Best Practices For GMB Listing When Relocating Your Business

Best Practices For GMB Listing When Relocating Your Business

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:

Don’t Close Your Current GMB Listing And Don’t Create A New One:

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.

Update Your Existing Google Listing – What To Expect When Changing Your Address:

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.

Don’t Make Any Additional Edits To Your Business Information During Verification Time:

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.

Navigating Google Support:

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 Main Problems That Could Arise During the Process:

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.

Quick Steps For Updating Your Business Location on GMB:

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.

  • Firstly, you should search for your new address on Google Maps to ensure that there are no old businesses listed there. If you find any, take steps to have them moved or closed.
  • Next, update your website to include your new address and location details. This will help your customers find you easily.
  • Thirdly, update your business address in the Google My Business (GMB) dashboard and complete the verification at the new address. This affirms that your business information is accurate and up-to-date.
  • Once the new address is live, it is important to update the most critical listing sites for your location and industry. This will increase your visibility online and help customers find you easily.
  • Lastly, monitor for duplicate listings at your new location and verify if any business that used to be at your new address has moved or been marked “closed.” This will help you avoid any confusion in your NAP listing and ensure that your business is the only one listed at your new address, avoiding incorrect local citations .

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.

Best Practices For GMB Listing When Relocating Your Business

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: Don't Close Your Current…
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