If you’re a service area business looking to navigate the Google Business Profile verification maze, understanding the essential requirements is key. Google has specific criteria to ensure your business is legitimate and operational. Here’s a condensed guide to the five critical components you’ll need to verify your service area business:
Check out the video below or scroll down further to read the step by step summary.
- Business Registration / Utility Bill: Begin with proof that your business is officially registered under a government or municipal authority. If you have a phone or some sort of utility bill registered under your business name that will also work. This foundational step validates the legal existence of your business and can be easily verified by any individual.
- Business Card: Contrary to recent digital trends and the idea of going “paperless”, a pysical, tangible business card is a must-have. When I as connected to Google’s support chat this was a very specific request from Google support. Business cards help set up your business identity and show professionalism.
- Invoicing and CRM Tools: Google wants to know that you have the authority to manage the business that you are trying to verify. Invoicing and CRM tools demonstrate this authority and ability to manage customer interactions and financial transactions on behalf of the business.
- Vehicle: For businesses that serve customerse at their location, showing a vehicle that you operate and have authority over is an absolute necessity. I asked Google support about whether a bicycle qualifies and they said no… Seems kinda silly especially for places that promote the use of bikes as transportation but the GBP is Google’s product not ours so what they say goes.
- Workspace and Tooling: Lastly, your workspace and the tools of your trade demonstrate that you do what you say you do. Whether you work from home or use specific equipment at client locations, Google wants to see that you have the necessary equipment to deliver the services you say you deliver.
Each of these elements is crucial for verifying your Service Area Business on Google. Google is looking for you to prove you are who you say you are, your business is legitimate and in the location you say it is, and you offer the services you say you offer to the people you say you serve. Google Business Profile verification in a nutshell is simply this. Show Google without a doubt that you are who you say you are and you do what you say you do where you say you do it.
With these items you can ensure you’re well-prepared to meet Google’s requirements to verify your service area business.