Bulk verification of Google Business Profiles – how does it work?
Have you ever wondered how local businesses rank high in Google search results? It’s not a coincidence, but rather a result of the Google Business Profile (GBP) being well managed and verified. The GBP (previously known as Google My Business) is an essential tool for any locally operating business. According to Google, companies with verified Profiles are perceived by consumers as significantly more trustworthy. Navigating Google’s e-commerce universe might seem complicated, however. So let’s take a look at how to go through the entire process of Google Business Profile verification.
What is bulk verification in Google Business Profile (GBP)?
Google Business Profile is a free tool provided by Google, allowing your company to appear in local search results and on Google Maps. With GBP, you can create a virtual listing of your business activities, complete with important information such as address, phone number, website, opening hours, and client reviews. It’s an essential component of building online presence and communicating with prospective clients.
With user needs in mind, Google offers a bulk verification feature that is highly useful for businesses operating in multiple locations. It allows for the verification of 10 or more Google Business Profile listings simultaneously, saving the time and effort required if done separately. This option is particularly popular among large companies and franchise organizations with numerous locations.
Thanks to bulk verification, you can manage information in all your Google Business Profiles from a single central place. You can update opening hours, contact information, photos, and other key information. This will guarantee that your company information on Google Search and Google Maps is accurate and consistent across all business locations, aligning with the data on your website and social media platforms.
What are the benefits of bulk verification?
Verified companies have access to valuable data and analytics that help understand how clients find the company and what kind of information they are looking for. The more locations a business operates in, the more beneficial this solution becomes.
A network of restaurants scattered across the globe, numerous hair salons, or private medical centers operating in at least 10 locations can be effectively verified in bulk from a single dashboard. It’s far more convenient and definitely less work-intensive than verifying each location separately. What’s more, when adding further locations, there is no need to go through the verification process again, the listings are verified automatically. As a result, updating Profiles will not be as frustrating and time-consuming as it would be in case of separate verification.
Bulk verification allows all operations to be performed from a single dashboard.
Bulk verification of 10 or more Google Business Profiles – what does it look like?
Verifying the main owner means the automatic verification of all eligible Profiles in the group that do not belong to other users. However, to undergo the verification process, several important steps must be taken.
Step 1.
Check if you are eligible for bulk verification. Make sure that you own at least 10 Profiles for the same company which are not duplicated, suspended or disabled. Additionally, make sure that they are error-free and have not yet been verified. Only GBP listings operating under a specific address can be verified in bulk, so if your listings don’t have a physical address where you receive clients, they are not eligible.
Step 2.
Submit a verification request through the Business Profile Manager. Fill out and send the form, providing all the necessary information, such as:
- company name,
- countries/regions of operation,
- contact name (first and last names of the person or people managing the account),
- contact phone number,
- business manager’s e-mail address (the person who can confirm your association with the company, the CEO, for example),
- Google account manager e-mail.
Google will notify you by e-mail once the bulk account verification is complete.
Tips for bulk verification or management of Google Business Profiles
Bear in mind that accounts verified in bulk may be de-verified. This occurs when GBP listings are not actively managed, which effectively amounts to abandonment. Only regular check-ups to detect errors, and updates (e.g. new opening hours or responding to reviews) can prevent bulk de-verification.
The moment the status of the bulk verification changes, an e-mail notification will be sent. Google may contact you in case of any account issues or if improvements are needed. However, if the account doesn’t meet requirements for bulk verification and doesn’t comply with the guidelines, it will be revoked.
Bulk verification of Google Business Profiles – recap
Bulk verification of Google Business Profiles is an important step for companies aiming to improve their online visibility. To undergo bulk verification, your company must meet certain conditions and you must provide necessary information. If you have more than 10 business locations, use bulk verification for more efficient management!
Also check out: Google Business Profile – what should it include?