Alternative to registering on Google business

[PetalandPineVA]

Has anyone found a workaround for Google Business Profile when you're fully remote?

I tried registering but got declined because I don't have a physical location to verify. I'm a virtual assistant working with UK small businesses - all my work is remote, but I still want to show up when potential clients are searching locally or for remote support?!

 

[fisicx]

There is no workaround. The business profile is for local businesses. You can register using your home address and define the area you cover but has to be within two hours drive of your house.

 

[PetalandPineVA]

There is no workaround. The business profile is for local businesses. You can register using your home address and define the area you cover but has to be within two hours drive of your house.

Afternoon Thanks for your reply!

I was wondering if there was an alternative to google business that allows people to know you are a business online!

 

[fisicx]

Advertising, SEO, LinkedIn, social media, forums, local directories, billboards, get your car wrapped, networking groups, keynote speaker at events.

Loads of ways to get your name out there.

Try offering free things in exchange for an email address.

 

[Rotor]

Has anyone found a workaround for Google Business Profile when you're fully remote?

I tried registering but got declined because I don't have a physical location to verify. I'm a virtual assistant working with UK small businesses - all my work is remote, but I still want to show up when potential clients are searching locally or for remote support?!

Use a P.O BOX? EDIT or rent a desk space temporarily and use that address ?

 

[fisicx]

Use a P.O BOX? EDIT or rent a desk space temporarily and use that address ?

You need a location with signage. If Google can’t see a sign above the door you will be rejected. And the address needs to match that on your website, lease, utility bills etc.

 

[martin_shl]

You need a location with signage. If Google can’t see a sign above the door you will be rejected.

I don't think that is correct; there are lots of businesses at home addresses that don't have signage but are listed quite happily

 

[fisicx]

I don't think that is correct; there are lots of businesses at home addresses that don't have signage but are listed quite happily

That’s a home address. Totally different thing. My response was for the idea you can rent a desk or a PO Box.

 

[DontAsk]

You need a location with signage. If Google can’t see a sign above the door you will be rejected.

Not correct. Unless you are taking about some other Google business registration.

 

[fisicx]

Not correct. Unless you are taking about some other Google business registration.

Google has got a lot stricter on verification and will want to see evidence that you really do have a business at that location. Sometimes a van with signage will suffice but very often new profile will get rejected if you don't have a sign screwed to the wall. Just about all businesses now need to do video verification. There is a whole load of threads on the support forums from businesses whose profiles have been removed and the struggles they now have to get reinstated.

The reason for the additional measures is the huge number of lead generators creating multiple profiles all over the country. Very often they gave addresses that had nothing to do with the business.

 

[DontAsk]

Maybe being Ltd and/or VAT registered at the address helps.

 

[fisicx]

Maybe being Ltd and/or VAT registered at the address helps.

It can help but being visible at the address is key. Video verification is almost always required these days. It’s why businesses using shared offices and virtual addresses struggle.

 

[DontAsk]

Turns out there are multiple ways to verify, video is just two of them. See step 2 here Verify your business

 

[fisicx]

Turns out there are multiple ways to verify, video is just two of them. See step 2 here Verify your business

I agree there are multiple ways but the google AI driven verification process defaults to video verification. Try breaking out the loop and be prepared to wait forever.

 

[Paul Carmen]

If you're registering as a service area business, then signage and address are not super relevant, as you don't show these on you Google listing, juts the town/areas you serve. You may still need to video verify, but if you're a Limited company this is usually OK, as long as your address matches Companies House, and you can receive a postcard.

If you're not a Limited company; e.g. a sole trader and you have no UK physical address (home should work for service area), then it's much harder to do, it may work if you have a website too, but will often fail.

If there's no way of you proving who you/your business is, then why would Google verify it?

 

[Ozzy]

Not correct. Unless you are taking about some other Google business registration.

From my own experience, @fisicx is right on this one. We relocated our riding school and Google locked both mine and my daughters Google accounts when we tried to update the address on her Google My Business listing.
We had to both each record a video of us walking up the drive, we had to show clear signage of the riding school, we had to record ourselves going into restricted areas not accessible to the public, and we had to show other businesses in the area and clearly show their signage.
They rejected the first 3x videos I recorded for different reasons. One was that it was not clear enough that was I was entering a restricted area, one was that I didn't clearly show the signage (it is a massive, long walk up the driveway and you must record it all as one continuous recording so I recorded looking down the driveway from the facility first time, which they rejected), and the other was that I didn't show the neighbouring business signage (a cafe) clearly as I was standing too far away from the cafe and the signage wasn't clear so I had to walk up closer to it.

Also, our experience was that the video was the single and only method that Google provided us to verify we were authorised to manage the listing. We were given no other options.

 

[ThatDevAaron]

just pay someone in the UK to sign for a package for google business, a lot of people will do it lmao

idk if its allowed, but if your not in the UK, why tf do u care lol

 

[ThatDevAaron]

From my own experience, @fisicx is right on this one. We relocated our riding school and Google locked both mine and my daughters Google accounts when we tried to update the address on her Google My Business listing.
We had to both each record a video of us walking up the drive, we had to show clear signage of the riding school, we had to record ourselves going into restricted areas not accessible to the public, and we had to show other businesses in the area and clearly show their signage.
They rejected the first 3x videos I recorded for different reasons. One was that it was not clear enough that was I was entering a restricted area, one was that I didn't clearly show the signage (it is a massive, long walk up the driveway and you must record it all as one continuous recording so I recorded looking down the driveway from the facility first time, which they rejected), and the other was that I didn't show the neighbouring business signage (a cafe) clearly as I was standing too far away from the cafe and the signage wasn't clear so I had to walk up closer to it.

