Google Business (GMB) listings are critical for companies that have at least one physical location, whether that location is an office, storefront, or something similar. These listings can vastly improve your local online search presence, and provide prospective customers or clients with important business details and contact information.
As someone who owns or operates a business, you may find yourself in a challenging position where you don’t have access to GMB listings that are already live. This typically happens when someone else, be it a previous digital marketing agency or former employee, has already claimed the listing. With the need to keep your business information fully updated over time, you’ll want to get administrative access to the GMB listing(s) as soon as possible. Here is guidance on different ways to gain access to a Google Business listing that you currently cannot manage.
Contact the Individual or Agency that Currently Controls the Listing
If you know the person or agency that claimed the GMB listing, and are able to get in touch with them, the process to gain access can be fairly straightforward. You would provide them with the specific email address (often your direct business email) that you want associated with the Google Business account. They would then log into the account and add you as an Owner. If they were set as a Primary Owner on the account, you would also want to have them transfer that role to you and then remove themselves from the account. From there, you would be able to add any new users you’d like in various roles and also have full control over the listing details.
Request Access Through the Google Business Profile Manager
If you are not aware of who has already claimed your company’s GMB listing, or are unable to get a hold of them to grant you access, there is another method available to help you. You would start by logging into the Google Business Profile Manager by going to google.com/business.
Once on the dashboard, you would click on the blue “Add Business” button and then select “Add single business”. From there, you will search for your business name, and then click on it in the dropdown that then appears. You should then see a page that says “This Business Profile has already been claimed” and gives you a partial email address for the current listing owner.
From there, you will need to provide some information to finish the access request. Check the box next to where it says “Listing owners and/or managers can see my public profile information and email address”, and then select your desired level of access and complete the form with the remaining details. When you click “Submit”, the listing owner will receive an email that you are requesting access. You will have access as soon as they accept the request on their end. After 7-10 days or so, if the current listing owner hasn’t responded to the request, repeat the steps to see if Google now allows you to claim the listing on your own account. If that is not an option, you will need to open a support ticket with Google Business for further assistance.
Fivespot Fully Optimizes and Manages Your Google Business Listing
As Local and Organic SEO is at the forefront of what we do here at Fivespot, our specialists have extensive experience managing our clients’ GMB listings. When you work with us, you don’t have to worry about gaining access to the listings as we will take care of all of that for you. With Google Business remaining the most important online directory/local citation platform, Fivespot also ensures that your GMB listing is completely optimized with all available business information.
Interested in learning more and discovering how we can help improve your business’ online search visibility and increase customer leads and sales revenue? Contact us online, or give us a call at (818) 964-0617 today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
