Claiming your Profile
The first step is to claim your Profile. There are two (2) possible scenarios:
1. Profile not owned
If the Profile is not owned by anyone, simply click Claim this business and then Manage now.
2. Profile owned by someone else
If the Profile is owned by someone else, a partially hidden email address will show.
You will need to investigate who within your organisation had created the Profile in the past, or if someone outside had created it. Afterwards, perform the following steps:
- Click Own this business? on the Business Profile.
- You can start requesting ownership of the Profile from the current Primary Owner by clicking Request Access.
- Fill out the form and click Submit.
After requesting ownership
1. Primary owner accepts the request
You will get an email that you can manage the Business Profile
2. Primary owner rejects the request
You will get an email that the Primary owner denied your request to claim the Profile. You may choose to appeal the request.
3. Primary owner does not respond
You may have the option to claim the Profile. Note that this option may not be available to some Profiles.
Ways to verify
After successfully requesting ownership and claiming your Business Profile, you will have to complete a GMB location verification process to prove that you are the owner of this business. The claiming and verification processes may differ on whether your company has fewer than 10 locations or more than 10 locations.
Verify business by post
This is the most common way to get verified. Google will send you a postcard with the verification code on your business address.
To request a verification postcard, try:
- Sign in to the Google Business Profile Manager.
- Choose the business you’d like to verify, then click Verify now.
- On the postcard request screen, make sure that your address is displayed accurately. If it isn’t, edit the address before you request your letter. You can also add an optional contact name to help them get your postcard for you.
- Click Send postcard.
- Check the mail for your postcard.
Note!
Most postcards arrive anywhere between 14 to 21 days. Before receiving your postcard, please refrain from editing any of your Business Profile details. We do not suggest that you request a new code during the process of waiting for your postcard to arrive. This may delay the verification process.
Enter your verification code on GMB after receiving your postcard, try:
- Sign in to Google My Business.
- If you have multiple locations, open the location you’d like to manage.
- In the Code field, enter the 5-digit verification code indicated on your postcard.
- Click Submit.
Note!
Only after you enter your verification code will you be eligible to appear live on Google Search, Google Maps, and other Google services. However, if you didn’t get a postcard, you can request a new one.
Verify business by email
Only some businesses can verify their business by email. Just make sure that you can access the email address shown on the verification screen.
To request a verification thru email, try:
- Sign in to Google My Business.
- Choose the business you’d like to verify, and click Verify now.
- Click Email from the list of verification options.
- Check your email.
- Click the Verify button in the verification email.
Additional!
You can also enter the code from the email in your Google My Business dashboard.
Verify business by phone
Only some businesses can verify their business by phone. If your business is eligible through this process, you will see a Verify by phone option when you request for verification.
To request verification through phone, try:
- Sign in to Google My Business.
- Choose the business you’d like to verify, then click Verify now.
- Make sure you answer your business phone number directly to get your verification code.
- To have the code sent to your phone via automated message, click Verify by phone.
- Enter the code from the message.
Note!
Make sure that the phone number you provided is active. During this process, a call will come through your phone and you will need to listen for the automated voice system. This system will give you a code, which you will have to enter in the code field on GMB.
Verification by video
This type of verification is mostly used by service area businesses who do not serve their customers at their physical location. However, this may be available to other non-SABs as well.
For this verification type, you will need your mobile phone to record a video. Please note that you need to be logged in to the Google Account associated with your Google Business Profile on your phone.
To verify your listing via video, follow these steps:
- Go to your business profile
- Tap Get verified and choose Capture video
- Record a video of your place of business. Include the current location, the type of equipment you use, and employee-only items or areas.
- After recording your business location, tap Stop recording and then tap Upload video