Also, our experience was that the video was the single and only method that Google provided us to verify we were authorised to manage the listing. We were given no other options.

You must be one dodgy fella

 

[fisicx]

just pay someone in the UK to sign for a package for google business, a lot of people will do it lmao

idk if its allowed, but if your not in the UK, why tf do u care lol

Not sure you understand the opening post. It has nothing to do with accepting parcels.

 

[ethical PR]

Has anyone found a workaround for Google Business Profile when you're fully remote?

I tried registering but got declined because I don't have a physical location to verify. I'm a virtual assistant working with UK small businesses - all my work is remote, but I still want to show up when potential clients are searching locally or for remote support?!

You aren't a local business and are not in the UK, so why would you expect to register in the UK.

If you want UK businesses to find you then invest in targeted online advertising for online support. And set up your own marketing channels and drive advertising to them which showcase UK businesses you've been working with, with reviews from them.

 

[PetalandPineVA]

You aren't a local business and are not in the UK, so why would you expect to register in the UK.

If you want UK businesses to find you then invest in targeted online advertising for online support. And set up your own marketing channels and drive advertising to them which showcase UK businesses you've been working with, with reviews from them.

I am in the UK and i am a local business i just don't have an office as i work remotely.

 

[PetalandPineVA]

I am a little bit confused as to how me asking for some help with my business has turned into some hostile comments.

Just to be clear.
I am from the UK, i live in the UK, i work in the UK.

My business is remote because i support businesses with admin remotely. Therefore i do not have an office as currently i work from home.

I was wondering if there was an alterative to google business, so that i can advertise my business.

I do really appreciate all the comments that have been helpful, even if its a no, i'm just looking for the answer.

 

[fisicx]

There are lots of ways to market a business. But for you a Google Business Profile might not be the right one.

Unless of course you switch to a work from home business and promote your services locally in which you could do really well.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I am a little bit confused as to how me asking for some help with my business has turned into some hostile comments.

Just to be clear.
I am from the UK, i live in the UK, i work in the UK.

My business is remote because i support businesses with admin remotely. Therefore i do not have an office as currently i work from home.

I was wondering if there was an alterative to google business, so that i can advertise my business.

I do really appreciate all the comments that have been helpful, even if its a no, i'm just looking for the answer.

I haven't read all the replies, do may have missed bits, but you are required by law to provide a physical address 'at which documents can be served' (so not a PO or drop)

Can your home, or suitable business address not be dressed up as business premises?

 

[pentel]

I have had a look at google and cant seem to find the OP website? Am I missing something?

 

[fisicx]

I have had a look at google and cant seem to find the OP website? Am I missing something?

Doesn’t exist anymore.

 

[Paul Carmen]

I am a little bit confused as to how me asking for some help with my business has turned into some hostile comments.

Just to be clear.
I am from the UK, i live in the UK, i work in the UK.

My business is remote because i support businesses with admin remotely. Therefore i do not have an office as currently i work from home.

I was wondering if there was an alterative to google business, so that i can advertise my business.

I do really appreciate all the comments that have been helpful, even if its a no, i'm just looking for the answer.

I suspect the hostility is because you don't appear to be a business, and you've already had the relevant advice.

If you don't have a shop or office customers can visit, you can have a Google Business Profile (GBP), however, this needs to be set up as a service area business listing; details here: https://support.google.com/business/answer/9157481?hl=en-GB

The truth is if you don't have a good website, and aren't a limited company, then GBPs often get rejected, as you often need to create a video and/or upload documentary business proof to set them up.

There are alternatives for marketing, but not if you want to appear in the Google Maps search results, or the 3 pack on search results, as these require a GBP. Google is your only option here. Alternatives depend where your customers look, Bing is an option, but they have very similar rules for business listings.

Almost all people looking for VAs will search on Google, so a GBP isn't that important, as the expectation is that many VAs aren't local or may even be in another country. You'll need a good website and relevant service/landing pages; to get leads you either:

1. carry out customer, market, and keyword research to build a website, pages and organic SEO process to rank for the relevant searches
2. or run a search PPC campaign for relevant VA searches based on the above research

 

[Porky]

Isn't it absolutely bloody ridiculous that google, a business that stole your website data initially by scraping it without your permission has now grown so large from selling advertising against your own data that to be seen you now need to be on it and jumping through hoops providing them with video proof of who you are. Talk about tail wagging the dog, jeeze.

 

[Nathanto]

Isn't it absolutely bloody ridiculous that google, a business that stole your website data initially by scraping it without your permission has now grown so large from selling advertising against your own data that to be seen you now need to be on it and jumping through hoops providing them with video proof of who you are.

Google "stole your website data"?!?

For decades business owners have tried every trick in the book to get Google to scrape their websites!