By Josh Kandle

Every business should create and claim a Google My Business listing. It’s a foundational step in establishing a foothold in Google’s ecosystem.

Josh Kandle,

Time to complete: Eight minutes, unless you opt for the postcard and then it’s seven days.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open a web browser and go to google.com/business. You’ll be prompted to log-in because Google wants to know who to associate the business with.
2. Click on the “Start Now” button in the upper right corner.
3. Enter your business details and click “Continue.”
4. If the business has already been claimed, Google will let you know that information and you’ll be able to see the first two letters of the email address associated with the listing. You can request ownership using the button and Google will send an email to the current owner.
5. If the business has not been claimed, Google will want you to verify the business by entering in a code. You can either have the code mailed, texted or telephoned to you. Mailing takes the longest but sometimes is the only choice presented. Both texting and the telephone options are almost instantaneous as they give you a code and you plug it in, and whamo, you’re verified.
6. At this point, you’ll be taken to the Google My Business dashboard, which you can get back to at any time by visiting the same website: www.google.com/business/ and choosing the “Sign-in” option.

This dashboard is useful because it allows you to control a bunch of information about your business that is visible in the search engine results pages, i.e., to prospective customers.

Also, when you completely fill out your profile and optimize it by adding photos, business hours and categories, you send a trust message to Google that you are a business that is present and accounted for.

The more of those messages you can send to Google, the better.

Now go out and claim your Google My Business listing and start increasing your online visibility.

[panel title="About Josh Kandle:" style="info"]

Josh Kandle is the creative director for Cougar Digital Marketing & Design in West Richland.