Step-by-step Guide on How to Create a Google My Business (GMB) Listing

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Google My Business (GMB) is a free online tool created by Google that lets you take control of how your business information appears on Google Search and Maps. Take note that your Google Maps Listing is your Google My Business Listing, they are interconnected. If you click on my Google My Business Listing https://g.page/vdbzone you will be redirected to my Google Maps Listing. GMB's appears at the right side of Google Search Page.

Using Google My Business Listing will boost the visibility of your business and it will help your existing customers and prospective customers to reach out to your business more easily and conveniently. Only provide relevant information such as the correct business category and services, phone number, website, hours, business description, and high-quality photos that describe your business.

Besides, you can encourage your customers to write a review about your business. Businesses with the most positive reviews are moved up in Google search results. Google My Business reviews can make a big difference in your business. In case of any negative reviews, respond to it as it will help to increase the transparency of your business.

The last additional importance of using Google My Business Listing is that you can post regularly. You can add updates, upcoming events, offers/welcome offers/special discounts, products, and photos/videos. Your posts are displayed on Google Search.

If your listing appears in a Google search, consumers will see that you have been endorsed by Google. If Google trusts you enough to show you in its results, they know they can trust you too.

Before we proceed with how to set up Google My Business Listing. Here's an infographic of The Historical Evolution of Google My Business.

Steps to Create a Google My Business Account

1. Create a Google Account

You need to create a Google Account first. If you have one proceed to #2.

2. Log in to Google My Business

3. On the right click on “Add location group” just above "add location".

This section is helpful especially if your business has many addresses. It is where you manage your businesses according to country maybe or according to business type. If you only have one business address proceed to #4.

4. On the right, click “Add location” and then “Add single location”.

5. What's the name of your business?

Enter your business name.

Note: If you have the same name as another business in your region, you’ll see the autocomplete function suggest those businesses for you. This is to allow you to see if your business listing already exists (to avoid accidental duplication) and to add a new Google My Business Listing to an existing business if you’ve just opened a new location.

6. Do you want to add a location customers can visit, like a store or office?

This location will show up on Google Maps and Search when customers are looking for your business.

Tick Yes or No.

7. What's the address?

Enter your business address (Country, Street address, Postal code, and City). Details change depends on what country you are located in.

8. Where are you located?

Drag and zoom the map and position the marker on the exact spot where your business is located.

Note: Not all businesses may have this step. Proceed to #9 if you don't have.

9. Do you also serve customers outside this location?

For example, if you visit or deliver to your customers, you can let them know where you are willing to go.

Tick Yes, I also serve them outside my location or No, I don't.

10. Choose the category that fits your business best

This helps a customer find you if they are looking for a business like yours.

11. Add your services

Select the services your business provides and get matched with the right customers.

If you don't see a service you offer, create your own by adding a custom service.

12. What contact details do you want to show to customers?

Help customers get in touch by including your contact phone number and current website URL.

13. Finish and verify your business.

To manage your listing, you'll need to verify your connection with this business. What you'll get with verification:

• Allow new customers to find you on Google Search & Maps
• Promote your business with photos and posts
• Track business analytics to understand your customers
• Respond to customer reviews.

Note: There are 6 options to verify your local business listing on Google:

1. Via mail (common verification method)

To verify your business listing by mail, enter your business address in Google My Business. We’ll send you a postcard with a verification code. Most postcards arrive within 14 days. Before requesting to verify your listing by mail, make sure your business address complies with Google's address entry guidelines.

Do not edit your business name, address, or category, or request a new code while you're waiting for your verification postcard.

Computer

Follow the steps below to use a computer to request a verification postcard:

• Sign in to Google My Business.
• Choose the business you'd like to verify, then click Verify now.
• On the postcard request screen, make sure that your address is displayed accurately. If it isn't, edit the address before you request your letter. You can also add an Optional contact name to help us get your postcard to you.
• Click Send postcard.
• Check the mail for your postcard. Most postcards arrive within 14 days. Do not edit your business name, address, or category, or request a new code while you're waiting. This may delay the verification process.

To enter the verification code, follow these steps:

• After you get your postcard, sign in to Google My Business.
• If you have multiple locations, open the location you'd like to manage.
• Click Verify location from the menu, or click the Verify now button.
• In the Code field, enter the 5-digit verification code from your postcard.
• Click Submit.

If you didn't get a postcard, you can request a new one.

