Connect Google Business Profile

This guide explains how to connect your Google Business Profile (GBP) to your Moz Local location. 

If you need to connect Google Analytics to your Moz Pro Campaign, please see our connecting GA guide.

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Quick Links

• Prepare to connect Google Business Profile
• Step 1: Start the connection process
• Step 2: Select how you’d like to connect
• Step 3: Sign in to Google
• Step 4: Allow access
• Step 5: Create or verify your location
• Step 6: Connect a verified location
• Connecting a verified location managed by a third party (request access)

Please note: You will need to be the owner or manager (not site manager) of your Google Business Profile to connect.

For us to be able to push your location updates to Google on your behalf, a Google Business Profile needs to be created, verified, and connected to the Listings Dashboard.

Prior to connecting Google to your location in Moz Local:

• Ensure that your location is in a GBP Location Group

• Ensure you have a minimum of Manager access

• Ensure you are logged in to the GBP account containing the locations you want to connect to Moz Local

• Make sure the location data in Moz Local matches the existing listing information in your Google Business Profile

To connect your Google Business Profile to your Moz Local location, be sure you are viewing your location at the location level (rather than the group or account level available when managing multiple locations). Hover over the icons on the top right of the screen and click the Google Business Profile icon.

After clicking the Google Business Profile icon, you will be prompted to select whether you’d like to connect via an Authenticated Connection or a Non-Authenticated Connection. 

• Authenticated Connection — Link your location via authenticated API. This connection type requires you to log into and authenticate the connection with Moz Local so we can push updates to GBP on your behalf.

• Non-Authenticated Connection — Monitor your GBP listing via a non-authenticated web crawler. This connection is a monitor-only option that does not require OAuth. With this connection type we will not be able to send updates to GBP for your listing.

When Non-Authenticated Connection is selected, you will be asked to enter your Google Business Profile URL and click Link. No other steps are required for this type of connection. 

If you would like to connect via an Authenticated Connection, please continue to step 3.

If you have selected Authenticated Connection, you’ll be prompted to sign into your Google account. Be sure to log in with the Google account associated with your Google Business Profile listing(s).

If you’re already logged into Google, you will be prompted to select and confirm the account you want to connect.

Once you’ve signed in or selected an account, a window will open in which you are asked to grant the Local Listing Connector access to your Google profile. Please click Allow.

If you have previously allowed access, this step will be skipped.

If you are connecting a verified location that you are managing, move on to step 6.

When connecting your Google Business Profile locations to Moz Local, the process will vary depending on whether it is a new location and whether you have access to manage it. Below are the next steps if you need to create a new location in GBP or verify an existing location.

If you have already verified your location in GBP, please move to step 6.

A. Create and connect new locations 

If you are creating and connecting a location without an existing Google Business Profile listing, please click Create and Connect. The location is now created and connected. Please see below for instructions on how to verify it. 

B. Connect unverified location

To connect an unverified listing that is managed by you, please click Confirm next to the location name. 

Verify your location in Google Business Profile

If you are creating a new location in GBP or connecting an unverified location, you will need to verify it for Moz Local to push updates to the GBP platform. Once the Google Business Profile for your locations is connected, you can start the verification process. 

Please click Verify this location in the Listings Dashboard. From here, you can request a verification code. You will then be prompted with the best verification methods available. Please note: Phone verification is not always available. If you do choose the phone option, you will immediately receive the verification code on the provided phone number.

If you choose the by mail option, a postcard with the verification code will be sent to the relevant business address. The postcard should arrive within 10 days. Please note: Verification codes are valid for 30 days.

Once the location is verified, you can finish connecting it to Moz Local by selecting Connect only one location.

Please Note: Only verified business accounts are able to connect all locations automatically by selecting Connect all locations. If the location is managed by another user and they will be allowing the connection please skip to option B below.

A. Connecting a Verified Location managed by you (ungrouped, personal account)

If the GBP Profile is owned by you or someone else and you have accepted Manager rights, the page can be found in the personal section of your Google Business Profile account. To search the personal, ungrouped section when trying to connect Google Business Profile, click on the highlighted message, where you can now select the location you wish to connect.

B. Connect a location managed by others (like team members or clients)

If someone else owns or administers the GBP Profile, please send them the link as displayed in the image. They can then sign in to the respective Google account and confirm with a few clicks that the profile may be connected. The process is completed as soon as the owner/administrator has approved the account connection. In case the profile is not verified yet, they can also start the verification process and follow the process as stated in step 5.
 

If you wish to connect a location that is managed by a third party, you can also request access to this location directly in the Connect Flow. The system will recognize the location already exists, and you will have the option to click on Request Access. Afterward, you will be prompted to fill in a form. The request will then be sent to the current business manager.