How to get the Google Verified Business blue checkmark & Trusted Service badge on your website and Google Business Profile

What does the Google Verified Business & Trusted Service Badge mean?

The blue checkmark indicates that you have a verified Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) and an active subscription to GoogleAthlete Trusted that meets our eligibility requirements for becoming a Trusted Partner.

To receive or retain the Google Verified business & trusted service badge, subscribers must meet the eligibility criteria below.

Eligibility Criteria for The Google Verified Business & Trusted Service Badge

To be eligible to receive the Google Verified Business badge on your website and Google Business Profile Products, your account must be actively subscribed to GoogleAthlete Trusted and meet the following criteria:

1. Create a Google My Business profile. This is the first step to getting verified by Google. Your Google My Business profile should include accurate and up-to-date information about your business, such as your name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation. You can do this here - https://www.google.com/business/
2. Verify your Google My Business profile. Once you have created your Google My Business profile, you will need to verify it. This can be done by providing Google with a copy of your business's business licence or other documentation that proves that you are the owner or manager of the business.
3. Get positive reviews from your customers. Positive reviews from your customers are a great way to show Google that you are a trusted business. You can encourage your customers to leave reviews on your Google My Business profile by asking them to do so after they have made a purchase or received a service from you.
4. Follow Google's guidelines. In order to be eligible for the Google blue checkmark and "Trusted Service" badge, you must follow Google's guidelines for businesses. These guidelines include things like providing accurate and up-to-date information on your Google My Business profile, responding to customer reviews in a timely manner, and following Google's policies on spam and deceptive practices.

In addition to meeting the above criteria, businesses must also meet Google Athletes eligibility requirements for becoming a Trusted Partner. These requirements include:

• Add Google Athlete as a Manager to your Google Business Profile.
• Make sure your Google My Business profile is complete and up-to-date.
• Use high-quality photos and videos on your Google Business profile.
• Respond to customer reviews promptly and professionally.
• Offer excellent customer service.
• Be transparent about your business practices.
• Follow Google's policies and guidelines.
• Use a website builder that supports custom coding.

If you need help with this, contact us here

Once our team reviews your GoogleAthlete Trusted account and confirms that it meets our requirements, we will provide you with the code for the Google Verified Business and trusted service badge to put on your website.

Loss Of Google Verified Business Blue Checkmark & Trusted Service Badge

The Verified Business & trusted service badge is a valuable asset for businesses, as it can help to increase trust and credibility with potential customers. However, there are a few things that can cause businesses to lose their verification status, including:

• Not responding to reviews. Google takes customer feedback seriously, and businesses that do not respond to reviews in a timely and helpful manner may be at risk of losing their Google Verified Business blue checkmark and trusted service badge.
• Inaccurate or misleading information. Businesses that provide inaccurate or misleading information on their Google Business Profile may also be at risk of losing their Google Verified Business blue checkmark and trusted service badge.
• Spam or abusive content. Businesses that post spam or abusive content on their Google Business Profile may also be at risk of losing their Google Verified Business blue checkmark and trusted service badge.
• Violation of Google's policies and guidelines. Businesses that violate Google's policies and guidelines, such as by engaging in fraudulent or deceptive activity, may also be at risk of losing their Google Verified Business blue checkmark and trusted service badge.
• Cancel GoogleAthlete Trusted subscription or have an unpaid subscription.

Your Google Verified Business & trusted service badge will reappear once our team reviews your GoogleAthlete Trusted subscription and confirms that it continues to meet our requirements.

If a business loses its Google profile verification status/ suspended, it will no longer be able to display the Google Verified Business & trusted service badge on their products. This can have a negative impact on the business's visibility and credibility, and it may make it more difficult for the business to attract old and new customers. Contact Google here to get your account verified/reinstated https://support.google.com/business/answer/4569145?hl=en-GB

Google Athlete may revoke the Verified Business & trusted service badge from your website or Google Business Profile, and request that you remove it, at any time without notice, in accordance with our Purchaser terms. We may also deactivate your Google Athlete reviews page.