How to Confirm Your Business with Google My Business

• Jul 01, 2021
• Architechs for the Web
• General Info

If you are not taking advantage of the free marketing tools offered by Google My Business, then it’s time to get on board! In fact, this incredibly powerful tool could be more useful than you may know. Ready to sign up? Here’s how to register your business and why it’s so valuable to companies of all sizes.

Why Better Rankings on Google Start With Google My Business
Do your business goals include attracting more attention online and climbing the Google search return rankings for related keywords? If the answer is yes, then Google My Business should be set up as soon as your custom SEO-driven website has launched. Why? Simply put, Google trusts verified websites for their search engine users and their own Google My Business service does all the leg work for them. Since each business must be verified with a street address and other key pieces of information have to match your website during the setup process, Google's algorithm will likely trust the URL in question to be owned by a legitimate business. Therefore, as long as you continue to update and utilize your Google My Business account, you can expect to rank higher than businesses that did not elect to use this incredibly powerful business tool.

What About Local Searches for Your Products and Services?
Google Maps are the primary tool used for finding products and services nearby for the large majority of cell phone users. Imagine you just finished lunch with a friend and you want to find a furniture store nearby to help your friend decorate. By searching for "furniture stores near me", you will have a few choices returned in Google Maps. Plus, you can expand the list to include more furniture stores in your area. Hence, every business wants to be on the shortlist or at the very least on the expanded page 1 listing and Google tends to favor those businesses they know best. That means a safe and secure unique website that is SEO-friendly, a frequent posting of lengthy yet highly informative blog articles, and a completed and continually updated Google My Business profile.

How to Register Your Business Using Google My Business
To sign up, simply create a Google account. This should be different from your personal Gmail account and, for multiple location businesses, this should be the primary account. You can add your personal Gmail address as an administrator as well as other locations once your profile is set up and verified. Next, fill in the blanks so-to-speak about your business. Give Google as much information as you can about your business location. Leave nothing unanswered and be sure to use a street address, if possible, that can be verified as this free service is designed to help search users locate nearby businesses, not P.O. Boxes or online services. If you do not have a street address you would like to display to your customers, you can select "list the area instead". Another pro tip is to use the same business name you list on your website URL and across the web. Your business name should be the same spelling on all search engines, social media channels, etc. The more uniform the better your rankings on the Internet!

Next, it's time to set up your Google Maps listing. Enter your business street address. Don't worry. Google will give you a chance to expand your area of service later. You can also avoid customers coming to your home business by selecting "I deliver goods and services to my customers." What you cannot do is leave your business address blank or enter an address that cannot be verified by street name and number. Finish strong by following the prompts to select your areas of service, your business category, your email or URL, and your preferred method of verification.

Verification Methods
You will have several options for Google to verify your location. Verification options include a postcard in the mail, an email, a text, or through the search console. Most businesses elect to receive the postcard in the mail. All options will provide instructions to complete the setup process. After your account is verified, you can begin adding your products and services, posting promos and blog articles, replying to reviews, chatting with customers directly, and tracking data through their report tools.

Who is NOT Eligible for a Google My Business Account?
It is important to take a moment to mention Google will in fact verify your business address. If you do not offer goods and services customers can pick up at your physical store location or if you do not deliver goods and services to customers, there are other ways to attract attention online but Google My Business will may be an option for you. Contact the SEO experts at Architechs for the Web for more suggestions on how you can drive traffic to your website.

Can Someone Else Manage My Google My Business Account?
Yes! At Architechs for the Web, we have earned the distinguished title of Google Partner by taking care of everything from setting up the business profile to sharing blog articles or this week's top deal with Google users who are searching for your products and services online. Fill out our contact form to find out more about our custom website and SEO services have been generating leads for our clients across the nation for more than 15 years!