Google Ads Suspended? There is no disappointment for advertisers on Google that’s more than this. If you just got hit by a Google Ads suspension update, you’re here wondering what went wrong and how you can fix it. This article provides a comprehensive piece on Google Ads suspension, its causes, what not to do, and how to fix one when it happens.
It is important to note that suspensions are almost inevitable but they aren’t the end of the road. We have witnessed many Google Ads account suspensions and helped hundreds of advertisers get back on their feet afterward. This article is a thorough walk-through of the particular issues we have found over the years that causes Google Ads suspensions and how advertisers can fix and avoid them.
Without further ado, let’s delve into the main subject of this article.
Google Ads Suspended? Possible Causes
Google suspends advertisers’ accounts because of violations of the Google Ads policy or its Terms and Conditions. Another scenario where Google suspends an ads account is when it detects an egregious violation. Whether it is a violation of its ads policy, terms and conditions, or an egregious violation, Google sends a notification to the suspended account’s mail.
The hardest part for many who get their Google ads account suspended is discerning the cause of the suspension. We find that many advertisers who come to us with their suspended accounts do not know why they were suspended. Some of them received Google’s mail but are not sure what its content means or how to fix it.
All of these will be discussed going forward but before that, let’s show you how to know your Google ad account is suspended.
How to Know Your Google Ad Account is Suspended
There are two things that happen to indicate that your Google Ads have been suspended: you will no longer be able to run ads and create new content. You won’t be able to create new ad campaigns and your existing campaigns will be stopped when Google suspends your ad account.
Once you encounter these scenarios, the only diagnosis is that you have a suspended account. In our experience, ads account owners stay in the dark about the cause of their suspension but we’ve provided a breakdown of why Google suspends ads accounts.
Why Does Google Suspend Ads Accounts?
Google suspends ad accounts for three major reasons which include violations of its ads policy, its Terms and Conditions, and what it calls an egregious violation. According to Google, they could also suspend ad accounts for other unspecified violations but provide prior information on the violations and how they can be fixed to prevent suspension.
We are going to be breaking down each of the aforementioned causes of Google Ads suspended notifications. Starting with Google Ads Policy violations.
Google Policy for Advertisers
Google’s policy for advertisers is divided into four broad categories. It includes prohibited content, prohibited practices, restricted content and features, and editorial and technical. Each of these ad policies has its demands and Google can be strict on violations.
Prohibited Content
Under prohibited content, Google has specified that it does not tolerate the sale and promotion of counterfeit goods, dangerous products, and services. This particularly applies to affiliate marketers who review products from other brands to get a commission. Once Google spots you as promoting fake products, harmful substances, weapons, explosives, and so on, they will get you kicked out of their platform.
Other aspects of the prohibited content violation include the promotion of illegal software, hacking software, academic cheating exhibits, and attempts to increase ad earnings. Additionally, Google will not tolerate advertisers that encourage violence and promote hatred, intolerance, discrimination, and other negative social vices.
Prohibited Practices
We see a lot of advertisers fall victim to this very policy. One of the items under this policy violation is attempting to circumvent the ad process. Arbitrage, cloaking, and manipulating settings are among the issues under this category that Google frowns at. Misuse of user information, inappropriate data collection practices, and misrepresentation of facts are among the pitfalls for advertisers as touching prohibited practices.
Restricted Content and Features
In our opinion, Google goes off lightly sometimes on this one. But they’re sensitive issues and should not be taken for granted. They include financial services, political content, healthcare, sexual content, gambling, alcohol, and default ads treatment. There are other aspects of this policy violation that includes restrictions on ad format and placing and content made for kids.
Editorial and Technical
Google prioritizes user experiences when it comes to ads display. This is why they will suspend your ad account if they find that the language used in your ad campaign is unprofessional, vague, and misleading. If you use overly generic words or tricky words to lure visitors, Google will detect that and suspend your ad account. You will also have your account suspended when a link points to a different URL other than its actual destination. Imagine having a link pointing to https://googleadssuspended.com/ but instead going to a Facebook page. For technicality, Google has a specific ad format that must be adhered to if your account will be safe from suspensions.
