As a core essential of your local search engine optimization (SEO) strategy, your business needs an active and accurate Google Business Profile (formerly known as “Google My Business”). Google Business Profile verification is one of the main action items for keeping listing(s) updated for your medical practice. This article covers how to get verified on Google Business Profiles through either phone, email, text message, post card, or video submission.
Why Verifying Google Business Profile Ownership Is Important
Verifying your Google Business Profile is important because it gives you control over your listing(s) so that you can keep your public details accurate and up to date. Stewardship of your Google Business Profile benefits your medical practice in multiple ways:
- Enhanced online visibility: Google.com verified businesses tend to appear more prominently in search results, so that patients are more likely to find your business.
- Patient engagement: An active Google profile provides a place for consumers to evaluate your services. Potential patients can read reviews that current patients have posted to your medical practice’s GBP. A healthy collection of reviews signals that a healthcare business is legitimate, active, and has a loyal patient base.
- Moderation capabilities: GBP accounts can be set up to send notifications when your profile has new ratings and reviews activity. This way you can moderate reviews by reporting ones that should be taken down or providing professional responses to patient reviews (patient relations that are visible to the public).
- Access to insights and analytics: Like any other Google digital marketing tool, GBP offers performance analytics so you can track public interaction with your profile.
How To Verify Your Google Business Profile: Standard Verification Methods
When you need to initiate a Google Business Profile verification, it helps to have options to choose from. This way you can select which method is most expedient. How to verify your business on Google includes electronic communication (phone, text, or email), “snail mail,” or by submitting a video recording.
Verify Your Profile with Phone, Text, or Email
Verifying a business on Google without a postcard involves code verification through a phone call, text message, or email.
- Access your Business Profile and click “Get verified.”
- Choose either phone call, SMS text message, or email.
- Retrieve the code and follow the directions.
Verify Your Profile with a Postcard
Most brick-and-mortar practices will verify by receiving Google business postcard mailed directly to the practice’s physical location.
- Visit your Business Profile and select “Get verified.”
- Choose “Postcard by mail” and enter the required information.
- Once the postcard arrives, follow the directions to complete the verification.
Video Recording Verification
Google business video verification involves the recording of location, equipment, and a management representative.
- Log in to your profile and select “Get verified.”
- Select “Video recording” and follow the instructions for a one-shot video as per Google’s video verification guidelines including business location, equipment, and proof of management credentials.
- Submit and allow Google five days to review.
What if you have multiple GBPs to verify at the same time? For businesses that need to verify Google businesses of 10 or more locations, you can opt for Google’s bulk verification.
Navigating Verification Challenges: Practical Solutions
While the methods of verifying your Google Business Profile are straightforward, sometimes the process doesn’t always happen as expected. However, leaving your profile unverified can have adverse effects for your online presence.
Because Google Business Profiles are such an important part of local SEO, digital marketing experts strongly recommend that you follow up with incomplete verifications. For verification methods that involve wait times such as video or postcards, you can follow up with Google support to help resolve any delays. Use this timetable as a guide for when to follow up with Google support:
- Email, text or phone number: Same day.
- Postcard: After two weeks.
- Video: After a full week.
- Bulk: After four weeks.
After Verification: Maximizing Your Google Business Listing
Once verified, take control of your business online:
- Complete every section of your profile.
- Regularly update your information, including hours, services, and photos.
- Engage with patient reviews and inquiries promptly.
By keeping you Google Business Profile(s) optimized, your healthcare business will continue to support a positive patient experience that reinforces your credibility and nurtures your public relations so that you can be more attractive to potential patients.
Summary: Google Business Profile Verification Process
Verifying your Google Business Profile (formerly known as “Google My Business”) is a core component of your local digital marketing. Because most medical services are in-person, most healthcare businesses need to be found in Google search results to reach patients.
Google Business Profile verification is a vital step in your local search engine visibility so that patients are likely to find your medical practice in Google search results. Without verification, you cannot manage and optimize your listing(s) in Google’s business directory. You can verify your listing by going to business profile and clicking “Get Verified.” How to get verified on Google Business Profiles includes these standard options:
- Phone, text, or email: Select this option to receive a special code electronically by phone, text, or email and follow the confirmation instructions.
- Postcard: Select to request a postcard. Look for the postcard in the mail and follow the confirmation instructions provided on the postcard.
- Video: Record a verification video following Google’s guidelines that includes the location, facility equipment, and the credentials of the person recording the video (should be a representative of the business). Submit and wait about five days for processing.
- Bulk submission: If you have more than ten profiles to verify, you can initiate a bulk verification following Google’s procedures. This typically includes a list of all the profiles under your purview.
How long does it take for Google to verify your business? Phone, text or email can be done within minutes. Waiting for a postcard, video, or bulk verification may take several days, so it is highly recommended that you follow up. Below is a timetable for following up with Google.
- Email, text or phone number: Same day.
- Postcard: After two weeks.
- Video: After a full week.
- Bulk: After four weeks.
Allowing business verification to fall through the cracks can easily hamper your ability to attract new patients through local search visibility. When verification is taking longer than it should, this is the time to contact Google to resolve the delay.
Maintain the Health of Your Local Search Visibility with iHealthSpot Solutions
For many busy healthcare business managers, the Google Business Profile verification process is one more thing on a list of action items that they just don’t have time for. At iHealthSpot, we have enhanced our local search engine optimization (SEO) services with listings management so that medical practices can stay on top of Google Business Profile optimization. Contact us today to learn more.
