HOW TO: Claim your Google Place Listing

WHAT: Google Places allows you, as a business owner, to mark your business on Google Maps. Your places listing shows up in searches related to your business. By claiming your Places listing, you not only can confirm correct information (hours, address, phone, etc.) but you can access the number of people that click on your business, visited your website, etc. You can read more about Places here.

WHY: Claiming your listing allows you to officially mark your business’s presence on Google Maps. This adds credibility and lets customers make informed decisions when they are searching for services.

HOW:

1) Search for your business either by name or a general search, such as “pizza in greenville, sc”. If you see your listing, click “# reviews” to see more information about your listing. If you don’t see your listing, click here to create a places listing.

2) On a listing’s page, look for “Business owner?” above the picture and click this link. (If “Business owner? is not displayed, then this listing has already been claimed. Search again, or see below to create a new listing.)

3) Login to your Google Account (or create one, if you haven’t already; they’re free).

4) Choose “Edit my business information”. Google validates your authenticity (no matter which option you choose) by mailing a PIN number to the physical address of the company. This protects you from fraudulent claims.

5) Edit the listing’s information, add photos, videos, etc., and then click “Submit”. You should receive your PIN and further instructions to finalize your claim within a few business days.

CREATE A NEW LISTING:

1) Go to www.google.com/places and sign in.

2) Click “Add new business”.

3) Insert your business’s information

4) Click “Next” and enter in operating information.

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5) Add photos, if you’d like.

6) Click “Submit”

7) Validate your listing.

Poornima is a software engineer and entrepreneur. She was one of the first engineers at Mint.com, a startup, which was acquired by Intuit. She graduated from Duke University with double major in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science. Poornima has been a devoted yogini for the past 6 years and competes in Bikram Yoga. Through consulting with local studios looking to improve their management practices, she decided to create BizeeBee. Learn more about BizeeBee

Poornima Vijayashanker

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