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You have acquired a business and need to rebrand it. How do you transition the Google Business Profile without getting it suspended? Here's what you need to know.
Warning! Do NOT create a new Google Business Profile and mark the old one as closed. This is actually what Google would suggest you do, but this will mean losing all the reviews and starting from scratch with your local SEO. *sad trombone*
Here is what you should do instead
1. You need to update the web BEFORE you update your Profile
This way, when you make the updates, Google's automated checking system will be like "that tracks", and you will be less likely to trigger re-verification or suspension.
So, make sure you update these key data sources first:
- The NAP info on the webpage that the current GBP is linking to – you'll likely need to ask the current business owner to do this for you
- Facebook page for the location
- BBB listing
- Yelp listing
- Foursquare listing
- Data Axle
- Any prominent industry sites like Home Advisor if it's a home services business
Once you've got those updated, NOW you can update the Google Business Profile.
2. You need to get ownership of the existing Profile
Ask the old owner to add your Google account as an OWNER (not Manager) of the Profile.
3. Once you have access, you can make changes to the Profile, but be careful
Too many changes too quickly may trigger re-verification or possibly suspension. Space out edits of sensitive fields one per week.
Ideally, you will keep the phone and address the same, and the only changes will be the name/brand and website URL.
- A name change usually doesn't trigger a re-verification.
- A phone number change usually DOES trigger a re-verification.
You'll likely also want to update the website URL. Make a page on the site for the new location, and then update the website field in Google Business Profile to point to this new page.
Remember: leave at least a week between the name change and the website change.
You will likely also want to change some of the photos on the Profile. You can delete old ones and add new ones without any concerns.
4. You could then update the rest of the citations on the internet
There you go. You now know how to rebrand a GBP when you acquire an existing business. You may want to save this post for later.
Author: «Darren Shaw»
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