Verifying New GBP Listings

Step 1: Create The New GBP Account

Fill in ALL information possible, images, descriptions, services, GBP website, etc.

Step 2: Create Online Foundation

Citation/Social Media Profiles such as

• Local business main website

• Facebook

• Instagram

• Linkedin

• YouTube

• Twitter

• Yelp

• BBB

• Other local or niche relevant citations

Remember it is critical all business information is consistent across every account.

When setting up the business online foundation before verification, more is more. But for lead gens I tend to keep to the above as they don't require an address to set up.

Also, keep in mind if you do this incorrectly for a lead gen listing you may receive a suspension. In some cases this can lead to these listings becoming redundant requiring you to set up new ones to try again. It's frustrating but setting these up before verifying new listings is becoming more and more important to getting any GBP verified.

Step 3: Link Your Accounts

This is critical to indexing your accounts fast.

On each account use any areas available to add links to other accounts & website. You can also post links to each profile introducing a 'new brand' or simply just post the links to the other accounts.

Step 4: Google Search Console Submit Sitemap

Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console which can often speed up the first indexing of your website.

If you don't know how, use Google's Build and submit a sitemap article.

You can now check search console to see if/when Google has crawled your website. You can also see if it chose to index or not. Sometimes it will give you reasons why specific pages of the site weren't indexed.

A message saying 'crawled but not indexed' usually indicates a lack of valuable content on the applicable. Add 300-500 words of fresh content onto the applicable pages and request indexing.

Step 5: Give Them Time To Be Indexed

This allows Google to see the business information establishing brand trust BEFORE verification.

Check the listings have been indexed by searching Google for the phone number you used to set them up. If Google returns a search results page with your listings, you know Google has them indexed.

If no results are returned, try different variations of the number including items like - and ( ). If still nothing shows up you will need to wait longer.

There is no set length of time to wait but if you've waited more than 3 weeks and nothing at all is indexed, check you correctly submitted your sitemap in Google Search Console.

If you can't seem to get your site indexed you can try guest posting on sites with traffic, create link circles, posting relevant content on social media, or try adding your site to Google Analytics to give Google a nudge.

Unfortunately nothing is guaranteed to work and sometimes this can take months.

There are many other advanced methods for speed indexing some of which I will be adding to my GBP Giants course.

Step 6: Enter Code From Postcard

Once indexed you can verify the account by entering the code on the postcard you receive from Google.

In my experience this set up works for at least 90% of new listings depending on location, industry, etc. Unfortunately it's not 100% so you can still end up with a suspension. Go back through to see if you missed anything. If not, try using my Reinstating Suspended/Disabled GBPs guide.