These instructions are for the Google My Business Checklist (Free Download).

Starting up your own business is an exhilarating journey filled with opportunities and challenges.

One such opportunity, often undervalued by many small business owners, is the advantage of leveraging your Google My Business (GMB) listing.

In the digital age we live in, establishing a strong online presence is imperative to gain visibility and credibility, and what better way to achieve this than by getting your business listed on Google?

Step 1: Claim or Create Your Google My Business Listing

The journey begins by either claiming your existing business listing or creating a new one.

You might wonder why it’s necessary to claim an existing listing. It’s because Google may already have a basic listing for your business based on available information.

To claim or create a GMB listing, you need to have a Google Account for your business. If you don’t have one yet, you can easily set it up here.

Once you’ve got your Google Account ready, head over to Google My Business and sign up for a GMB account. If your business profile is already listed, you can claim it. If it’s not, you can create a new listing.

Step 2: Verify Your GMB Listing

Once you’ve claimed or created your GMB listing, the next critical step is verification.

Verifying your listing demonstrates that your business is legitimate, thereby instilling trust among potential customers.

Google offers multiple ways to verify your listing:

• Postcard verification: Google sends a postcard with a verification code to your provided business address. On receiving this postcard, input the code into your GMB account to verify your listing.
• Phone verification: Eligible businesses can verify their listings via phone. Google will call your listed phone number and provide a verification code.
• Email verification: If eligible, businesses can verify their listings through email. Google sends an email with a verification code to your listed address.
• Video verification: In some cases, Google offers video verification. This process involves creating a video showcasing your business’s storefront, signage, and other relevant details.

Ensure you complete your GMB listing and adhere to Google’s guidelines after verification to avoid potential suspensions due to quality issues.

Step 3: Set Up User Access

Finally, to optimise your business operations, consider setting up appropriate access to your GMB account.

If you have a team, assign different access levels to different team members based on their roles and responsibilities.

You can learn how to set up user access here.

Remember, it’s vital that only the business owner claims and verifies a GMB listing.

Following these steps, you’ll successfully establish your local business presence on Google, opening up an ocean of opportunities to attract and serve more customers.

Embrace the power of Google My Business and let your entrepreneurial journey ascend to greater heights.

Happy listing!