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and PageSpeed Insights.
  • Make sure your call and text buttons work on every page with one tap.

Build a Brand, Not Just a Business

In a world full of white vans and generic websites, brand personality wins. Customers remember friendly faces, great logos, and helpful social content.

Checklist:

  • Does your brand look consistent across your website, trucks, shirts, and social pages?
  • Are you posting before/afters, team spotlights, and customer thank-yous at least weekly?

The Bottom Line: AI Isn’t Replacing You – It’s Just Choosing Who Gets the Call

If you swing a hammer, fix busted HVAC units, rewire panels, or crawl under sinks, your job is safe. Your ability to get inbound leads, however, is not. That’s because AI is already deciding which business shows up when a customer says, “Hey ChatGPT, who should I call?”

If you’re not showing up in those answers, you’re not even in the running. That’s the shift. Not robots taking your tools, just smart tech changing how customers pick who gets the job.

You’re not behind… yet. But you’ve got to move. So save this checklist. Knock it out during the slower days/weeks, or hand it off to someone who knows how to do it right.

And if you want help getting it done faster? That’s where we come in. Our AI Quickstart Package gets your business ready for Google, voice search, AI chatbots, and all the changes that 2026 is about to bring. No fluff, no hype, just more jobs, better leads, and less guessing.

Let’s make 2026 your busiest, most profitable year yet.

Now go tighten up what 2025 just exposed.

 

 

 

2026-Ready FAQs


AI optimization refers to structuring your online presence — your website content, business listings, reviews, and metadata — so that AI tools (like ChatGPT, Bing Copilot, or AI‑powered voice assistants) can easily understand and surface your business when someone asks for a service. In 2025, AI chatbots and voice search became major ways people find local businesses. For home service providers (plumbers, electricians, HVAC, etc.), AI optimization is now critical to stay competitive and visible in these emerging discovery channels.


First, claim and fully optimize your business listing (e.g. your Google Business Profile) with accurate services, photos, and complete Name/Address/Phone (NAP) info. Use structured data (schema markup) on your website so AI tools know exactly what services you offer. Publish regular content or service pages (ideally monthly) using conversational, long‑tail phrases (e.g. “Who fixes water heaters on weekends in [Your City]?”). Also, test by asking tools like ChatGPT, Grok, or Perplexity for a provider in your city — if your business doesn’t show up, it means AI optimization needs work.


Online reviews are now the #1 trust signal for both humans and AI tools. AI chatbots pull recent, detailed, high‑star reviews to decide which businesses to recommend. Even a modest increase in 5‑star reviews — across platforms like Google, Yelp, Facebook, Angi, or Nextdoor — can move a business from invisible to top result. Encouraging customers to mention the service type and town in their review, and responding with a thank-you that includes those details, helps AI understand your relevance and trustworthiness.


Citations — consistent Name, Address, and Phone (NAP) listings across many directories — remain foundational. AI tools and search engines rely on that data to validate a business’s legitimacy and location. If your NAP is inconsistent across 50+ directories, AI bots may skip your business entirely. That’s why listing on niche and industry‑specific directories (e.g. Angi, HomeAdvisor, Houzz, Thumbtack) is still important. Regular audits and maintenance of these listings help protect visibility and prevent listing hijacks or outdated info.


In 2025, roughly 78% of local mobile searches resulted in a purchase within 24 hours. If your website is slow (takes more than 3 seconds to load) or if call/text buttons are hard to tap, you’re likely losing leads daily. Many potential customers find you on their phone and call immediately — so your site must be mobile‑optimized, load quickly, and make it effortless to contact you. Using tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and PageSpeed Insights helps ensure your site meets modern user expectations.


In 2025, cost-per-clicks (CPCs) on platforms like Google Ads increased by about 13% for home services, and lead costs on platforms such as Facebook rose by roughly 20–25% in many markets. However, advertisers who narrowed their targeting and leveraged AI-powered tools for creative testing managed to get better results. Adopting smarter targeting, using platforms’ new AI-driven campaign types (e.g. Performance Max on Google, or Advantage+ on Meta), and writing ads that feel human, local, and real — rather than generic or overly salesy — are effective ways to control costs and attract quality leads.

Don’t Let AI Agents Book Your Competitors’ Jobs Before Yours

Last Updated: October 7, 2025

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AI Is Already Changing How Customers Find You, Agents Are Next

ChatGPT, Gemni, and other AI tools are already helping your customers find and select service-providers. As we’ve previously discussed, these AI tools are not just writing emails and spitting out dinner recipes. They’re researching options, comparing reviews, and suggesting the top 1-5 best matches to the user (Sorry, no more top-10 game).

