Comments on: Solving Google Local Business Center Verification Hassles – An Idea

By: David

David — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:49:44 +0000

I think its also how to educate your clients/locations as to the true value of that little card as the feedback I hear is that they don’t really care and just often throw it in the pile with the rest of the mail or out because they didn’t know what it was… Their response is often oh no matter just send another one which doesnt really work if multiple locations have unverified.

Agreed its a massive value, worse is when you make a few changes and Google changes the status to unverified and you have to start again. I have clients who have lost several because it gets sent to the store location who aren’t involved in the project, and you can’t do anything more than advise to wait…

Its really painful to spend all the time setting up locations and have to deal with the slow process of waiting 2-3 weeks. But with respect to their team, they have been getting much faster but it should be controlled by local offices and not require postage from Mt View…

I would be happy in larger projects to have a premium price attached to express postage, or couldn’t they look at other elements such as in Australia that your ABN/ACN number postcode matches or even tie the authentication to this as other business directories do…?

By: Scott Clark

Scott Clark — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:45:52 +0000

Well, one thing I’m kinda hoping for is the use of Google Voice as an option. We can set up the business office as one phone, their cell phone(s) as other options. Then, all of them ring simultaneously. I have this set up with my business and it’s great.

By: Ken Bush

Ken Bush — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:39:00 +0000

I usually alert my clients just prior to initiating the telephone verification so they are the ones that pick up the phone when Google calls. Some use a cell phone as their business phone, so that makes the process much simpler.

Another problem with the postcard verification is that some businesses do not receive mail at the business address. In example, I represent a cabin rental where the business address is the address of the rental cabin. It is not occupied unless it has been rented. We preferred to list the cabin address instead of the actual business address so searchers could see where it was located.

Wouldn’t it be much simpler to have some sort of email verification? I know Google is trying to verify that the business is an actual, physical business but no method is foolproof.

By: JeffWend

JeffWend — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:54:50 +0000

It is very frustrating. I rarely get the code back from clients even after we discussed the fact that the postcard is coming. There has to be a better way.

By: ricky_yy2

ricky_yy2 — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:59:00 +0000

I can understand why Google adopted the complicated procedures to get the local business listing verified. I found that some of the companies here in China have begun to use the listing as the best way to get their company listed at the top rank.

By: Scott Clark

Scott Clark — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:22:34 +0000

Yeah, it would be sweet if the Agency could get a tracking number for a fedex/ups with the number. That way we could stay on top of it.

I have clients who were sent postcards THREE TIMES, A YEAR AGO and they are still not verified.

By: Jacob Stoops

Jacob Stoops — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:19:24 +0000

I agree. The Google Maps submission process is a pain in the ass! Now try working for an marketing firm who must spend all day submitting listings on a client’s behalf. If they don’t know you’re doing it, you have almost no shot at getting it verified. The only other option to bypass this is by submitted a mass data sheet.