Google Business Profile Ownership: The Smart Approach to Managing Your Digital Presence

Why Google Business Profile Ownership Matters

Have you ever felt like your Google Business Profile is part of an endless game of digital tag? One moment you’re trying to reply to customer reviews, and the next, you’re deep in a maze, chasing down elusive “ownership” settings or resolving unexpected ownership conflicts.

As Torie Mathis so aptly describes, “It’s like trying to solve a puzzle where the pieces keep moving.” Yet, this powerful tool is meant to boost your visibility and connect you directly with customers, not make you want to throw up your hands in defeat.

Mastering Google Business Profile ownership isn’t just about access; it’s about ensuring your business has full control, can collaborate seamlessly, and is poised to thrive online.

Adding & Removing Owners and Managers

Delegation is essential, and fortunately, Google allows you to invite trusted team members as Owners or Managers for your profile. But, as Torie Mathis points out, never share your sign-in information. Each user gets their own access level and responsibilities:

• Owners can add or remove users, while only the primary owner can transfer ownership.
• Managers have management privileges but can only remove themselves.

To add Owners and Managers:

1. Go to your Google Business Profile.
2. Click Menu > Business Profile Settings > People and Access.
3. Click the Add People icon, enter their info, choose Owner or Manager, and send an invite.

New Owners/Managers must wait seven days before accessing all profile features. During this time, they can’t delete the profile, transfer primary ownership, or remove other users. Need to remove someone? Owners and primary owners can do so, but if it’s the primary owner, a transfer must happen first.

Requesting Profile Ownership

What if someone else controls your business’s Google profile? If you’re authorized, you can request ownership from the current owner. Search for the “Claim this business” button on your profile or use Google Maps/Search.

• If another user has already verified the profile, you’ll get a message indicating so.
• Click Request Access, complete the form, and wait for the current owner to respond (they have three days).

If denied, you can still suggest edits or possibly appeal. If you don’t hear back, sometimes the option to claim the profile directly becomes available in your dashboard or the confirmation email.

Transferring Primary Ownership

For agencies and business owners alike, transferring primary ownership is a routine task, especially when setting up profiles for clients. If you’re the lone user, simply add other owners/managers first.

To transfer:

1. Go to your profile.
2. Select the three-dot menu > Business Profile Settings > Managers.
3. Click the user, set their role to Primary Owner, and save.The transfer is immediate, no confirmation required!

Resolving Ownership and Access Conflicts

Only one verified owner can exist per location. If you’re seeing “access needed” status, another owner has claimed it. Duplicate profiles are ignored by Google, so coordinate with the current owner or initiate an ownership request as above.

If all else fails, your support options include:

• Dropping a comment
• Visiting the Google Help Community.
• Contacting Google Support for direct assistance.

Boost Your Reviews and Your Reputation

Once your profile is sorted, Torie Mathis recommends joining her free Review Boosting Bootcamp for step-by-step instructions, templates, automation tools, and a professionally designed landing page to ramp up reviews, good and bad!

Smart Marketing Is More Than Google Profiles

But Google Business Profile ownership is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to a smart marketing strategy. Let me ask you a question:
Do you know how your marketing stacks up?

Find out by taking the SMART Marketing quiz. Get customized results on how to get smarter with your marketing, you’ll learn exactly what YOUR business should focus on, get personalized recommendations for the best return on your marketing investment, and unleash your business’s full potential. It’s like having a personal marketing coach by your side!

And remember, you don’t need crazy tech skills, buckets of cash, or a dedicated staff to market your business; you don’t even need a lot of time. What you need is to be smart, and Google Business Profile ownership is smart for your business.

If you're ready to grow your business with smart marketing you can:

1. Sign up for weekly FREE Business Bytes with CEO, Torie Mathis

2. Get a SMART Funnel and begin to automate your marketing

3. Learn Digital Marketing with a Smart Marketing Course

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TORIE MATHIS

Torie Mathis helps entrepreneurs grow their business with Smart Marketing.  She is a best-selling author, Army veteran, international speaker + trainer, and the CEO + Creative Director at Lake Shark Media. She also teaches entrepreneurs how to get smart with digital marketing at toriemathis.com