Soon, the user will no longer need to be involved. That’s because of what’s called “AI agents.” In short, it means a user just has to make his/her wishes known, and the AI will find, book, and pay for the desired service…all by itself!  We’re not talking about 2035. This is going to start affecting you as soon as next year!

Gartner Inc. predicts that:

  • Search engine volume will drop 25% by 2026
  • 40% of enterprise apps will integrate task-specific AI agents by 2026.
  • 15% of all routine business decisions will be autonomously made by AI agents by 2028.
  • 50% of all business decisions will be AI-augmented or automated by 2027.

If your business isn’t AI-ready, you’re about to be invisible. But there’s a low-cost, low-effort way to avoid being slammed by this tidal wave…’

How AI Tools Work Now, and What Agents Will Demand

Today, customers ask AI like ChatGPT or Grok, “Find me a plumber in Dallas.” It scans:

  • Reviews: High ratings (4.5+ stars, 50+ recent) win trust. Stale or fake reviews? You’re out.
  • Google Business Profile (GBP): Your digital signpost. Missing hours or photos? AI ignores you.
  • Website Structure: Vague “services” page? AI can’t parse it. Clear pages like “Emergency Plumbing in Dallas” with schema markup? You’re in.
  • Trust Signals: FAQs answering “Are you licensed?” or “How fast can you fix my AC?” build credibility.

When agents arrive (likely next year), they’ll lean harder on these signals, prioritizing structured data and trust. Early adopters (e.g., a Seattle electrician with service-specific pages) report 35% more AI-driven leads already.

It’s important to remember that AI Agents don’t care about non-quantifiable, real-world things like reputation and word-of-mouth. They don’t have the discernment and wisdom of a human so they rely on things that can be calculated. They care only about the signals, the hard numbers, that it’s trained to calculate a decision on. Your hard-earned reputation in the community, built over decades, will be meaningless to the numbers-driven machine.

So how do you prepare? Scratch that. How do you prepare WITHOUT putting more on your plate?

Your 5-Step Plan to Win Now and Later

You’re slammed, so here’s the fast track to prep for AI tools today and agents tomorrow. Build on what you’re already doing… no overhaul needed.

  1. Stack Reviews Relentlessly: After every job, ask clients to rate you on Google. Aim for 10/week.
    Check out this past article for ideas.
  2. Own Your GBP: Claim it (free). Update services, add 10+ weekly photos, answer all reviews in 24 hours. Post offers there too.
    Easy Mode: Get your marketing company to help with this. They can likely take most of the load off your plate.
  3. Make Your Site AI-Friendly: One page per service, per location (e.g., “Roof Repair in Austin”). Use clear headings, bullets, and schema.org markup.
    Easy Mode: We do this stuff all day, every day. We’ll take care of it so you can get back to doing actual work.
  4. Use Prospect Genius’s AI QuickStart: Built for busy business owners. It delivers:
    • LLMs.txt File: This is the AI version of the old site map. It’s just a special file that tells AI bots where to find the important stuff on your site. It helps make sure you’re actually showing up in AI search results and not getting skipped over.
    • AI-Optimized FAQ Page: We’ll give you a pre-written page with the exact questions AI looks for. Plus, it’s got the techie coding (schema) baked in to make AI trust and understand it better.

    The Result? As we proved last week, our clients are already getting hundreds of page views, every month, from these AI tools. Better still, none of them had to lift a finger because we handled it all.

  5. Test Your Visibility: Ask ChatGPT, “Recommend a [your service] in [your town].” Not listed? Time to get to work or call in the experts!

The Stakes: Leads Today, Survival Tomorrow

AI tools are already steering customers. Agents will soon close the deal, picking pros for them. Nail these steps to dominate both. Prospect Genius’ AI QuickStart can be your quick and easy edge.

Act now! When AI agents start booking, will they call you, or someone else?

 

 

AI Optimization & AI Agent Readiness FAQs


AI tools already research options, compare reviews, and present the top 1–5 local service providers instead of a long top-10 list. AI agents will go further by finding, booking, and paying for services with minimal user input. Because AI agents rely on quantifiable trust signals—not word-of-mouth—local service businesses need strong reviews, a complete Google Business Profile, clearly structured service pages with schema, and robust FAQs to win the AI shortlists.


