Updated October 2022
There are a number of reasons why you might not be able to access your business page on Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business); you haven’t set it up yet, you can’t remember your password, someone else has verified the page, or maybe you just don’t know how. Let’s get into how to log into your Google Business account.
creating a Google Business Profile
If you’re setting up a Google Business Profile for the first time, head to Google Business. Select “Manage now.”
You’ll be directed to type in the name of your business.
Results will populate below. Either click on the existing business, if there is one that matches, or “Create a business with this name.”
If you’re creating a business without an existing Google Business Profile, you’ll be walked through the steps to finish the setup.
What do I do if someone else has verified my Google listing?
It is very likely that someone else has already verified your listing. Who? You might have the wrong account, someone else at your business may have claimed it, or it could be someone else entirely. Either way, click “Request Access.”
Whoever owns the associated Google account will get an email saying that you want access to the page. If you have multiple Google accounts, check each one for this email. Ask others in your business to check also. If you’re lucky, someone you know will have access. From there the transition is easy.
If the owner is not a colleague, one of three things will happen:
The Good: The owner happily responds and gives you access.
The Bad: The owner does not respond. After some period of time, Google will let you know that there was no response. This is followed by a process to again contact the owner. If there is still no response, Google will assume it is abandoned and may then grant you ownership. This can take many weeks.
The Ugly: The owner declines your request. As far as Google is concerned, it’s case closed. Sorry.
If you already have a Google Business Profile account, but can’t get in
There are a few reasons why you might not be able to access or edit your Google Business Profile:
You’ve forgotten your username or password: Head to Google Business and click “Sign in.” Enter the associated email with the account, then click “Forgot password?” Google will walk you through the steps. Hopefully you set up a backup or remember some of the information.
You want to manage the profile with a different account: Changing or adding managers and transferring ownership is easy — if have both accounts or know who does.
I’ve tried everything and Google still won’t give me access!
Google Business Profile Help is a great resource for when you’re feeling stuck. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, you can contact Google Support. Once you’re in, there are myriad ways to optimize your profile to stand out in local search. It just so happens that Two Octobers has a team of local SEO experts that can work with you to improve your reach in the local space — contact us today to find out more.
