How do you get your STR as pin on google maps?

Question

What is the process to get your STR as a pin on google maps? I thought I was doing what I needed to by setting up a business profile at the STR address with google, but the way they do the verification of the business is to send you a physical post card to that mailing address with a PIN. The problem is my STRs do not have mailboxes and therefore the post office does not deliver mail to those locations. Unfortunately, google does not provide any other methods for verification until this is done apparently.

So am I going about this the wrong way? How do you do this?

Thanks!

So am I going about this the wrong way?  How do you do this?

Thanks!

Kyle J. · Answer

@Ken Boone  Not sure if you read through this already, but check these out:

Google My Business Help > Edit your business information > Add or edit your business address

Under the "Address guidelines", it says "If your address doesn't have a street number, or you're sure that you've entered the address correctly but the system still can't find it, you can pin your business's location directly on the map."  It then refers you to this link:

Google My Business Help > Manage business information > Drop a pin for your business location

If it still doesn't work, there's a "Contact us" link for Google in the above link directly above.

Leora Merrell · Answer

I just added our cabins as Lodging, put the cabin names in, added pictures and pinned it in the correct place and I was done. No postcard. Now guests can find our cabins on any navigation app by entering the name of the cabin and the city. This is super important to us since all three cabins are brand new and on a road most apps didn’t know existed until I added them. Not sure about the postcard thing though.

Leora Merrell · Answer

@Ken Boone

I’m sorry for delay. I was able to add a pin this morning. I just got on google maps, added the new address, pictures and name and that’s it. I’m sorry I don’t have more info! I even had my family that live around the country test it on their apps and it worked fine. All I can guess is that it’s because it’s a brand new property.

Leora Merrell · Answer

@Ken Boone I will look when I get back home and add this third cabin to it. We just finished setting up and listed it last night. When I get home tomorrow I’m setting this one up on google maps and I’ll follow up. I do remember it telling me they needed to send me a post card for something but I’ve somehow gotten it to work regardless. Perhaps because it’s a brand new address and I’m not overriding an old address or adding to an address they already have entered. Honestly not sure. But I’ll follow up.

Ken Boone · Answer

@Leora Merrell - So from google maps did you right click on the location you wanted your pin and then hit add business?  Because that is what I thought I needed to do but that takes you through Google My Business which forces the post card verification.  Did you use some other method?

Michael Baum · Answer

I haven't had a chance to try it out. Working...

Ken Boone · Answer

@Michael O'Brien - I don't know why that has never crossed my mind.  I am going to call the post office up there next week and see if they allow mail forwarding for an address that is not a postal drop-off point.  That would be really a simple solution if that works.

@Tim Schroeder - When I initially talked to the post office like a year ago when I tried this for one of my cabins they told me they will not hold the mail since it is not a deliverable address.  I will try to re-visit this next week.

@Anand S. - I don't know what liabilities there are unless you get a bad google review that you can't get removed.  That is probably the biggest liability that I can think of.  That is a good question if anyone has experienced negative repercussions from doing this. I would like to hear that as well.  As far as upsides, I think it really is just #1 another point of presence and search point on the web for someone to find your cabin, #2 sometimes folks are just looking at a certain area on google maps, and they see the cabin name and they may just check it out.  That is my thinking anyway but would love to hear from others.

@Michael Baum - Let us know if you find anything else out!  Thank you.

Anand S. · Answer

What are the liabilities of doing this; robberies, squatting, etc.? Anyone experience negative repurcussions doing this? What are the upsides assuming you're already on the major platforms?

Tim Schroeder · Answer

You have to be able to receive the postcard. I have friends in the Smokies who have done it when they are in town by asking the local post office to hold their mail then showing up there a couple days after Google sends it.

Joseph Bafia · Answer

We got a Pin on Google for ours and I know nothing about a post card mailed.  I cant remember exactly how we did, but we listed the business, added some photos and think I got an email saying "Google is reviewing your listing".  I'll try and look through my emails and will message you if I have any luck.

How do you get your STR as pin on google maps?

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