Verification proves to Google that you run the business. Google picks which methods you can use, and you cannot change them: phone or text, email, a recorded video, a live video call, or a postcard by mail. After you finish, Google's help page says verification reviews take up to 5 business days.
| Method | What you do | Timing Google states |
|---|---|---|
| Phone or text | Answer the call or open the text, then enter the code | No separate time given |
| Follow the steps in the verification email | No separate time given | |
| Recorded video | Film the location, your tools and proof you manage it | Review takes up to 5 business days |
| Live video call | Show the same proof to a support person, on site, in business hours | Review takes up to 5 business days |
| Postcard | Enter the code printed on the card | Most codes arrive within 14 days; codes expire after 30 days |
Updated
Most verification problems come from three things: details that changed mid-process, a video that does not show enough, or a business that does not meet Google's eligibility rules. Pick what you are seeing in the fix finder for the step Google documents, then use the checklist to prepare a video before you record it.
What are you seeing?
Google says most postcard codes arrive within 14 days. Wait that long before asking again, and do not request a new card early, since that cancels the one in the mail.
0 of 5 ready
Your site should show the same name, address and phone as the profile. This structured data block states them for search engines in the schema.org LocalBusiness format.
Place it in the page head. openingHours uses two-letter days and 24-hour times, as schema.org describes.
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "LocalBusiness",
"name": "Harbor Bike Repair",
"url": "https://example.com",
"telephone": "+1-555-0142",
"address": {
"@type": "PostalAddress",
"streetAddress": "12 Pier Road",
"addressLocality": "Portland",
"addressRegion": "ME",
"postalCode": "04101",
"addressCountry": "US"
},
"openingHours": "Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00"
}
</script>Google's guidelines say a business needs a physical location customers can visit, or must travel to customers where they are. Unstaffed virtual offices and remote mailboxes do not qualify.
Use the real-world business name, exactly as it appears on your sign and website, with no extra keywords. Google's guidelines say not to add keywords, taglines, hours or promotional words to it.
Google requires a verified profile before you can reply to reviews. For what to fill in next, our Business Profile optimization article covers photos, categories and posts.
No. Google's help page says verification methods are automatically determined by Google and cannot be changed. You may see one method or several.
Google says verification reviews take up to 5 business days. Postcard codes usually arrive within 14 days, and every code expires after 30 days.
Google asks for outside signs, nearby businesses or a street sign that confirms the location; products, branded equipment, marketing materials or tools; and proof you manage the place, such as access to an employee-only area.
Google's help page says a returning Get verified button, or a Review issues notice, can mean the attempt failed. Select Review issues if you see it and follow the on-screen steps, or start verification again.
Yes, as a service-area business that travels to customers. Google's guidelines say a service-area business should hide its address from customers, and P.O. boxes or remote mailboxes are not acceptable addresses.
Related: How to get your business on Google, Google Business Profile optimization, Google Business Profile suspended, Google Search Console guide.
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