How to create and verify Google My Business (GMB) profile?
Google My Business (GMB) is a tool that helps you manage how your business appears in Google Search, Google Maps, and Google reviews. It is super helpful for ensuring the correct information about your business appears on both of these pages, making it less likely that you lose a customer to your competition.
NOTE:
Birdeye does not directly get involved in claiming or unsuspending your GMB. However, we do have the following helpful steps on how to claim or unsuspend your GMB.
HOW CAN YOU CREATE A GMB PROFILE?
If you don’t have a GMB page, you can create one by following the below steps.
- Create an account, log in to the Google Account that is associated with your business. Don’t have a Google Account? Create one
- Go to google.com/business. Select the blue “MANAGE NOW” button in the top, right corner
- Enter your business name
- Enter the address of your business. Check the box that says “I deliver goods and services to my customers”. if you go to your customer’s locations instead of them coming to you. Do you work from home and don’t want your home address made public? Check that box too, and then check the box that reads, “Hide my address (it’s not a store)”.
Choose your business category. The categories help Google connect you to the customers or prospects looking for your services. For example, if you chose “Dental Clinic” as your primary category, Google may also show your business in search results for “Dentists” and “Pediatric Dentists.”
IMPORTANT:
Be as specific as you can when choosing a category. For example, choose “Chinese Restaurant” over just “Restaurant.” You can’t create your own category (there’s a drop-down menu to select from). If you don’t see the category you’re looking for, get even more general in your choice.
- Add your information. Add the phone number and website of your business. If you don’t have a website, GMB will build you one for free based on your Google My Business page.
- Hit “Finish”
VERIFYING YOUR PROFILE
Congrats! You have a GMB page, but you won’t be able to edit your business info in Google until you’ve verified your business. There are several ways to verify your business, the most popular way is by postcard. Here’s how to get verified by postcard:
After you’ve selected “Finish”, you can view the “Choose a way to verify” screen. (If you aren’t logged in. Log in. Then select the red, “Verify now” banner at the top of the page)
- Ensure the contact name, business name, and address are all correct
- Select that blue “Mail” button
- Enter the receiver’s name who should receive the verification postcard (or you can leave it blank)
- Click “Send postcard”
- Wait up to five days for your postcard to arrive.
- Log into your GMB account. If you have multiple locations, choose the location you’d like to verify.
- Tap “Enter code”. Enter the unique verification code written on the postcard.
- Now, prospects and customers can view your business on Google.
VERIFY YOUR BUSINESS VIA PHONE
Some businesses are eligible to be verified by phone.
- You’ll view a “Verify by phone” option when you request verification via the “Verify now” banner
- Ensure, you can directly answer the phone if you choose “Verify by phone”
- Answer the phone and enter the code from the message
VERIFY YOUR BUSINESS VIA EMAIL
Some businesses are eligible to verify their listing via email.
- Just select “Email” from the verification options
- Check your email
- Click the “Verify” button in the email
- Answer the phone and enter the code from the message