As a valued potential client of our digital marketing services, we want to provide you with the tools and knowledge to take control of your online presence if you would want to. A key part of establishing your brand online is claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile. This guide will walk you through the process of verifying and managing your business information on Google.
Why Claim Your Google Business Profile
Claiming your Google Business Profile allows you to take ownership of how your business information appears on Google Search and Maps. An unclaimed profile means your business could be misrepresented or out of date. Claiming it lets you:
- Display accurate business information such as address, phone number, website and opening hours.
- Respond to customer reviews and manage your online reputation.
- Share photos, videos and posts to engage customers.
- View analytics like how many people found your business on Maps and Search.
- Add attributes like amenities, menus and services offered.
- Create posts to promote events, offers and news.
By having an optimized and claimed Google Business Profile, you can better connect with customers and outrank competitors in local search results.
Prerequisites for Claiming Your Profile
Before starting the claiming process, make sure you have the following ready:
- The email address associated with the current business listing. This is where you will receive a verification code.
- Accurate business category such as “restaurant”, “clothing store” or “hotel”. Google will ask you to select from categories.
- Physical business address you want listed on your profile.
- Primary phone number and website URL for your business.
- List of any other existing listings such as Facebook or Yelp. This helps Google merge and verify.
- The name(s) your business operates under. For example, aliases or abbreviations.
- Logos, photos and videos that represent your brand.
Having this information handy will help you complete the profile claiming process quickly and smoothly.
Step-by-Step Guide to Claiming Your Profile
Follow these steps to take control of your Google Business Profile:
- Search for your business name on Google Maps on desktop. Click the business title if it appears. If not, you may need to create a new listing instead of claiming an existing one.
- Look for the “Own This Business?” box on the left side and click ‘Manage Now’.
- If prompted, select your business category such as restaurant, plumber, etc.
- You will now need to verify you are authorized to manage this listing:
- If you have a postcard verification code from Google, enter it here.
- Otherwise, check your email inbox for a verification message from Google and get the code.
- If you don’t receive an email, click ‘Send Code’ and select either Email or SMS.
- Enter the verification code and click ‘Verify’.
Congratulations, you should now have access to your business profile!
Completing Your Profile
Now that you’ve claimed your Google Business Profile, it’s time to make sure it represents your brand accurately and completely:
- Confirm your business name, address, phone number and other key details are correct.
- Add your business website and link it for SEO benefits.
- Expand your description with helpful information for customers.
- Upload logos, quality photos and videos that showcase your products/services.
- Select relevant business categories and attributes like WiFi, delivery options, etc.
- Respond to customer reviews and feedback.
- Create posts to promote sales, events and news about your business.
- Link to your social media profiles so customers can follow.
- Analyze your profile’s performance through Google’s tool for claimed listings.
Revisit your profile periodically to keep all information updated. This optimizes how customers find and engage with your business on Google.
Get Found Online
Claiming and enhancing your Google Business Profile establishes your brand’s online presence and helps customers discover you. If you need any assistance managing your profiles or digital marketing strategy, our team of experts is here to help. Contact us today to get started amplifying your brand and reaching more customers online.
