One of the easiest ways to improve your website’s online presence is to enhance your Google Places for Business listing. However, for you to do this, you must claim and verify your business first. Verifying your business listing gives you the opportunity to share details about your business, while interacting with your potential & current customers. Also, it’s free to do and improves your automotive SEO, so let’s get started!

First, make sure you have a gmail you don’t mind sharing with others. If not, you’ll need to create one by going to here. From there, choose “Create an Account” and follow the basic instructions; it should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Now that you have a gmail, you can claim your business, while improving your online relevancy, by going here. Once you have logged in with your current or newly created gmail account, agree to accept Google’s “Terms and Conditions”. In the “Search for Business” box, type your auto repair shop and/or body shop’s business name. If you don’t see your business’ listing, choose “No, these are not my businesses”, then fill out the form by entering the correct business details. However, if you do see your listing, click on it, so you can verify it.

Depending on how Google wants you to verify your business, you might to verify by phone or by postcard. If you choose or have to verify by phone, get your pen or pencil ready, because Google’s automated service will immediately call your repair shop to give you a six-digit verification number. Enter these numbers, where it states on your screen. If you choose or have to verify by postcard, then be prepared to receive a letter, within the next 7-14 business days from Google, containing these numbers. Remember, to log back in, as soon as you get them and enter those numbers because, it’ll expire after 30 days.

Now, that the verification process is out of the way, you can update your listing by filling out the rest of the form. Don’t forget to enhance it by adding personal photos of your auto shop and a detail description about your services.

If you need help with any part of this process, please feel free to contact us here or use our live chat support located at the bottom right corner of our online Support Desk!