How to verify a Google business listing? Best methods!

What is a business card in Google?

You will include in it the name, contact information, as well as a description of the activity, photos, customer reviews, opening hours, and many other valuable information.

In practice a Google business card is an excellent tool for promoting a business. It not only contains valuable information but also appears on the first page of search results, allowing easy access to potential customers.

By creating one:

• You will gain better online visibility because your company will appear in Google search results and Maps.
• You will make it easier for customers to contact and reach the company’s headquarters.
• You will strengthen the credibility of your brand and gain greater opportunities related to building its positive image.
• You will gain a greater chance of reaching customers located in the nearest area (Google business listing is crucial in the context of local SEO).

Verifying a company profile on Google – is it necessary?

In order to take advantage of all these benefits, verification of your Google business listing will be necessary. This process serves as confirmation of the authenticity of your company on one hand, and allows for full management of your profile and effective promotion of your business in Google search results and Maps on the other.

Verifying a company profile on Google involves obtaining a special, multi-digit code, which is usually transmitted either by phone or email. It turns out to be necessary when:

• You are creating a new company account on Google;
• The company profile will be suspended or the verification will be withdrawn, for example, as a result of suspicious company activity;
• Google suspects that your company either does not exist or violates the terms of the regulations;
• Google suspects that unauthorized third parties have access to your business account.

5 methods of verifying a Google business card

How to verify a Google business card? This is possible during the process of creating a new business profile, and the actual process is very simple in most cases and requires just a few clicks. There are 5 methods of verifying a Google business card.

Phone or text message

This is definitely the simplest method – all you need to do is provide your phone number during the profile creation stage and choose this verification option.

After a moment, you will receive a voice message or an SMS with a verification code, which you just need to enter in the appropriate window.

E-mail

This is also a simple method of verifying your Google business card, which you can use after selecting the “Code sent by email” option. If you provided the correct email address, you will receive a verification code in your mailbox within a few minutes.

Traditional mail

Until recently, it was a standard procedure, but today it has been replaced by much faster methods, such as the aforementioned phone or email verification. However, some companies still have the option to use this, through which you will receive a postal card with a verification code within 14 days.

Recording of a film showing the company

This method is only available for certain types of businesses, mainly physical retail stores, service providers without a physical location, and hybrid companies. After selecting this method, you must record a short video showing the company’s headquarters and that it is open to customers. Remember that the video material should:

• to be unique, unedited, and continuous;
• last at least 30 seconds, but no longer than 5 minutes;
• to be recorded and sent using a mobile device through your company’s profile.

To ensure that your business card is verified, record your company from the outside and inside, and also take care of the elements that will testify to the authenticity of the headquarters (e.g. building number or sign).

Video conversation with a Google employee

In some cases, Google may require a more detailed verification of a company, which includes a video call with an employee. During this process, you must confirm that you are at the company’s headquarters and prove that it belongs to you. It may be necessary to virtually tour the company and even show documents such as a lease agreement.

Problems with Google business card verification – what to do?

If you provide all the necessary information during the process of creating a company business card on Google, which confirms that you actually run a business, obtaining verification should not be a problem. Unfortunately, sometimes difficulties arise, as a result of which obtaining the code may prove impossible.

What to do in such a situation? First of all:

• Check if all the provided information about the company is correct (e.g. address, phone number, or email);
• Verify the compliance of the information with Google guidelines (e.g. low-quality company description with intrusive advertisement or improper category may prevent obtaining the verification code);
• submit documents proving the authenticity of your company, such as a service bill or lease agreement;
• contact Google technical support and present your problem, which will allow you to receive comprehensive support.