Verifying and Claiming The Most Essential Directory Listings for My Restaurant.

One very important part of keeping your online listings clean is something that we can’t do for you. However, we can help guide you through it step by step!

This is a process that can take you less than 15 minutes - but the benefits will last far, far beyond that amount of time!

What you will need to have access to is

A web browser
The telephone you use to receive calls from customers at your place of business.

This is because each of these directories use a very similar method in confirming your place of business - there will be a code generated, and a phone call will be made to your listed number to confirm that the person who has the code also has access to the actual business. It is time sensitive, so you will need to have the proper browser window open at the same time the phone call is generated.

If you don’t know what to expect, it can catch you off guard - but that’s why we’re here! To let you know everything you need to know and to prepare for. You can use this guide as preparation, and you can use it as you are going through the process to follow it step by step, and click by click..

Google Maps

While you may have a unique email address associated with your business, you should also have at least one account managed through Google to have access to the many tools Google has available to you, and more specifically, to be able to claim your Google Maps and Page listing for your restaurant. This is a key listing, and is the most important listing you can control.

Create a Google Account

If you do not yet have a Google Account, you can set up your free Google Account here. This will provide you an email address with the username of your choice with an @gmail.com address. Ex: [yourrestaurant]@gmail.com

If you want, you can purchase a G Suite Business plan that will allow you to use your own unique domain for your address (such as [name]@[yourrestaurant].com ) instead of the standard @gmail.com, but with all the benefits of a Google Account -- but that is beyond the scope of this tutorial.

Whatever method you choose to create an account, Google will generally finalize the creation of the account by sending a text with a verification code to the personal cell phone number you will link to the account.

Setup Google My Business

Once you have a Google Account, you can now navigate to Google My Business.

If you are not signed in, you can do so with the ‘Sign In’ button on the top-right side of the page.

You will enter in the credentials of the Google Account you want to be associated with your business listings.

Once you are in, you will have the opportunity to do a search for your business listing to find what Google already has listed for you.

Begin typing your restaurant name, and if there is already a listing for it, it will come up in the list. Check the address to make sure it is yours. Click it.

If for some reason it has already been claimed by someone, Google will give you a hint what email account is currently associated with it. Sometimes, it turns out you or a previous owner, manager, or employee has already claimed it with another email address. If you have access to the email address on file, or have access to the individual who does, the ‘Request Access’ button will send a message to the on-file address. Otherwise, if someone has access to it and should not, there is a ‘report a problem’ option as well, and Google will help you resolve it. If the business has not been currently claimed, the full listing will show up, along with a button where you can request to ‘Manage now’. Go ahead and click it!

At this point, Google will want to verify that you really are a person who is authorized to manage the account. This is good!

The phone number currently listed for the business will be presented, and you will have the option to have a text sent, or an automated phone call. Naturally, if the phone you have set up as your business phone does not accept text messages, you will want to select ‘Call’.

When you are within reach of the phone that will be contacted, select the button which works best for you.

If you have selected Text, a text with a code will be sent to your phone. If you selected Call, you will receive a phone call that will verbally tell you what your code is.

Either way, you will be presented with a box where you will enter the code you recieved (either via text or through the phone call). Type it in exactly as you received it, and then click ‘Verify’.

Congratulations! You have now claimed your account, and can update the relevant information about your business on file to make sure it is as accurate as possible. You will also be able to delegate access to your account to others (employees or agencies) to do additional work on the site on your behalf.

Yelp!

Create an Account

Using the search on Yelp.com, do a search for your restaurant location.

When it shows up, it will likely show the status as being ‘Unclaimed’ at the top next to the Restaurant tile.

If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to create an account that is personal for you, but also connected with your business. Use the email address you generally associate with your business to sign up and log in.

If you already have a personal Yelp! Account, you can login using the button below the signup.

Once you are logged in with a valid account, you will have the opportunity to validate by phone.

At this point, Yelp! will want to verify that you really are a person who is authorized to manage the account. This is good!

The phone number currently listed for the business will be presented, and you will have the option to have a text sent (SMS) , or an automated phone call. Naturally, if the phone you have set up as your business phone does not accept text messages, you will want to select ‘Call’.

When you are within reach of the phone that will be contacted, select the button which works best for you.

If you have selected Text, a text with a code will be sent to your phone. If you selected Call, you will receive a phone call that will verbally tell you what your code is.

Either way, you will be presented with a box where you will enter the 4-digit code you received (either via text or through the phone call). Type it in exactly as you received it, and it will automatically submit.

Facebook

TripAdvisor

While logged in as the client’s account, Navigate to the client’s Restaurant page on TripAdvisor

Next to the business name,click ‘Is This your business?’

Complete the form, making sure to fill in the current local Business Phone number, and select ‘Basic / Free’.

At this point, Yelp! will want to verify that you really are a person who is authorized to manage the account. This is good!

The phone number currently listed for the business will be presented, and you be prepared to receive an automated phone call.

When you are ready, click the ‘Phone’ button on the ‘Verify’ page.

Your page will change to an input code screen. Your phone will then ring, and when you answer, you will be given a code.

Enter it in the box on the Verify Page, and submit it.

You should receive a success message. If for some reason this fails, another attempt can be made.

YP/Yellow Pages

Step 1: Creating the Account

Navigate to https://www.yellowpages.com/

Click Sign Up Now.

While you can sign up with a unique username and password, you may want to use your already created Google account associated with your business to login. It can make the process quicker, and simpler to manage. If you want to do this, select the Google button.

Sign in using the Gmail account you use for your Google Maps account.

If you use this method, you will just need to provide your zip code before continuing.

TripAdvisor will import the information from your Google account, and you will receive a Welcome email from them.

Step 2: Preparing to Claim

Now, with an account and while logged in, do a search for your business in the main search bar.

When you see your restaurant listed, click on its name to go to the listing.

Now, you are ready to claim it. Click the button marked ‘Claim this business’.

YP reverses the process the other sites use for phone verification. While you’re used to getting a code on the phone and then typing it into the computer, this time, the YP Website will give you a numeric codeYour page will change to show a numeric code. Your business phone will then ring, and when you answer, you will be asked to input the code on your screen.

You will then key it into your phone.

Your business phone will then ring, and when you answer, you will be asked to input the code on your screen.