Google Ads Terms and Conditions
It is easy to see why advertisers may fall short and get their ad accounts suspended – they hardly read the Google Ads Terms and Conditions. Not knowing what is contained in the Terms and Conditions page will lead to a violation without your knowledge. We encourage advertisers to take 15-20 minutes of their time and read the 3,000+ words article shared by Google as its Terms and Conditions. That way, you’re sure of what the company expects and how not to violate its rules.
The next policy violation which is the most grievous of all three is the egregious violation.
What is an Egregious Violation?
The concept of an egregious violation is one that Google considers too illegal and severe to be reviewed any further before an ad account is suspended. An egregious violation poses a major risk to users and Google’s digital advertising network and the platform will waste no time suspending an account that commits this violation without prior notification.
When an egregious violation is reported, it shows that an advertiser’s activities as a whole do not adhere to Google Ads policy or that one violation was so egregious that they could not risk exposing users in the future. Because severe violations will result in immediate account suspensions, upon detection, and without prior notification, Google restricts account suspensions to circumstances in which taking such action is the only effective option to end illegal behavior and/or serious user harm.
Having an egregious violation is really the end of the road for the suspended Google ad account. There is no going back from there. Several supposed experts have claimed to be able to recover a suspended Google ad account after it was slammed with an egregious violation notification but there has been no evidence to back up most of their claims.
These strict Google policies beg the question – how does Google detect ad policy violations? Since there are millions of advertisers on the Google ads platform, how is Google able to find ad accounts that violate their policy and how do they tell if an ad is violating a policy accurately?
How Google Detects Ads Policy Violations
It is quintessential to know how Google detects ad policy violations. The company has established a set of protocols to give advertisers insight into how they find and verify ad violations. They may not be accurate sometimes which is why there is a provision for an appeal. Nonetheless, fairness is one core of their fabric that cannot be denied.
Google uses human and automated evaluations to detect violations of its ad policy. What this implies is their automated bots help them to review and identify violations across their advertisers’ network and when a violation is spotted, a human evaluation is conducted before Google decides to suspend an account. According to Google, they review information that is contained in the ad displayed, an advertiser’s account, regulations, rules, user complaints, consumer reviews, and a variety of other sources.
What NOT To Do When a Google Ad Account is Suspended?
When a Google ad account gets suspended, we see many advertisers panicking. In their panic, they venture into things and begin to take actions that in most cases are detrimental to their recovery. The truth is, a suspended account can be recovered so long it is not an egregious violation. However, your chances of getting a suspended account can be hampered or boosted with certain actions and inactions.
If you are going to recover an account that wasn’t suspended on egregious violation claims, it is quintessential to know what not to do. I am going to walk you through a list of steps you should not take when trying to recover a suspended ad account.
- Assuming you’re not violating any policy or T&C
Many advertisers often claim they did nothing wrong to get their accounts suspended believing that Google is one evil taskmaster that wants to limit their profit making. This assumption is usually the genesis of many wrong moves after suspension. Do not assume that you are being treated unfairly when Google suspends your account. Instead try and find out the possible reasons why your account has been suspended.
- Appealing immediately
Google provides an appeal request when your violation is not egregious. Another pitfall for advertisers who just got their ad account suspended is the move to appeal immediately they get the suspension notification. Outrightly appealing for a review of the suspension without knowing why you were suspended or how to fix the reason behind your suspension is a walk in futility. Don’t do it.
- Creating a second account
This is usually the easy way out in the minds of many advertisers. Why cry over spilled milk when I can go to the grocery store and get more milk? Well, this idea doesn’t sit well with Google. They frown at the sight of a second account from the same advertiser who just got suspended. Once Google detects a second account from a recently suspended advertiser, they will permanently ban him or her. Instead of creating a second account, appeal for a review.
