GoogleLocations

The GoogleLocations API allows you to see in advance whether a location has been claimed in Business Profile. This way, if the location has been claimed, you can immediately request access to the location. Also, if you manage bulk-verified accounts, you can more accurately select potential matches in advance and avoid the creation of duplicate locations.

The API endpoint returns a URL that indicates if a location has already been claimed. If it has been claimed, the same URL allows you to start the access request process.

The following image provides an overview of the process to gain ownership of a location.

Figure 1. Swimlane diagram of Business Profile location ownership

The following steps allow you to use the GoogleLocations API:

  1. Collect location data from the merchant.

  2. Call the googleLocations.search endpoint. Provide the location data within the body of the call. Alternatively, you can provide it in a query string, similar to what a user would enter in Search or Maps. For example, "Starbucks 5th ave NYC."

    The API returns a list of potentially matching locations and information about each location, such as locationName and address.

  3. Select the location that matches your location. If there are no matches, call accounts.locations.create, and skip to step 5.

  4. Based on the state of requestAdminRightsUrl in the response, take the following actions:

    1. If requestAdminRightsUrl exists, another user has ownership of the listing. Direct the merchant to the URL to start a request for access and ownership of the existing location in Business Profile.
    2. If requestAdminRightsUrl doesn't exist, call accounts.locations.create and create a new listing that will be verified later.
  5. If you created new listings as part of this process, you can utilize the verification APIs to begin verification of the listings. For more information, see Manage verification.