HOW TO CLAIM YOUR BUSINESS PROFILE ON GOOGLE SEARCH AND MAPS, DIRECTLY?

Google Business is a must have platform for any business owner. Whether you are a B2B company, or B2C venture, Google presence is as essential for your business to survive as is Oxygen for living organisms. Claiming your business can help your customers to find you easily and even boost your SEO.

Initially known as Google My Business, Google has transformed the platform into Google Business Profile to make it simple, and easier to remember.

The new name comes with multiple new options for the businesses as well.

How will Google Business Profile Affect Businesses

For merchants and enterprises already using a claimed Google Business nothing much is changed, and you do not need to alter anything.

For small businesses, it means you do not need website or mobile app to develop and claim your business on GBP.

For developed and large scale businesses, the Google My Business website will be available to manage multiple profiles from a single dashboard, eventually Google will change the BMB to Business Profile Manager.

How to Claim a Google Business Profile for Yourself

Start by doing a quick search for your business on Google. The search will return with an option of verifying your profile.

Sometimes, you might encounter issues with an already claimed profile. Several reasons could play a part for this predicament.

Such as:

1. The previous owner claimed it and has not transferred the listing yet (quite common).
2. You employee or friend might have claimed it.
3. Another common reason could be the owner forgetting that you have already claimed, and does not remember.
4. The owner might not remember the login details used for claiming the listing.
5. The most sinister reason is spam.

You can also search for your business through Google Maps app, or by entering the keyword, “my business” in the search bar.

A Google Business Profile that has been claimed and is verified will let you edit any information shown in search results whenever people look for your business.

The biggest perk of Google Business Profile is that you can complete the entire process in Google Search. Hence, as you edit, you can immediately see the end result and how it will be visible to the public. You can claim your business in the following ways:

1. Claiming a business through Google maps for computer.
2. Claiming your business through Android.
3. Claiming your business through iPhone or iPad.

Claiming a Business Through Google Maps for Computer

If you are using your computer for claiming the business. You need to take the following steps:

First, log in to Google Maps. Obviously, you would need a Google account and sign in using that email id and password.

You will have three options for adding your business:

1. Enter your business’ address (physical location) in the search bar. On the left, you will see in the Business Profile the option of Adding your business. Click on it.
   1. Right click afterwards anywhere on the map. Click on Add your business.
   1. Lastly, you will find the option to: Add your business in the drop down Menu, on the top left.
   1. Once you have done that, you can follow the on-screen instructions to complete signing up for Google Business Profile.

Claiming through Google Maps

1. Open Google Maps on your computer.
2. Enter the name of your business in the search bar.
3. Click on the business name and select the right one.
4. Click on Claim this business >> Manage now.
   1. If you want to choose a different business, you can click on I own or manage another business.
5. Select the option of verification, and follow the steps to proceed.

Claiming your Business through Android

If you are too lazy to sit in front of a computer (like me), you can either use your Android or iPhone to claim your business.

For Android users, you need to first add your business in Google Maps. This is how you can do add your business through Google Maps

1. On the Android device open the Google Maps apps.
2. Enter your business in the search bar, or look for it manually by maneuvering the Google Map. Select the correct one.
3. Scroll down and tap the Claim this business option.

Claiming your business using Google Maps

Let us now claim your business through Google Maps:

1. Again, on your Android device open Google Maps.
2. Enter the name of your business in the search bar, and select the right one.
3. Go to Business Profile and tap Claim this business, and then tap on: I own or manage this business.
4. To choose a different business, you can select I own or manage another business.
5. Select the verification option, and follow the steps to proceed further.

Claiming Your Business through iPhone or iPad

1. Start by adding your business through Google Maps.
2. On your iPhone or iPad open the Google Maps app.
3. Search for your business, and select the right one.
4. Scroll down
5. Tap on Claim this business.

Claiming your Business using Google Maps

1. Once you have added your business you need to enter the name of your business in the search bar of Google Maps and select the correct one.
2. Tap on Claim this business, followed by I own or manage this business.
3. You can select a different business by tapping on I own or manage another business.
4. Select the verification option, and follow the steps to proceed further.

Conclusion

Google Business Profile is elemental for business growth. If you do not claim the listing, Google will try to provide the best information about your business, which might not always be correct. By claiming your Business My Business profile, you can take control of what goes public. You can verify and edit any information about your business. Otherwise, people can write all sorts of negative or positive comments about you.

Spammers can use this opportunity to malign you, and even your competition might your claimless business for their benefit. The process for claiming the business hardly takes 10 to 15 minutes, and even less if you are tech efficient.

All you need to do is add your business on Google maps, and then claim it through the various options mentioned above. Just make sure you update it regularly to fight outdated information such as new location, etc.