How we verify that you own a business

We confirm ownership in two ways. First, every claim confirms an email address: you click a one-time link we send to it. Second, if that confirmed address is on the same domain as the website shown on your listing, the claim is approved instantly. Every other claim goes to our team for review, and we email you when it's approved.

Step 1 for everyone: confirm your email address

When you claim a listing, we email a link to the address you entered (see How to claim your business listing). Clicking Confirm my claim proves you can read mail at that address. The link works once, for 24 hours.

If you're signed in and your account email is already confirmed (from an earlier claim link, or from signing in with the Magic Link tab on the sign-in page), the claim page skips the email and shows Claim with your account instead. The same rule below decides the result.

Instant approval: the exact rule

Your claim is approved the moment you confirm when all of these are true:

1. Your email is on your own domain, not a free mailbox. Free providers always go to review: Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, Hotmail, Live, MSN, iCloud, AOL, Proton, AT&T (att.net, sbcglobal.net, bellsouth.net and similar), Comcast/Xfinity, Charter/Spectrum, Cox, Verizon, Frontier, Windstream, Suddenlink, Earthlink, Juno, Zoho, GMX, Mail.com, Yandex, Fastmail and similar consumer providers.
2. Your listing shows a website on its own domain. Sites on shared platforms always go to review, because many unrelated businesses share them: Facebook, Instagram, Google Business sites, Square sites, Wix, Weebly, WordPress.com, Blogspot, GoDaddy sites, Shopify, Squarespace, Carrd, Linktree, Yelp, Etsy, Pixieset, Booksy, Vagaro, StyleSeat and similar.
3. The two domains match. We compare the main domain and ignore www and other subdomains:

   Your email	Website on the listing	Result
   [email protected]	https://www.acmeplumbing.com	Instant approval
   [email protected]	http://acmeplumbing.com/contact	Instant approval
   [email protected]	https://acme-plumbing-tx.com	Team review (different domain)
   [email protected]	https://www.acmeplumbing.com	Team review (free mailbox)
   [email protected]	none	Team review (no website to compare)

4. The website isn't shared by a chain. If more than 3 listings in the directory use the same website domain (for example, a national chain's store pages), claims for them go to review.

The claim page tells you before you start. Under Business email it shows Tip: an address ending in @yourdomain.com is approved instantly when your listing meets rules 2 and 4, and Our team reviews each claim and emails you when it's approved when it doesn't.

Team review

Claims that don't meet the rule above go to our team's review queue. While a claim is in review:

• The listing is in your dashboard, and its 30-day Featured badge is already showing.
• Editing opens the moment the claim is approved.
• You get an email titled We received your claim for … right away. Reply to it with anything that shows you run the business (for example, a photo of your storefront sign or your business license); it goes to our team at [email protected].

When the team approves your claim, you get an email titled with your business name followed by is yours: claim approved, including the date your Featured badge runs through.

If the team needs more to confirm ownership, you get an email titled About your claim for … and the listing becomes open to claim again. You can claim it again right away from its claim page.

How to get approved fastest

• Claim with your business-domain email if your listing's website is on your own domain.
• Use the email you check most if you don't have one, and watch for our team's email.
• Keep the claim email handy. Replying to We received your claim for … puts your note in front of the reviewer.

Troubleshooting

My business email matches my website, but my claim went to review. Check the website shown on your public listing: if it's missing, on a shared platform (like a Facebook page or a Wix site), or on a different domain than your email, the claim goes to review. Our team will email you once it's approved; after approval you can update the website from your dashboard.

My website uses a different domain than my email. That's fine. Your claim goes to review, and our team emails you when it's approved.

I don't have a website. Claim with any email you check. Our team reviews it and emails you.

I'm a manager at a chain location. Chain store listings go to review. Claim with your work email, and reply to the We received your claim for … email with anything that shows you manage that location.

I need help with a claim. Email [email protected] and our team will help.