Let’s chat about your business Sign. As a sign company in Houston, I spend my time grinding away to help my customers develop a presence IRL. Recently, I was made aware of the “Permanent Signage” requirement for a Google My Business profile. I did not know Permanent Signage was a requirement for a profile with Google so I went online to find information. And yes, selfishly, I wanted to know how I could leverage this information to make sales. Surprisingly, there is no real direction on how to meet the requirement for permanent signage. So I hired a Google Small Business Advisor for some help.
The Sign Requirement:
Any business showing their address on Google should maintain permanent fixed signage of their business name at the address. This requirement has been in place for several years. No additional details are provided.
Addressing Key Questions to the Google Small Business Advisor:
How Small Can the Sign Be?
The good news is that Google does not impose a specific dimensional requirement for a Business Sign. However, the sign must be legible and prominently display your business name.
Where does the Business Sign need to be placed?
Google’s flexibility extends to the placement of our signage. As long as the business sign is visible from the exterior of your business.You can place the sign above the entrance, on a storefront window, or part of a monument sign, the placement is up to you, local ordinances, and your landlord.
The Impact on a New Business Sign:
The Permanent Business Sign requirement does impact new businesses aiming to register a Google Business profile and secure a spot on Google Maps. While established businesses often have signage in place, smaller enterprises may find this more complex. There are posts online detailing failed attempts to acquire a business listing due to a lack of signage or signage not meeting the “Permanent” aspect of the requirement.
Some signs may not be business signs to Google:
Online grievances highlight the pitfalls encountered by businesses attempting to fulfill the business sign requirement. Missteps such as using banners or minimalist sign panels have led to profile suspensions. Small business owners who tackled this requirement and failed tried putting up banners. Another business owner used a simple sign panel that only had a logo. The photo submitted appeared to Google as an 8.5” x 11” sheet of paper with a logo printed on it. Those profiles were suspended, and they had to go through a very ambiguous and drawn-out process of getting their profiles back.
Signage can be complicated at times:
If you want or need a business sign, other factors come into play in addition to the Google My Business Sign requirements. I recommend contacting your local sign company to ensure your sign will comply with local ordinances and with the landlord’s guidelines. Working with a local professional sign shop is a resource that can not only help you get branded IRL but now is an essential partnership to establish your online presence with a Google Profile! If you have any questions or are lost about how to proceed, reach out to me, and we can figure it out together.