AI Optimization QuickStart is a low-effort package for busy local service businesses. It implements an LLMs.txt file to guide AI crawlers, builds an AI-optimized FAQ page with embedded schema that answers the exact questions AI tools look for, and aligns your site structure and trust signals. Clients are already seeing hundreds of AI-driven page views per month without adding work to their plates.


LLMs.txt is the AI-era equivalent of a sitemap for language models. It points AI crawlers to your most important pages—service pages, locations, pricing, FAQs, licenses—so AI systems can reliably parse, trust, and surface your business in conversational search and in automated AI agent workflows.


Claim and fully complete Google Business Profile, list every service, maintain accurate hours, add 10+ fresh photos weekly, respond to all reviews within 24 hours, and post offers consistently. These steps strengthen the structured, machine-readable signals AI tools and AI agents use to select providers.


Aim to stack reviews relentlessly—target roughly 10 new Google reviews per week where possible. High average ratings (4.5+), recency, and authenticity are critical. Stale, sparse, or suspect reviews weaken trust signals and can remove your business from AI-generated shortlists.


Create one page per service per location (e.g., “Emergency Plumbing in Dallas” or “Roof Repair in Austin”), use clear headings and bullet points, add schema.org markup for Service, LocalBusiness, and FAQ, and publish concise answers to licensing, response time, pricing, and guarantees. This structure lets AI tools parse offerings and match you confidently to nearby searches.

So Your Google Business Profile Is Suspended… Now What?

Last Updated: September 15, 2025

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You wake up, grab your morning coffee, check your phone, and boom. Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is suspended. No warning. No explanation. Just a notification saying you’re off the map (literally). If you’re like most small business owners, you know how devastating this can be. Your visibility disappears overnight. No local search results. No AI-powered recommendations. No calls.

It’s happening more and more in 2025, even to long-established profiles. Why? Algorithm changes, evolving policy enforcement, and good old-fashioned random reviews are all part of the game now. Whether you’ve been online 10 years or 10 months, nobody is immune.

But don’t panic. If you’re working with a marketing company, here’s what to expect, what you’ll need, and how to navigate the process without losing your mind, or your business.

The Reinstatement Process: What to Expect

Getting your profile back isn’t fast or easy, but it is possible. Here’s how it usually goes:

Step 1: Notification and Initial Assessment
You’ll get an email from Google saying your profile has been suspended. The first thing to do? Forward that email to your marketing company. They’ll assess it, look for errors, and start diagnosing the problem.

Step 2: Appeal Submission
You hand over all the necessary documents and evidence to your marketing company (photos, business licenses, utility bills, storefront images, etc.) and they submit an appeal on your behalf. While Google has relaxed its hard limit of two appeals, what they’ve replaced it with isn’t exactly an improvement. Now, instead of flat-out rejections, they often respond with long stretches of silence or vague delays. So even though there’s technically no fixed cap on the number of appeals, they limit you in a practical sense by slow-walking anything beyond the first attempt. That’s why it’s still critical to get it right the first time.

Step 3: Review Period
Now we wait. Google typically responds within 3 to 7 business days, but delays are common. Submitting more than once? That won’t speed things up. In fact, it actually makes it worse. Google may interpret it as spammy behavior and push your case to the bottom of the pile.

Step 4: Resolution
At this stage, Google will either reinstate the profile, deny the appeal, or request additional information. In some cases, they may require reverification. The outcome depends entirely on Google’s internal review.

Tips to Make the Process Smoother

Want to avoid extra stress and delays? Here’s how you can help the process move more smoothly:

1. Be Prepared in Advance
Have a backup folder with your business license, signage photos, utility bills, and screenshots of your GBP. This helps your marketing company jump into action quickly.

2. Communicate Promptly
Most delays happen because business owners don’t get information back to their marketing company in time. If Google asks for more documents, we’re on a clock, and missing that deadline could restart the whole process.

3. Don’t Guess
Avoid creating duplicate listings or submitting appeals without fixing the real problem. This is where experience matters. Your marketing company knows how to identify the cause of suspension and how to resolve it properly. Guesswork eats up your two chances.

4. Understand the Hidden Rules
Some GBP suspensions happen due to rules Google doesn’t publicly list. We’ve covered this in a previous blog post. A good marketing company will know how to navigate both the written and unwritten rules.

5. Be Patient
Of course, this is not what you want to hear. It’s not even fair. But that doesn’t make it untrue. Yes, it’s frustrating. Yes, it’s costing you money. But there is literally nothing you can do to speed Google along. No amount of follow-up emails will get you reinstated faster. Google moves on its own timeline and there’s nothing the rest of us can do about it.

