How do I verify my business on Google? And what’s next?

You’ve set up your Google Business Profile, but how do you verify your business on Google to make it appear online? In this guide, we’ll walk you through each step and explain what to do next to improve your local SEO. Wondering how to verify your business on Google? Though it may seem complicated, there are multiple verification methods and the process is quite straightforward. However, you may have to try more than one method, depending on your business.

What are the steps to verify my Google business?

Once complete, you’ll be ready to start integrating your profile with powerful local SEO tools from Semrush Local and start improving your online visibility. Once you’ve added your business to Google, you need to choose a verification method to prove you’re the legitimate owner. You can verify your Google Business Profile (GBP) by:

Phone
Text
Email
Video
Live video
Google Search Console (instant verification)

The standard verification method is to send you a postcard, especially for local businesses with a storefront. Mail verification is the simplest way to prove you have access to the premises. In fact, some users report that video, email or instant verification alone haven’t worked for them. So even if you choose an alternative verification method, you might still have to verify by postcard anyway. Let’s go through the process of verifying your business on Google from the beginning:

Step one

Make sure you added your business address correctly before you start the Google Business Profile verification process. You can edit your business by pulling up your profile on Search and clicking “edit profile” on the GBP dashboard).

A screengrab of where to add your address before you verify your business on Google

Step two

Choose your verification method. If verifying by postcard is impractical, you can try phone, text, email, video recording or live video call. Wait up to 14 days for your postcode to arrive. Once you have it, bring up your Google Business Profile via Search or Maps and click “Get verified” to enter your five-digit code. Other forms of verification are generally much quicker. Phone verification is the fastest because you get your code right away. Email verification takes a few minutes (but many claim they still require another verification anyway). Standard video takes a few days, depending on support hours at Google. And verifying via Google Search Console is supposedly instant, but it doesn’t work for every business. If you don’t receive your postcard or verification code, you can go to your Google Business Profile settings and send again. If you’re still struggling to verify your business on Google, contact the Google Business Profile Help Center.

The screen to verify your business on Google

What if I don’t have a physical business location?

If you don’t have a business address because you visit clients, you can choose to include the service area only. Choose the service-area option during the Google Business Profile setup. Specify the areas or regions you serve, such as cities, neighborhoods, or even entire metropolitan areas. You’ll still need to give your personal address to verify your business on Google.

A screengrab showing where you can add your personal address to verify your business on Google.

What should I include in my Google business verification video?

When using the video verification method, follow Google’s guidelines closely to ensure the process is successful. Some business owners report rejections even when they believed they followed the instructions, so cover all necessary details. To verify your business, record a single, continuous video lasting between 30 seconds and 5 minutes without any edits. Ensure that no sensitive information, such as bank details, ID numbers, other people’s faces, or private data, is included. The video must be recorded and uploaded directly through your Business Profile on a mobile device. To submit, open your Business Profile on your mobile device, select “Get Verified,” then tap “Capture Video” to record and upload your footage. Allow up to five business days for the review process. If needed, you can re-submit the video or opt for a different verification method.

Can I verify my Google businesses in bulk?

If you have 10 or more locations for one brand, there is a bulk verification process available to save you time. This feature is not available for agencies managing multiple businesses or service businesses. To do this, you need to access Google Business Profile Manager. On the left, select “Verifications” and then choose “Chain” to begin the bulk verification process. Fill out the form with: Business names (include both business and parent company names, if applicable), countries or regions your business operates in and names and emails of the people who manage the account. After filling out your form, submit it for review. Once submitted, Google will review your request and notify you via email once the account is bulk verified.

Discover new citation opportunities

Once you’re verified, connect your Google Business Profile to Semrush Local’s Listing Management and improve your local rankings. The tool takes care of everything, checking your Google Business Profile against the top directories in your country. It pinpoints the best opportunities to build local visibility—all in a fraction of the time it would take to do manually.

A screengrab of Semrush Local’s Listing Management tool

Save yourself a lot of busy work

Once it has identified the hottest opportunities,Listing Management gets to work for you. Manually creating profiles on 70+ global directories involves a lot of spreadsheets and password organizing. But Listing Management gets your NAP (name, address, phone number) onto the top directories in just a few clicks. You only have to connect your verified Google Business Profile once to upload your details and the tool takes it from there.

A screengrab of Semrush’s Listing Management connecting to important directories

Stay on top of your Google reviews

Once you’ve verified your Google Business Profile and connected it to Listing Management, it’s time to start shining up your star rating.

A key part of increasing your local visibility on Google is campaigning for more reviews. But when business is booming, getting back to each one can soon become unwieldy. With a verified Google Business Profile connected to Review Management, you can manage all your reviews in one place. And for ultimate peace of mind, the Reply Rate widget lets you know when you’ve thanked everyone for their feedback.

Track your profile’s progress

Google Business Profile verification is an essential step before you can start improving your rankings for local search terms. Now you’re ready to begin your journey to position #1 with Semrush Local and track your successes with some useful reporting tools. The Local Ranking tab gives you an average position for up to five keywords. But Premium Location users can dive deeper and see rankings across a specified area at a glance with the Map Rank Tracker tool.