How to Delegate Access to your Google Business Profile in 2024

In 2024, mastering the delegation of access to your Google Business Profile is more crucial than ever for businesses seeking to amplify their visibility on platforms like Google Search and Maps. This essential guide is designed to empower you to keep your business information up-to-date and managed efficiently, particularly when collaborating with agencies or freelancers. It’s imperative to delegate access correctly—emphasising the importance of NOT sharing your password. Additionally, we’ll navigate through a common misconception about the settings’ location. If your starting point is the standard GMB locations page at https://business.google.com/locations, you’ll need to adjust your course. You are not in the right spot for the adjustments we will discuss in “How to Delegate Access to Your Google Business Profile in 2024”.

Navigating to the Correct Settings

Before diving into the step-by-step process, it’s important to highlight that the settings for delegating access to your Google Business Profile are not located where you might initially think. Many users mistakenly head to the Google My Business locations page, expecting to find these settings. However, this approach will lead you astray. The actual process for inviting users and managing access levels is slightly different and requires navigating away from the standard locations page to ensure you are adjusting the correct settings for your Business Profile.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Users to Your Google Business Profile

1. Sign In to Your Google Account: Start by logging into the Google account associated with your Business Profile.

2. Access Your Business Profile: Type “My Business” in Google search to locate your Business Profile easily. Click “View Profile”

3. Navigate to Profile Settings: Click on the three dots (Menu) to open a dropdown, then select ‘Business Profile settings’, followed by ‘People and access’.

4. Invite New Users: Look for “People and Access”

5. Enter Details: Click Add then type in the name or email address of the individual you wish to invite and choose their role (Manager | Owner).

IMPORTANT: Always opt for Manager unless you’re sharing access with a co-owner of the business.

7. Send Invitation: Click ‘Invite’ to send an email invitation to the user, which they must accept to gain access.

Understanding Access Levels and Management

Owners of Google Business Profiles can extend invitations to others, allowing them to become additional owners or managers. This system ensures that each person has unique access, thus eliminating the need to share login credentials. However, it’s important to understand the distinct roles and permissions associated with each level of access:

• Owners have the most control, including the ability to add or remove users.
• Managers can manage most aspects of the Business Profile but cannot add or remove users. They do have the ability to remove themselves from a profile.
• Google Groups cannot be added as managers or owners.
• Only the primary owner can transfer primary ownership of the profile.

Pro Tips for Smooth Management

• Immediate Access: Invitees can instantly become users upon accepting their invitations, and you’ll be notified via email.
• Managing Users: It’s possible to view all active users and pending invitations. To cancel an invitation, simply click ‘Remove’ next to the relevant entry.
• Transferring Ownership: Should you need to transfer ownership of your profile, ensure you’re familiar with the process for a smooth transition.

Understanding Limitations for New Owners and Managers

Newly appointed owners and managers should be aware of certain restrictions during their initial seven-day period. These include limitations on deleting the profile, removing other users, and transferring primary ownership. Should a new owner or manager delete their account within this period, they will be automatically removed from the Business Profile.

Note: Attempting to transfer primary ownership to a new user within their first seven days will result in an error.

Final Thoughts

By following these steps, you can ensure that your Google Business Profile is in capable hands, whether you’re collaborating with an in-house team, an agency (like us), or freelancers. Remember, the key to successful delegation lies in never compromising on security by sharing your password and understanding the correct navigation paths to manage access effectively.