- Act professionally
When you submit your appeal, do not sound like you’re challenging the discussion. An appeal is not a challenge. You may want to look up the meaning of both words. Google owns the platform and they are doing you a favor allowing you to advertise through their platform and make income. If they want to stop any of that, they might as well do so without any problems. However, they’ve made room for an appeal which means, you can have them review their discussion to suspend your ad account and if you meet their demands, they will resume showing your ads again.
- Never submit more than one appeal
This is a general rule when submitting appeals and tickets – never submit more than one appeal. It is understandable that you can be tempted to expedite action on the suspension of your ad account by submitting many appeals. That’s not how it works. You wouldn’t be solving the problem if you do. Chances are that you could be worsening your case by doing so.
Now to the main part of this article.
How to Fix Google Ads Suspended Account?
Having understood what not to do when your Google ad account gets suspended, here’s what you should do to fix a suspended account:
- Find out what violation occurred
The best way to fix a problem or proffer a solution is to find out what caused it. In fixing a suspended Google ad account, the first place to check is your mailbox. Google sends policy violation notifications to the ad account’s mail and if you can discover what policy you violated, then you’re one step to solving the problem.
- Fix the issues found
This is why we listed and explained all the ad policies that advertisers may violate. One good thing about Google ad policy violations is that they are easy to understand and fix. If it’s a content issue, remove the prohibited content and write better content. For editorial and technical requirements, make sure the ad’s text doesn’t contain misleading words and you are using the specified ad format.
If you encounter difficulties, you can speak with an expert or we could help you fix these issues and save you the stress. Other resources you may want to consult include Facebook groups, Sub-reddits, Quora, or Google Search Liason on Twitter.
Payment issues can also lead to suspended accounts. Some ad accounts may be suspended because the payment details provided were invalid. You can provide new payment details. Another way to fix payment issues is to consult with your bank if there are restrictions or regulations that could prevent payment.
- Check for and fix malware issues
The presence of malicious software and other malware-related issues on your site can lead to a ban. Detecting malware on your website or app can be difficult except with a powerful malware detector. MalCare comes as a readily recommended tool to check for malicious software that could have led to the suspension of your ad account.
After detecting and fixing the malware issues on your website, you should clear your WordPress cache and other browser caches before submitting an appeal.
How to Win Your Appeal by Writing Properly
Achieving success with your appeal depends on how well you craft it. There are a few points you should note when writing your appeal that can influence the success of your appeal. Remember, you must have fixed the issues on your ad or website before making your appeal otherwise it wouldn’t be accepted.
- Crosscheck every information provided before submitting your appeal. You wouldn’t want to aggravate the system by misinforming it.
- There is a chance your ad account was banned for more than one reason. Carefully detail every policy violation that led to your suspension
- Provide every attachment necessary to back up your plain on compliance
- Under ‘Summary of the Issue,’ explain every step you’ve taken to fix the issue which proves that you understood the reason for the suspension and have handled it properly
Rather than go through all of these by yourself, we at Google Ads Suspended want to be your companion from the moment you get suspended to full recovery. We have been at this for years and have helped hundreds of advertisers get their ad accounts back. Effectiveness and speedy delivery are the core of our service provision and we can help you gain your account back without hassle.
Final Thoughts…
Once your Google ad account gets suspended, you would not be able to run ads or create a new campaign. However, you can log into your ad account and access areas that are essential to helping you recover your account. If you qualify for a refund, you can request for it and Google will pay you what was in your account before the suspension.
There are 3 main policy violations that have a plethora of sub-policy underneath each one. Those are:
Appealing for a suspended ad account can be a heck of a challenge. Why go through it when we can help you resolve it? Work with the experts and allow us to take the weight of your shoulders.
To get started, visit our pricing page and select the appropriate product related to your suspension or contact us today via +1(720)230-6472.