Session one: Getting your business online
This session covered the anatomy of a business profile, a step-by-step run through of how to set one up as well as the key benefits of optimising your business profile.
Here are some key take-aways from the session. If you have a business and want to improve your online presence, you might be interested in these answers from our Google experts to some frequently asked questions:
Common questions
Can you use a home address for your online listing? (e.g. if you’re an accountant with a home office)
Yes, and it’s possible to hide your address if needed if you don't serve customers at your location by listing it as a ‘service-area business’.
How do I claim a business that's already been claimed?
Follow these support guidelines to request ownership of the profile. If you’re having issues, use the ‘contact us’ button on the page. View Google’s Business Profile ownership support
Is it possible to have multiple businesses at the same address?
Yes, e.g. a mall/office complex that houses multiple businesses. But you cannot create multiple listings for separate parts of the same business. E.g. restaurant with side cafe.
Can I turn reviews off on my Google My Business listing?
No, you cannot turn off reviews.
How can I report false or hateful reviews that someone has left on my Google My Business listing?
Merchants can report reviews within their Google My Business account by selecting ‘flag as inappropriate’. Reviews must be in violation of Google policies, e.g. hate speech, profane, irrelevant, in order to be taken down. It can be difficult to prove a review is fake. If you can’t get the review taken down, we recommend merchants reply to the review with apologies or questions. E.g. "What date did you come into our office? I don't remember working with a client with your name" etc.
Can you completely pull a listing, e.g. if you have a bunch of bad reviews?
Yes, although this is not this is not recommended as a strategy to “wipe the slate clean” as you may not be able to verify your new listing. As mentioned in the training, we recommend responding to reviews (see above). View Google’s support page to remove a Business Profile
How do I add a Manager or Admin to my listing?
There are three types of users for listings: Owners, Managers, and Site managers.
- Managers have all of the capabilities of an owner, except for particularly sensitive capabilities such as removing the listing or managing access to it.
- A Site manager can interact with customers, publish posts and photos, and respond to reviews on behalf of your listing. You can add new users on Desktop (select Users in left hand menu) or Mobile app (tap More > Manage Users).
I have a bunch of stores. What’s the fastest way to get them all verified?
If you have 10 or more storefront locations that need to be verified, then you’re eligible for Bulk Verification. This allows you to submit all your location information with a spreadsheet to a specialised team that will process all your verification requests at once.
Tools & Learning Resources
Small Business Resources
Get Started with Google My Business
Google for Small Business Website
NZ COVID-19 Small Business Hub
Google Marketing Kit
