How to claim a local business listing

Local business listings strengthen your online presence and help you rank highly in search results for queries like “XYZ near me.” Sometimes, someone else will create a page for your business, but you can’t control what shows up on listings you don’t own. So, if you find an existing page for your business on local listing sites, it’s essential to claim it for your business.

The process for claiming a local business listing is quite similar across different platforms, but each has its own quirks. Here’s how to claim a listing across four of the most popular listing sites.

Claim your Google Business Profile listing

The simplest way to claim your Google Business Profile listing is through Google Maps. Start by opening Google Maps and searching for your business name. Then:

1. 1. Choose the correct listing for your business. There might be multiple listings with a similar name, so make sure the one you choose is in the correct location.
   2. Click on “Claim this business” in the Maps listing. When you do this, a new tab will open to start guiding you through the process of claiming the business listing.
   3. Make sure you’re logged in to the right account, then click “Manage Now.” The new tab will show the email address that will be associated with your Google Business Profile. If you have different accounts for business and personal use, make sure you’re logged into the right one.
   4. Verify your business ownership by following the online instructions. The default option is to record a video of your business showing that the business exists and demonstrating proof of ownership (for example, by opening the cash register or recording yourself accessing employee-only areas).
   5. Wait for verification. This can take up to five working days. Once your video’s been verified by Google, you should get a notification in your Google account.
   6. Start managing your listing via your Google Business Profile. When your claim has been verified, you can start managing your listing, such as ensuring all your business details are correct, adding images, and responding to customer reviews.

Claim your Yelp listing

To claim the Yelp listing for your business, start by going to Yelp for Business. Then:

1. 1. Click on “Verify my free listing.” This will take you to the start of a walkthrough to find and claim your business listing.
   2. Search for your business. If a business listing already exists with that name, it will show up in the dropdown menu. You should check that it is your business (not a similarly-named business in another location). If so, select it from the menu.
      
      Note: If there isn’t already a listing for your business, you will need to add your business instead.
   3. Create a Yelp account. This will be the account you’ll use to log in and manage your listing, so make sure you use your business email address rather than a personal one.
   4. Verify your account. Once you’ve created an account, you’ll receive an email or a phone call to verify your account. You’ll need to enter your verification code to complete your account setup and claim your listing.
   5. Start managing your Yelp business listing. You’ll get a notification once your listing claim has been successful. Then, you’ll be able to take ownership of your Yelp listing and start adding more information about your business and managing the reviews on your profile.

Claim your Bing listing

To claim a Bing listing for your business, start by going to the Bing search engine. Then:

1. 1. Search for your business. This will help you find out whether there’s an existing listing for your business or if you need to create a new one.
      
      Note: If your business has multiple locations, you can claim them all in one go, thanks to Bing’s bulk upload tool, which is incredibly helpful for multi-location companies.
   2. Click “Claim now.” This will open a new tab and walk you through the process of claiming your business listing.
   3. Create or log in to your account. This is the account you’ll use to manage your Bing listing, so you’ll need to use a business email address rather than a personal one.
   4. Verify your account. In this step, you prove to Bing that you do own the business you’re trying to claim. In this step, you’ll choose a way for Bing to send you a PIN — via phone, email, or physical mail. Once you receive the PIN, you can enter it and verify your account.
   5. Manage your Bing listing. Once your account has been verified, you can manage your Bing listing via your business account. You can add photos, update business information, and manage customer reviews.

Claim your Foursquare Business listing

To claim your business listing on Foursquare, go to the Foursquare Business website. Then:

1. 1. Search for your business. You’ll need to enter your business name and location into the search boxes. If there are several similarly-named companies in your area, make sure you find the correct listing.
   2. Click “Claim My Business.” This will start a walkthrough of the remaining steps to claim your business listing.
      Note: If you’re a multi-location business and you need to claim more than ten business locations, you’ll need to complete this form instead. This lets you put in a bulk claim for multiple business pages at once rather than submitting individual claims for each location.
   3. Log in to Foursquare. Make sure you’re logged in to your business account rather than a personal one. And if you don’t have an account already, you’ll need to create one at this stage.
   4. Verify your account. Before you can start managing your business listing, Foursquare needs to verify your account. This can take a little time, or you can pay a one-time fee of $20 to get instant management access to your account.

Make listings management easier with Chatmeter

This article has taken you through how to claim a local business listing on some of the most popular listing directory sites. But there are tons of other sites you might want listings on (we put together a list of 28 you should know about).

Logging into each listings site individually to claim and manage your listings can be incredibly time-consuming, especially if you’re a multi-location business with multiple listings to keep track of. 

Thankfully, a listings management tool like Chatmeter makes this more straightforward. Our platform lets you connect with several of the most popular review sites to manage your listings. You can manage your local listings from a single platform, which can be a real time-saver and make the whole process easier for your team.

Want to learn more? Find out how Chatmeter can help you manage local listings across platforms, or book a demo with our team. We’ll be happy to guide you through exactly how Chatmeter can help your company.