When you create and verify your listings, either on the DigitalMaas Platform or through the GBP manager, you’ll notice that you can give other people Google Business Profile access. It can be fun to let other staff members post things about your team, products and services, or update your information. But how do you know if they do deserve to get the permissions they have?
That’s why there are to main Google Business Profile access levels: Owners and Managers – each with its own capabilities that may be shared with one level or more. You don’t have to worry about someone editing any information because they won’t have access to doing so and you can rest well knowing that even if you’re not looking at your Profile that there are others making sure everything is moving like clockwork. This also eliminates having you give up your own private details as other owners and managers can use their own accounts to log into that one Google Business Profile.
So if you have Google Business Profile access, where do you think should you be? Let’s take a closer look at each permission level below.
Primary Owner & Owner
Both the Primary Owner and Owner have the same Google Business Profile access to all capabilities. What sets them apart, however, is that the Primary owner cannot remove themselves unless they transfer ownership to another account. You can only have one Primary Owner and multiple Owners. Both retain ownership and have the ability to add or remove users, and have the ability to group multiple Business Profiles into Location Groups or Folders.
Manager
Managers will have access to update most of the business information that’s important for day to day operations, such as Managing photos, updating store hours, adding new products and services, responding to reviews, and creating new Google Posts and offers. Managers do not have the ability to change primary information such as your business name or categories.
A Manager will not be able to approve all user or Google-suggested changes such as an edit to the address and business name, as those are classified as primary business information. The Primary Owner or Owner will have to approve those suggested changes.
Manager access is given to: Store Manager, Social Media and Customer Support teams
As of September 2021, Site Manager is no longer available for all Google Business Profiles. Changes have been made to this blog post since then.
For more detailed information explaining Google Business Profile access levels, you can rerefer to this table:
Google Business Profile Access in Practice
Now let’s put this into a real-life scenario.
You’ve recently decided to be more visible on search results by creating a Google Business Profile. You’ve informed your marketing team about this and they’re on board with you.
Now you go and create the listing, making sure that all the information you put there is correct (if you don’t know what to add, here’s our guide to optimising your GBP part one and part two to get you started), populate your Google posts and ask your existing customers to share their experiences with you through the Reviews section (we have a guide for that too).
But you’re only one person and doing everything within Google Business Profile can be tiring. So why not let your other teammates join in on the fun?
So… where do you start?
Your national marketing team is raring to go and create posts but you don’t want them to edit your other business information – either accidentally or on purpose. It’s better if you just give them the Manager access where they can publish Google Posts, respond to reviews and take a look at the insights.
On the other hand, your marketing manager needs more permissions to work around GBP – especially if you’re not present to check on it – but not enough that they can add or remove users. It would be best to give them the Owner access where they can do creative posts while making sure that all business information is accurate and updated.
Finally, even if you’re the owner of Google Business Profile, you still want someone else to take the reins from time to time. You have an Operations Manager willing to stand in for you in case you really can’t be bothered checking into GBP, so you give them Primary Owner access for their respective location to make sure that things are A-OK in both the back and front end of your listing.
But wait – you’ve hired an agency to manage your listing for you but all you want them to do is create posts and create reports for you by looking at the insights. What is the best level for them?
Technically, it’s up to you. You can place them either on Owner or Manager level, depending on your requirements.
Adding a colleague or an agency to your Google Business Profile is simple and straightforward – you can find our detailed instructions in our support centre.
Make your Profile a playground of ideas by giving your colleagues the Google Business Profile access levels today.
