How to Claim My Business with Google My Business 2021
Last week we discussed setting up your Google My Business Page. This week we will continue our series with Claiming Google My Business Page.
Why Claim My Google My Business Profile
- Control of Information: By claiming your business profile, you are controlling the information that Google displays. You are able to provide the best most accurate information and will be able to verify and edit the information about your business as needed.
- Customer Reviews: With a Google My Business page, as the owner, the customer reviews come to you. With each review, your profile will be notified. This in turn provides you an opportunity to interact with your reviewers. You will not only be able to respond to your reviews but monitor them. This is a great resource for your business.
- Geographical Searches: As we touched on in our previous blog post, 90% of all local purchases are made after a Google search. You want your products or services to be listed in those searches. If your business can't be found, you may be missing valuable sales opportunities. This is a very simple step to increase the commerce for your business.
- Increase your Website SEO: In today's digital markets, it's all about being found online, even if you've been in business at the same place for years. Having a tool that naturally boosts your ability to be seen on the internet is a must. Adding Google Maps and Google My Business to your marketing plan is a free highway to the internet search bots.
- Reviews make the Difference: With Google My Business, reviews can often be the only thing standing between your business and growth. (We will be discussing Reviews in our next blog post). When it comes to two or three very similar businesses, the reviews will often be the deciding factor on which one will grow and attack customers and which ones will not.
If you want to set up a Google My Business Page but are overwhelmed with it all, feel free to contact us. You're not alone in growing your business.
Top Reasons to Claim Your Google My Business Profile
1. You do not have access to the current account.
- The number one reason is that either Google or someone else created the account and the business owner does not have access to the account.
- The business owner must prove that this is this business or in the case of a marketing person that they have permission to assess and control the site.
2. You are selling your business.
- If you are selling your business, send the Google My Business listing access to the new owner so they will have access to control the public information. This is why it is so important to have an email that is specific to the business and not your personal email.
- If you are just selling the location, simply delete the location from your Google My Business account.
2. You are buying a new business.
- If you are buying a business and it is going to be radically different (naming, branding, operation changes) create and claim a new business.
- If your business will not be changing much, make sure you get access to control the Google My Business listing. You will also inherit all the current ratings and reviews.
- If the previous owner is not able to provide you with Google My Business access, you can request access via Google.
Tip: If you get an onscreen message that someone else has verified the business, Request ownership of the Business Profile.
4. You are moving businesses.
- If you are moving the business, at least three months ahead run a Google search for the new address. If there are any problems with the new address (directions, address, map features, etc) submit feedback to Google. Changes can take several weeks or more.
- Once you are officially operating at your new business address, just updated your current Google My Business listing. Do not create a new listing, just update your current Google My Business information.
5. Adding an additional location to your business.
When you have access to your Google My Business, simply add the additional location within the current business's account. You do not need to create an additional account or you could duplicate the listing on Google.
How to Claim a Google My Business Profile
Often, Google creates a Google profile and map profile based on data that it finds online for your business via scanning the internet and data centers. This information may or may not be correct, but it will certainly not be conclusive or customized. Many business owners and even personal brands, such as doctors, lawyers, and authors, do not even realize that these profiles exist or how to edit them.
The simple way to gain access to this information to change and edit information is to claim your Google My Business account. Within the Google My Business account dashboard, business owners and brands can edit their profiles and change photos, pricing, open times, and all the other important information that customers need to know.
First, you must go online and claim the business to edit it.
I alway recommend for my clients to be in the google account (signed in to a business google gmail) that they want to claim the site from before the start. Or, sign out of Google completely. Whatever Google email account you are signed into will be the google platform the Gmail that is assigned to the GMB account as the owner.
For example, let's say you do not even have a Google account, but your child signed on to Google Classroom via your computer at some point in time. If you are not careful, when you do the following step you could make it so your child's school account claims the listing. This is not what you or the school wants. (lol)
Second, search for your business.
You can search on Google or Google Map to find the current profile that Google has on your business.
If the address listed is correct, you can find the business in Google Maps and claim your Google My Business from there. Within the current profile, you will see something like "Make edit" or "Claim this business." Click on the link and follow the direction to begin the claiming process.
Third, you will need to verify your business.
Google will send a postcard to the address listed on Google Maps to verify this is your business. The card will have a number code that you will use to make edits to your dashboard. Google my go ahead and give you access to the dashboard, but you cannot make edits until you have the code to enter.
Once you've gone through one of the steps above, Google will give the current owner of the Google My Business page 3 days to respond.
You can check the status of your request, by signing in to Google My Business or by the specific link sent in a confirmation email.
If your request is approved:
You will be notified by email and allowed to manage the Business Profile in Google My Business.
If your request is denied:
You will be notified by email. You will be allowed to suggest an edit to the profile as well as appealing the denied request.
If you don’t hear back:
After 3 days you haven't received a response, there may be another option. You can open the original confirmation email you received about your ownership request and follow the instructions on-screen to verify. You can also sign in to Google My Business, and look for a “Claim” or “Verify” button on your dashboard.
Google My Business Marketing Advantage
Claiming your business and location through Google My Business is one of the easiest ways to market. It's a free and easy service and growing in demand by all smartphone users.
It is one of the best free tools out there to raise awareness of your brand by creating a profile with everything your clients and customers need. It's one of the best return on investments to add to your marketing arsenal.
All it takes is a little time and possibly a little research.
Our passion is helping business owners be successful! We here to help you!
Part 1 of Google My Business:
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