Mobile

Follow the steps below to use the mobile app to request a postcard:

• Open the Google My Business app.
• Tap Send postcard.
• Choose the business you’d like to verify, then tap I don’t have a code.
• Check the mail for your postcard. It should arrive in 1–2 weeks. Do not edit your business name, address, or category, or request a new code while you're waiting for a letter. This may delay the verification process.

To enter the verification code, follow these steps:

• After you get your postcard, open the Google My Business app.
• Choose the business you'd like to verify.
• Tap Enter code to complete the verification or I don't have a code if you didn’t get your postcard.

After you enter your verification code, your business information will be eligible to appear live in Search, Maps, and other Google services.

2. Via phone (available for select businesses)

If your business is eligible to get a verification code by phone, you'll see the Verify by phone option when you request verification. If you don't see it, verify your listing by mail instead.

Computer

To use a computer to verify your business listing by phone, follow the steps below:

• Sign in to Google My Business.
• Choose the business you’d like to verify, then click Verify now.
• Make sure you can directly answer your business phone number to get your verification code.
• To have the code sent to your phone via automated message, click Verify by phone.
• Enter the code from the message.

Mobile

To use the mobile app to verify your business listing by phone, follow the steps below:

• Open the Google My Business app.
• Tap Call me now.
• Enter the code from the message, then tap the Arrow Icon.

After you enter your code, your business information will be eligible to appear live in Search, Maps, and other Google properties.

3. Via email (available for select businesses)

Not all businesses can verify their listing by email. If you don't see this option, try another verification method.

Before trying to verify your listing by email, make sure you can access the email address shown in the verification screen.

Computer

To use a computer to verify a business by email, follow the steps below:

• If you return to verify after you create your listing, go to Google My Business, choose the business you'd like to verify, and click Verify now.
• Click Email from the list of verification options.
• Check your email.
• Click the Verify button in the verification email. (You can also enter the code from the email in your Google My Business dashboard.)

Mobile

To use the mobile app to verify a business by email, follow the steps below:

• If you return to verify after creating your listing, open the Google My Business app or visit https://business.google.com and choose the business you'd like to verify.
• Tap Send email.
• Check your email.
• Tap Enter code, then enter the code from the email.
• Tap Submit.

After you enter your code, your business information will be eligible to appear live across in Search, Maps, and other Google properties.

4. Via live video chat

Here’s how Video verification works:

• Go to Google My Business and click on the ‘verify my business listing’ from the left menu.
• There will be 2-3 verification options depending on the type of your business. Choose “Verify now with live video chat”.
• You will receive an email from a Google representative, asking you about the right time for the video chat. Confirm the time and date and you will receive a video call from a Google representative.
• They will ask you to show your place of work & a business card or letterhead that has the exact same address as your listing. They may ask for some other proofs as well. So keep all documents handy.
• The whole process takes only 10-15 minutes and you will receive a verification email (if everything goes right) within a few hours or 2 days at max.

5. Via Google Search Console (available for select businesses)

If you’ve already verified your business’s website with Google Search Console, you may be able to verify your listing instantly.

To verify your business listing instantly, make sure you’re signed in to Google My Business with the same email account you used to verify your site with Search Console. Some business categories may not be eligible for instant verification.

6. Via Google Search Console (available for select businesses)

If you manage 10 or more locations of the same business, your business listings may be eligible for bulk verification. Learn more about verifying 10 or more locations in bulk.

After you verify your business listing, Google may ask you to review your information and make any final changes. When you’re certain everything's up-to-date, click Done editing.

Note: You can't update your business name until you've completed the verification process.

When I created my Google My Business Listing the only available option to verify it is via mail and the number of days the postcard code to arrive here in the Philippines is 14 days. And based on my experience creating Google My Business Listing for other businesses others may receive it for 4, 5, 12, 11, 20, or 25 days depends on your location where Google will send the postcard.

Having trouble with verification?

Refer below resources from Google:

• Ask questions in the Google My Business community
• Lost or missing verification codes
• Someone else verified my business

References:

1. Dawson, B. (2018, October 23). Verify your Google my business Listing over a video call and more [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://customerfindermarketing.com/verify-your-google-my-business-listing-over-a-video-call-and-more/.
2. Google. (n.d.). Verify your local business listing on Google - Google my business help [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://support.google.com/business/answer/7107242?hl=en&ref_topic=4854193.