6 Easy Ways to Verify Your Google Business Listing

posted byPatrick Chemoul10/12/2020

Haven’t verified your google business listing already?

Believe me, you should!

Because a verified Google business listing is likely to attract more customers online.

Why do You Need to Verify Your Google Business Listing?

Even if you’re not providing online services, verifying your Google business listing can help position you at the top in Google search results.

Don’t know how to verify your business on Google? Hire the #1 SEO services provider, or simply follow the steps below:

1. Verify Your Google My Business by Mail

Google My Business is a free tool offered by Google.

After you have created your GMB account, verify your business listing and improve your local search rank! Most local business owners choose to get their business verified through mail.

It’s the easiest, and no wonder, the most common way of getting your local business verified.

What’s the process? It’s quite uncomplicated if you follow Google’s guidelines.

All you need to do is click on the “Verify Now” option in your Google My Business Account, and wait for Google to send you a postcard.

Below is a breakdown of the simple steps that you’d need to follow for verification via mail:

  1. Sign in to your Google My Business profile
  2. Click on a business listing
  3. Select the “Verify Now” option
  4. A postcard request screen will appear. Make sure the mentioned address is correct.
  5. If the address isn’t accurate, change it before requesting your letter.
  6. Click on “Send postcard”.

In addition to this, Google also provides the option of requesting a postcard through the Google My Business app. For this, follow these steps:

  1. Log on to the Google My Business app
  2. Click on the “Send Postcard button”
  3. Select a business listing
  4. Click on the “I don’t have a code” option

Now that you’ve requested a postcard, you must be wondering how long would it actually take to arrive in your mail?

Usually, it takes almost two weeks to come.

Meanwhile, remember not to edit your business-related information.

Why ?

Because changing your address, business name, or any other business information would slow down the verification process.

After receiving the verification code, follow the steps below:

  1. Sign in to your GMB account
  2. Select “Verify location” from the menu, or press the “Verify now” button
  3. Enter the verification code in the code field
  4. Click “Submit”

According to latest SEO techniques, it’s critically important to verify your Google listing.

Because when Googlebot searches your business, a verified GMB account helps in getting you a higher search rank in local SEO.

2. Go for Verification Via Email

The option of verifying your Google business listing through email is only provided to certain types of business.

So, if you can’t see this option, go for another method to verify your Google business listing.

For those who have the option of verifying GMB listing via email, I’ve got a list of steps for you to follow.

But before moving on to that, ensure that you’re able to access the email address provided on the verification screen.

All good? Below are the instructions you’re looking for:

  1. After you’ve created your listing, go to Google My Business
  2. Choose the business you want to verify
  3. Click on “Verify now”
  4. From the list of verification options, click on “Email”
  5. You’d now receive a verification email, click on the “Verify” button in the email
  6. Or, enter the code provided in the verification email in the GMB dashboard

Those were the steps to follow if you’re using a computer to verify your Google business listing.

However, you can also verify your business via email on your mobile phone.

To use the mobile app for carrying out the task, follow these simple steps:

  1. Open the GMB app
  2. Select a business listing that you’d like to verify
  3. Click on “Send email”
  4. You’d receive a verification email on the email address provided
  5. Enter the code from the verification email
  6. Tap “Submit”

Done with verifying your business listing through email? Congratulations!

Now you’d be able to appear on various Google’s service, such as Maps and search results.

3. Get a Verification Code on Your Phone

You’re also given the option to verify your Google business listing through your phone.

But you’d get this option only if your business is eligible to receive a verification code on phone. In this case, you’d be able to see the “Verify by phone” option after clicking on the “Verify now” button.

However, if you can’t view this option after you’ve requested for verification, you can always verify by mail.

Coming to the method of verifying your Google business listing by phone, follow these basic steps to get the task done:

  1. Sign in to your Google My Business account
  2. Choose the business you want to verify.
  3. Click on “Verify now”
  4. You’d receive a call on the phone number you’ve added to your Google My Business account.
  5. Make sure you answer the call and listen carefully to get your verification code.
  6. You can also get the code to be sent to your phone through an automated message. For this, click on the “Verify by phone” option.
  7. Enter the code in the code field.

If you’re using the Google My Business app on your mobile, below are the steps that should be followed:

  1. Open the Google My Business app on your mobile
  2. Tap the “Call me now” option
  3. Enter the code provided by the automated voice system
  4. Lastly, tap the “Arrow” sign

After you’ve entered the code in the code field, consider your Google business listing verified.

