The amount of businesses getting their verification videos denied by google my business is increasing. Google has become stricter in their regulations as fake companies continue to try and game their system. In this blog I’ll go over what you need to do so that your business can get verified and have the potential to rank well in google.
Google gives a list of what you need to get your business verified, but they don’t make it very clear on what won’t work. I’m hoping to clear some of this up in today’s guide.
An unedited, unique, and complete recording with no breaks.
If you miss any of the items in google’s list and think you are going to re-submit them in another one, think again. Google wants one video, no edits, talk as you walk. There are no exceptions so make sure you have the list handy and ready to go so you can actually get your video approved.
At least 30 seconds long.
This one should be really simple but oftentimes people skip this and just post whatever they want. You don’t have to turn the phone off if your video seems short. Just keep looking around your office, show more signage, your desk, getting the mail etc. to prove it’s actually your office.
Recorded and uploaded from a mobile device through your Business Profile.
Google has a Learn how to submit your video tutorial you can watch if this blog doesn’t cover what you need but essentially you’ll need to log into your business profile and upload your video directly through the app. I don’t know for sure but I’m pretty sure that it has to do with them wanting to make sure it’s a legit business owner on their phone doing the actual video.
What You Need to Show in Your GMB Video
There are 3 things google requires in a video. Not including them will get it denied and not including enough will get you denied:
- Show your business location
- Show proof that your business exists
- Show proof of management
Business Location
This is the proof google needs to see that your business is actually where you say it is. They can’t really know if you send a video in of the front of the building and can’t actually see what’s around it, signage, other stores etc. The best thing to do is to start outside your building and show the street with hopefully the signage and then your building with the signs on it as you walk up to it. This can be tricky but again google needs to see that you are actually a business in the location you say you are in.
Proof your business exists
This one is where people mess up. You need to show that your business actually exists which includes going inside, seeing the offices, showroom, your logo on the wall, business cards and everything you can think of. The name on everything in your business has to match exactly what is on your gmb profile or it won’t get approved.
Proof of Management
This is the part where you have to show you actually manage the store or business. Do this by unlocking doors, going into back-rooms, getting into cash registers etc.
Service Area Businesses
OK so all of the requirements stay the same for service based businesses except you can’t add the address to your profile. The issue being that you serve the customer at their address not yours. Many businesses get messed up by thinking they have to have the address showing and then get disapproved when google reviews and see’s they don’t accept clients at their location but are still trying to show the address.
Summary
These are the main offenders for businesses who haven’t been able to get verified in google. If you’re having trouble please reach out and we can help you get verified on your own gmb profile.
