In the world of digital marketing, having visibility, or ease of access, is most important. For small businesses that want to reach clients in their locality, at Google My Business (GMB), our services are unmatched. But setting up a GMB profile is only the first step – verification is necessary to make the most out of it.
In this blog, we at Artista Group will show you how to verify Google My Business, the importance of GMB verification for local SEO, and how it will improve the brand image, trustworthiness, and profits of your business.
Importance of Google My Business for Local SEO
Before proceeding with the steps of the verification, let us explain the reason behind the importance of GMB.
- Increased Visibility in Local Searches
For users searching for “business near me” or a specific city, verified GMB profiles are prioritized in the local area , the first 3 map results show before the listings. If your business is not verified, you are invisible in these high-traffic areas.
- Improved Customer Trust
Businesses that are verified gain more business . Google has an automated process that adds trust badges to verified listings thus improving the business’s reputation.
- Having Access To Insights and Engagement Tools
Upon verification, you can utilize the following features:
- Google Posts
- Reviews From Customers
- Insights (views, calls, and direction requests)
- Booking integrations
- Product listings
All the tools listed above will assist you in managing your online reputation.
In-depth Methodology: How To Verify Your Google Business Account
Let’s get into the nitty gritty details. The process might differ for you based on your specific business type, location, and Google’s policies regarding verification, but the following guide addresses all common approaches.
STEP 1: Setting Up Your Google Business Profile
If you haven’t set up a profile already, visit: https://www.google.com/business and click “Manage Now”. After selecting the button you will be led to the page where you will fill out the details for your business such as name, selected category e.g. dental clinic or restaurant, location and service region. You also have the option to add contact details such as phone number, website and physical address.
Finished with those details? That is wonderful, now you can choose to indicate whether your business location will be displayed. This is great for businesses operated from homes. After all steps are done and completed Google will show you a prompt that allows you to verify your listing.
STEP 2: Selection Of Verification Method
Depending on your business type and location, Google offers different verification types:
- Via Postcard Sent By Mail
This method is the most widely used.Google sends a postcard to your business address with a unique verification code which arrives in roughly 5-14 days.Return to your GMB account for logging in and finishing verification by entering the code.
Pro Tip: Do not edit your business name, category or address before verification is completed as it may delay or cancel the process.
- Phone Verification
Available for select businesses. You will get either a call or an automatic message and they will send a verification code. You need to enter the code in their profile.
- Email Verification
Also limited to certain categories. You’ll receive a code or a link which can be clicked to verify Email.
- Instant Verification
This type of verification is available if you have already linked your business with Google Search console. You may be eligible for instant verification.
Does not apply to businesses lacking domains or existing presence and Google.
- Video Verification
This is a step of verification. It involves you shooting and uploading a short video guiding google through your premises. This video is subjected to manual review by Google reviewers who check its authenticity.
- Bulk Verification (10+ Locations)
Suitable for franchises or businesses that possessed multiple locations. A form must be filled out and provided along with certain requirements.
What to Do After Verifying Your GMB Profile
That’s just the start of the verification process but now it is time to optimize.
- Complete Every Section
Fill out:
- Operational hours including holidays
- Service and products offered
- Business nature
- Images and clips
- If relevant, booking calendars
An advice from Artista Group : Use keywords logically in your descriptions and services to enhance SEO.
- Add High-Quality Photos
Increased pictures engagement goes up to 35%. Remember to add:
- logo and cover images
- Exterior and interior pictures
- Pictures of the team
- Business or product pictures
Additionally, Google highly recommends having 360° virtual tours for retail and hospitality services.
- Encourage and Respond to Reviews
Customer reviews on GMB affect your website’s local SEO ranking. This means asking customers who love your services to review while responding is important for your business.
Engagement fosters confidence and shows Google that your company is active.
- Use Google Posts Regularly
Post holiday specials, event alerts, new product updates, and more through Google Posts. This increases user interaction with your listings.
They are also easy to access directly from the search engine and this makes them very useful from a local marketing perspective.
Common GMB verification Problems and Solutions
With all the ease that Google has, you might still run into some challenges. Here is what you can do about them:
- Did you check on the postcard?
Wait for a maximum of 14 days. Speak to your Building’s manager or contact their postal services. If none of this helps, make a new code request.
- Does Not Apply To Email And Phone Options?
These choices are only available to some companies. You may attempt the default postcard approach, or request a manual review through support.
- Incorrect Business Category?
This can be changed on your GMB dashboard. Just be careful not to make frequent changes during verification as this might slow down the approval process.
- Duplicate Listings?
Google places a penalty on duplicate listings. You can claim all duplicates and merge them or delete the extras using “Suggest an edit” or through GMB support.
How Google My Business Affects Your Local SEO
Here is how your optimized GMB profile affects search results with verified listings:
1 Proximity, Relevance, and Prominence
Google combines these three factors to rank local results:
- Proximity – The distance to your business from the searcher.
- Relevance – The alignment of your listing to the searcher’s intent.
- Prominence – Your level of notoriety as a business. This is determined by your reviews, links, and mentions.
2. Citations and Consistency
Business name, address, and phone number should have the same format across the following:
- Website
- Social media
- Yelp, Bing, Facebook directory
Trust and ranking improves with consistency.
3. Engagement Metrics
Clicking, calling, messaging, or interacting with your GMB listing positively affects local SEO ranking. The more people engage, the better the listing performs.
Optimizing for Long-Term Success: Pro Tips from Artista Group
This is how we assist our clients in achieving number one rank in their area:
1. Use Primary Keywords In Your Business Name (Only If It’S Part Of Legal Name)
Example: Artista Digital Marketing Agency – Ahmedabad (as long as this is your brand name)
2. Include FAQs With Google Q&A
Customers can ask questions. Why not answer the most popular ones first?
3. Publish Weekly
Consistency indicates to Google that you are active. More posts means higher engagement.Increase your Google Post engagement by 5% simply by following these steps:
4. Don’t Overthink
- Taking action, monitoring results, and adapting is key.
- Deconstruct the existing strategy, post, and examine the results.
- Conduct the analysis with a clear goal in mind.
- Keep evaluating long after ideal outcomes have been reached.
- Always take advantage of data in real-time.
Conclusion
Claiming your Google My Business (GMB) profile is an important milestone for succeeding with local SEO optimally. In a world where all businesses are associated with ‘search,’ a verified and optimized GMB can transform your business prospects from being lost in the crowd to being easily discovered.
We understand what it takes for businesses to build an effective digital footprint. From local SEO and Google My Business optimization to paid ads and website design.
Get in touch today Artista Group and let’s start the process of giving your brand the attention it truly deserves.
