If you are planning to relocate your business, it’s important to manage your Google My Business listing. This can assist your customers in finding you at your new location. Here are some tips to help you manage your listing:
We advise you not to close your existing Google My Business listing and also refrain from creating a new one. This is because any reviews that you may have received from your previous location are important and should be secured for your new location.
When you move and change your address on your Google My Business (GMB) dashboard, it is possible that Google may ask you to re-verify your business’s information at the new address. This process can be completed either by phone or postcard verification. If the phone verification option is available, it is recommended that you choose it as it is a faster option. However, before triggering the phone call, make sure to double-check the phone number listed on your GMB dashboard. Also, be prepared to answer the phone immediately to receive the verification code.
In case you are not given the phone verification option, it may take up to 10 business days to receive the verification postcard. Therefore, it’s important to plan ahead and ensure that you can receive mail at the new address. If you are unable to receive the postcard, you’ll have to start the verification process again once you receive mail at the new address.
When you request a verification postcard from Google for your listing, you should refrain from making any changes to your listing during this time. Google advises against changing your “Name” or “Category” as this can result in the nullification of your verification request. Once you’ve requested the postcard, the best practice is to leave the listing as-is till you get the postcard and enter the code. After entering the verification code, your listing changes should be live shortly. However, if your listing is still pending after a few days, reach out to Google Support for further assistance.
When updating your business address on your Google My Business (GMB) profile, keep in mind that Google Support closely monitors your process. This means that any violation of their guidelines during the process may result in the suspension of your listing. Therefore, before updating your address, thoroughly assess your GMB profile to make sure that it meets all the guidelines.
Sometimes, even if you believe that you are compliant with the guidelines, suspensions can still happen. Hence, it is better to be over-prepared by having photos of your storefront signage, all your business documents, and business cards with the new address ready in case Google questions you during the process.
To be even more proactive, you can take photos of the inside and outside of your new location and keep them handy. These photos can serve as proof to Google that you are now operating at this location. Furthermore, once the update is live, upload these new photos to your listing to give your customers a better idea of your new location.
Two common problems that you may encounter are duplicate Google listings and an old or inactive business having an active GMB listing at your new location. These issues can negatively impact your online presence and harm your business’s reputation. However, you can solve these problems by reaching out to a reputable local citation building service. They can help you navigate these issues and assure that your business is accurately represented on GMB and other listing sites.
To help you with this process, we have compiled some quick and easy steps that you can follow to update your business address with ease.
Moving can be a stressful time for a business owner, but following these steps will ease the transition and avoid common mistakes. Its best to be over-prepared and ready for anything, as Google can be unpredictable.
