Verifying your Google Business Profile (GBP) is crucial for visibility and customer trust. This guide covers the verification process, methods, and the importance of verification. For more techniques and troubleshooting tips, join our GBP course.
Why Verifying And Claiming Your Business Is Important
Verifying your business on Google enhances visibility, increasing your chances of appearing in local search results and the coveted local three-pack. It builds trust and credibility with potential customers, showing them your business is legitimate and well-maintained.
Step 1: Sign in to Google Business Profile
Go to www.google.com/business to sign in.
Step 2: Click Verify now
If you have multiple Google Business Profile accounts, make sure you choose the correct one.
Step 3: Choose a way to verify
Postcard by Mail is the default verification option. If your business is eligible for other methods, such as phone or email, choose the one you prefer. Fill in the required details.
Double-check to make sure you’ve entered it correctly, then submit the form.
It can take a few days to two weeks for the postcard to arrive.
When you receive your postcard, sign in and click Verify location from the menu. Enter the five-digit verification code from your postcard.
Note: It may take a few weeks for your business listing to appear on Google. While waiting, download the Google Business Profile app so you can manage your account.
Claim Your Business on Google
Do you need to claim an existing Google Business Profile? There are three options:
Option 1: Sign up or log in to your Google Business Profile. Search for your business, and select it. Then follow the steps to confirm that you are the owner.
Option 2: Look up the business listing in Google Search and click Own this business.
If someone has already claimed the business, and you work for the same company, ask them to add you as a user. If you don’t recognize the owner, follow the steps to reclaim your business.
Edit Your Business on Google
Do you need to edit information on your Google Business Profile? Here’s how:
- Sign in to Google Business Profile.
- Open the location you’d like to edit.
- In the menu on the left, click Info.
- Click the pencil icon to make your edits. If you want to remove a section, click the X. When you are finished, click Apply.
Keep in mind that it can take up to 60 days for the edit to appear. There may be some information from other sources that cannot be edited.
If you have multiple locations to manage, you might want to look into managing Google Business Profiles for multi-location businesses.
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is the CEO of Local Service Spotlight, a platform that amplifies the reputations of contractors and local service businesses using the Content Factory process. He is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other brands.
Dennis has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs by partnering with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Through Local Service Spotlight, he teaches the Dollar a Day strategy and Content Factory training to help local service businesses enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring.
Dennis coaches young adult agency owners serving plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians, and believes there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers must be certified.