Claiming your listing is the first step to getting your business on the top of Google Maps and Google Places.  The following steps will guide you through the process.

Step 1: Register with Google

First, if you don’t have a Google login ID you need to create one. To do this, go to https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount. If you already have a Google account move on to the next step.

Creating a Google Account and Claim your Google Places Listing

Step 2: Find your listing…

Searching Google Maps and finding your Google Places Business Listing

Claiming your Google Places Business Listing

Editing your Google Places / Google Maps Business Listing

Updating Your Business Information on Google Places is very important.  If you have not claimed your business listing please read Claim Your Listing on Google Maps and Google Places

We recommend the following steps.

Step 1: Basic Information

• Tip 1: Company Name
  You will need to enter in the full and official Company/Organization name.
• Tip 2: Address
  The Address field is required and would be in the format you would use for an official U.S. mailing address. (Street Address, City/Town, Zip.) We recommend not using a post office box number.
• Tip 3: Main Phone
  The phone number is also required along with the area code. Use an 800 number as an alternative phone number. Click Add more phone numbers to add an 800 number, mobile phone, fax, and TTY/TDD. TTY and TDD are used for those who have hearing or speech difficulties.
• Tip 4: Email address
  In the next box, enter your email address. This leaves customers with an alternate way of contacting you especially if your office is closed.
• Tip 5: Website
  A website is a must. If you don’t have a website at least get a Facebook Fan Page. You can return to Google Places to update your website listing if need be.
• Tip 6: Description
  Be sure to write about your business and stand out from other companies.
• Tip 7: Category
  Enter up to five categories that describe the business. Google takes these into account when a customer performs a search. Google will make suggestions as you type. It is required to have at least one Google-suggested category. The rest can be of your own choosing, but we recommend using standard categories that prospective customers will be searching for. Sometimes it helps to search and see what other companies similar to yours have for their categories. Also, you can use Keyword tools to and look for popular searched keyword phrase.

Step 2: Service area and location setting

Choose if customers have to come to the business or if they can be served at their location. For example, “Yes” would be chosen if you visit the customer’s location.

Step 3: Hours of operation

Next, choose to list hours of operation. These can be changed through the drop-down menus. One nice feature with Google Places is the ability to split a single day. If your lunch is around noon this can be entered so visitors know you will not be available.

Step 4: Payment options…

Step 5: Photos

You can add up to 10 photos to your Google Places profile. We recommend the logo (branding is always good) followed by photos of products, company building, sales staff, and anything that would interest searchers to contact your company.

Step 6: Videos

If there is a video you want to play for the visitors, upload it to Youtube.com and then copy and paste the URL here. Up to 5 videos can be added to the listing.

Step 7: Additional Detail

Additional Details is a great section to create your own custom fields. Use these spaces to include information such as awards, certifications, services offered, specialties, and products.

Step 8: Important Note

Before you click ‘Submit’, take a look at the information on the right side of the screen. This is how your listing will be presented once it is published on Google Maps and Places. Go back and change anything you feel doesn’t look good or fix errors.

Click Submit and proceed to Validating Your Google Places Listing.

Step 1: Validate The Listing

Once the listing is submitted, there will be two choices on how to have it verified.

Validating Business Google Places Listing

Option 1: Phone Call

If you choose the phone method, be prepared to receive an automated call within moments of clicking ‘Submit’.  If your phone system answers the phone and requires callers to push numbers to proceed, this option will not work for you and you will need to use Option 2 below.  Otherwise if your able to answer, you will hear the PIN number spoken to you during the call. Make sure your business phone is close by and be ready to write the pin down before clicking “Submit”. Google recommends waiting a minute or so before entering it into the verification box while their database updates to recognize it.  If for some reason the phone call is missed, go back a screen and select the phone call option again, but sometimes Google may not give you the choice when you do that. If all else fails, you can always opt for Option 2 below.

Option 2: Letter

If you choose to verify through letter, they will send a PIN number through the U.S. mail and it generally takes 2-3 weeks to receive it. It will come directly to the address specified as your business location. Once the letter is recieved, log into Google Places Dashboard and enter the PIN into the verification box next to the listing.

Google Places Validation by Mail

About the Google Places Verification Process

Both options are intended to reach you while you are at your business location in order to verify it is legitimate.   Whatever option chosen, there may be a waiting period after the PIN is entered while Google finalizes its review of the listing and it goes live for customers to access.  You can periodically check the listing’s status by going to the Main Dashboard screen after the verification process or logging into Google Places at a later time and clicking on Dashboard.

Step 2: Final step to verifying ownership of your listing

After going to the dashboard you should see the listing appear. Under the red text that says ‘Needs Action’ enter the PIN received via the phone call or letter. Then click Go. If your PIN number is wrong or has been accepted you will see a notification message.

Now you just have to wait until Google reviews the listing and accepts it.  As mentioned above this could take a few days or much longer.

Be sure to revisit your Google Places account and update it as often as possible.

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