In today’s digital era, establishing an online presence with a localized approach is crucial for businesses of all shapes and sizes. As an SEO consultant at seo-jeddah.com in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, I’ve seen firsthand the immense impact that setting up a Google My Business (GMB) account can have on your business’s visibility and local search performance.

While creating an optimized GMB profile is critical, inviting and managing other users to collaborate on the account might not be as straightforward. It’s essential to understand various user roles like owners, managers, communications managers, and site managers, and monitor their privileges for your account’s security and growth. In this article, you’ll learn how to add and manage users for your Google My Business listing effectively.

Breaking Down User Roles in Google My Business

Before diving into the process of adding users, let’s take a moment to clarify the different user types available in GMB and their respective permissions:

1. Primary Owner: The user who sets up the GMB profile. They have full access to all features and functionalities, including editing business information, replying to reviews, sharing posts, messaging customers, connecting third-party apps, and making other users primary owners or removing them from the account.
2. Owner: This role provides similar privileges as the primary owner, except for transferring primary ownership or removing other owners. However, these users can still make changes to the account, so it’s best to grant this role cautiously.
3. Manager: With a manager status, users have access to most functionalities such as editing business details, responding to customer reviews, and creating posts. They cannot remove or modify the roles of other users, though.
4. Site Manager: These users can perform most tasks like managers but cannot use the messaging feature. This role is more limited than others and often works well for third-party SEO professionals or agencies liaising with your business.
5. Communications Manager: A communications manager can only reply to customer reviews and Q&A on the GMB profile. Their permissions do not extend to editing business details or managing listings, making it suitable for assigning to a public relations team or spokesperson.

Adding Users to Your Google My Business Profile: Step by Step Guide

To add new users to your GMB account, follow these simple steps:

Accessing Google My Business Dashboard

1. Sign in to your Google My Business account using your primary email address associated with the listing. If you’re managing multiple locations, select the location where you want to add users or create a new one if needed.

Inviting Users

2. After accessing the GMB dashboard for the desired location, click on the ‘Users’ menu option under the left-hand navigation pane. Choose the plus ( + ) icon or ‘Add users’ button at the top right corner of the management tab.

Providing User Details

3. In the prompted ‘Invite New Users’ window, enter the email addresses of individuals you wish to invite as collaborators. You can invite users based on their Google Account ID or associated Gmail addresses.

Assigning Roles

4. Define the role by clicking the drop-down menu next to each user’s email address. Be sure to select a user role that is representative of the access level and responsibilities you want to assign them. Once done, hit ‘Invite’.

Accepting Invitations

5. The users will receive an email notification from Google My Business with an invitation to collaborate. They must click on the link provided in the email, sign in to their Google account (or create one if not already available), and confirm their collaboration by clicking ‘Join’. This process completes their addition as a user on your profile.

Managing Users: Modify Roles or Remove Users

As your business grows and evolves, you might need to make changes to the existing users in your GMB listing. To edit or delete users, access the management tab in the dashboard. Simply click on the three vertical dots next to the user’s information, select a new role or remove the user from the account.

Keep in mind that Managers and Site Managers can’t modify or remove other users. Only Owners and Primary Owners have this privilege.

Quick Tips for Secure and Efficient User Management

• Limit primary ownership to trusted employees or stakeholders who understand the significance of GMB listing features and relevant policies.
• Avoid extending excessive privileges to team members who don’t require them for executing specific tasks. For instance, a Communications Manager should ideally not be given the owner role.
• Regularly audit your GMB user list to ensure no unauthorized individuals have been added to your account.
• Educate all GMB users about best practices for posting updates, answering customer queries, and addressing online reviews professionally and politely.
• Collaborate effectively and responsibly with third-party SEO consultants by assigning appropriate roles such as Site Manager or manager, depending on the level of involvement required by them.

In conclusion, adding and managing users in Google My Business is an essential task that can lead to successful local SEO and online presence for your business. By understanding the different user roles and how to assign them strategically, you can effectively delegate responsibilities and enhance security, allowing your team to focus on driving leads and sales. Stay proactive about maintaining your GMB profile and keeping it up to date with accurate information and engaging content to reach new heights in customer engagement and loyalty.