And now that you have a verified business, you can start working on attracting more customers online!

Just keep adding enough images and providing the correct information to get a good score in Google’s local pack.

And consequently appear higher in the local searches.

4. Could You Qualify for Instant Verification?

Looking for a quick and easy way to verify your Google business listing?

Check out whether you qualify for instant verification or not.

Not sure how to do that?

Well, it’s not much of a big deal.

All you have to do is to confirm that you’ve verified the website of your business with Google Search Console.

If you have done that already, you’re in luck!

Because now you may be able to instantly verify your Google business listing.

In order to verify your Google business listing instantly, SEO consulting experts suggest you do this:

  1. Sign in to your Google My Business account.
  2. Make sure that you’re signed in to GMB with the same email address that you used to verify your website with Google Search Console.

However, there’s one important thing that I need to tell you yet. Which is, not all business categories are eligible for instant verification.

In other words, even if your business is verified with Google Search Console, you still might not be able to qualify for instant verification.

You might end up facing this issue if you own a new business, or your business has an increasingly low online visibility rate.

Wondering what to do in then?

Well, don’t worry, because you’d always have the option to verify your Google business listing via mail.

5. Choose Bulk Verification for 10+ Locations

Here comes the most commonly asked question! How to verify your Google business listing if your business operates in 10 or more locations?

Well, I’ve got an answer to that too!

So, if you own a business that features multiple locations, SEO experts recommend that you verify them all in a bulk.

However, please note that you can only go for this option if you have 10 or more than 10 locations of a single business.

Not sure why should you get bulk verification?

Because bulk verification would make it easier for you to manage information for numerous locations of the same business.

So, ready? Let’s get started with the process of bulk verification!

Step 1: Log in to GMB and Select a Location

  1. Log in to your Google My Business Account
  2. Select the “Get verified” option for one of the locations
  3. Click “Chain”

Step 2: Fill the Verification Form

Now, you’d be required to fill out a verification form.

Make sure all the information that you provide is as accurate as could be.

Below is a list of the information that you’d need to give:

  • Name of your business. Also add the name of the parent company (if any).
  • Name of the countries or regions in which your business operates. Only list down the businesses that are handled by the GMB account holder.
  • Contact names of those who’d manage the GMB account.
  • Contact number for Google to contact in case of any issue.
  • Email address of the business manager.
  • Email address of Google account manager.

Step 3: Wait for Google to Contact You

It usually takes around a week for Google to process the request.

During this time, Google verifies the authority of the GMB account holder.

In addition to this, Google checks whether the account meets certain quality guidelines or not.

In case of any issues, Google is likely to contact you via email.

However, always remember that you cannot choose the option of bulk verification if you have less than 10 locations. And also, if you’re a service-area establishment.

6. How to Verify Your Business if you’re the New Owner

Was there a recent change in your business leadership? If yes, then you should consider sending a request to the past owner.

Why? To ask them to transfer the ownership of business listing to the new management.

Below are the different procedures to be followed by certain types of businesses:

  • Storefront Listings

    • In case of most business, to verify your Google business listing, you’re required to go to the “Add” page and enter the name and address of your business.

    If the listing has been already verified by someone else, press the “Request access” button.

    The owner of the listing would be then asked to contact you, and you’ll receive a confirmation email after the owner has been notified.

  • Service-area Listings

    • To verify your Google business listing in case of a new owner at a service-area establishment, go for the verification via mail method.

    During the process, when you enter the code, an “Owner conflict” message will appear.

    What you need to do is press the “Request access” button, and wait for the current listing owner to contact you.

  • Bulk-Verified Listings

    • In order to verify your Google business listing for bulk-verified business locations, you can follow the storefront listings method.

    Or, you could upload the information related to your business location on your bulk upload spreadsheet.

    Press the “Request access” button, so that the current listing owner could contact you.

After you’ve sent the request, the current listing owner is required to reach out to you within seven days.

If your request gets approved by the owner, you’d become eligible to handle the listing on your GMB page.

However, in case of denial, you can always continue to suggest edits to the Google business listing.

Remember your GMB account is viewed as any other social media account.

This is why it would ensure a huge influx of customer reviews.

Negative reviews on your GMB account will have a damaging effect on your online reputation, while positive reviews will attract more clients.

So, verify your Google business listing now, get a higher search engine ranking, and start attracting potential customers!

Don’t have sufficient time to do it all on your own?

You can always take an affordable SEO expert into service!

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