Who Does What: Google vs. Your Marketing Company

This is where we see the most confusion. Let’s be clear: your marketing company doesn’t have a magic button to get your listing reinstated. What they do have is knowledge, experience, and strategy. In a lot of ways, they’re like your lawyer in front of the judge.

You’re paying them for their time, insight, and expertise. It’s their job to build your case, submit it the right way, and give you the best chance at success. But just like in court, the outcome isn’t up to the lawyer, it’s up to the judge. And in this case, the judge is Google.

At Prospect Genius, we’ve worked on hundreds of these cases over the years and have maintained a success rate of over 95%. That means in the vast majority of cases, we’re able to get suspended profiles reinstated.

That said, track record matters, but it’s not predictive. Every case is different. Just because we’ve succeeded before doesn’t guarantee that the next case won’t fall into the unfortunate <5% that get denied. What you can count on is that we’ll give you the strongest possible appeal and guide you through the process from start to finish.

What Google Controls:

  • Initiating the suspension
  • Reviewing appeals and setting all timelines
  • Deciding the final outcome
  • Updating and enforcing policies

What Your Marketing Company Controls:

  • Diagnosing the cause of suspension
  • Crafting the appeal with accurate documentation
  • Communicating directly with you throughout the process
  • Correcting non-compliant elements of your profile
  • Advising on best practices to avoid future suspensions

What You Need to Provide

To build a strong appeal, your marketing team will need the following from you:

Essential Documents:

  • Business license or registration
  • Proof of address (utility bill, lease agreement)
  • Photos of your storefront or signage (if applicable)

Account Access:

  • Google Business Profile login credentials or shared access

Historical Data:

  • Screenshots of your profile before suspension
  • Past communications from Google
  • Review history and customer interactions

Business Details:
Make sure your business name, address, and phone number match exactly across all materials. “Bob’s Plumbing” and “Bob’s Plumbing LLC” are not the same in Google’s eyes, and inconsistencies like that can lead to suspension.

Pro Tip:
Create a folder with all these materials now, before anything goes wrong. Having everything ready can shave days off the appeal process, and a lot of stress.

Also, double-check that your truck, business cards, website, and legal documents all match the name on your GBP. Consistency matters.

Final Thoughts

Your Google Business Profile is one of your most powerful tools for local visibility. When it’s suspended, the effects are immediate and painful. But with the right approach, and the right team, it can be fixed.

Just remember:

  • Reinstatement is a process, not a switch
  • You’re paying for expert time and strategy, not guaranteed results
  • The better prepared you are, the faster things move
  • Consistency is key across all your business info
  • Patience, unfortunately, is part of the game

Take action today: Audit your GBP. Make sure your NAP (name, address, phone) is accurate and consistent. Pull together your key documents. And make sure you’re working with a marketing partner who knows how to navigate these waters.

Because when the suspension email eventually shows up, and for many businesses, it’s a matter of when, not if, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running.

Ready to rescue your GBP? We’re here to help! You can even sign up online.

Google Business Profile Suspension FAQs


The reinstatement process generally involves: receiving Google’s suspension notification and doing an initial assessment; collecting necessary documents and submitting an appeal with your marketing company; waiting through Google’s review period (usually 3‑7 business days, though delays are common); and getting a resolution: either reinstatement, denial, or request for additional information/reverification.


You should provide: your business license or registration; proof of address (e.g. utility bill, lease agreement); storefront or signage photos, if applicable; historical data such as screenshots of your profile before suspension, past communications from Google, and review history. Ensure your business name, address, and phone number match exactly across all documentation.


Typically, Google responds within 3‑7 business days after an appeal submission. However, delays are common. Multiple appeals do not speed up the process and may slow things down.


Avoid: guessing the reason for suspension or submitting appeals without diagnosing the actual problem; creating duplicate listings or new profiles without resolving the original issue; inconsistency in business name, address, phone number across documents, signage, website, and Google Business Profile; and delaying providing requested information.


A marketing company can diagnose the reason for the suspension, help prepare a strong appeal with documentation and corrections, and ensure compliance. However, Google controls the start of the suspension, appeal review, timelines, and outcome decisions.


Good preparation includes having a folder with essential documents (business license, utility bills, lease, photos of storefront/signage), ensuring consistency in business info across platforms, keeping historical data such as screenshots and review history, and being responsive when your marketing company requests materials or clarification.

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