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Set up Business Verification

Updated

Note: Only advertisers that 1) run ads through an account linked to the iPromote Manager Accounts (MCC) account and 2) run search ads need to follow these steps.

The following procedures explain how to complete the Google Business Verification process for advertisers. The instructions must be followed by an advertiser's representative agency. This multi-step process can take up to a few weeks to complete, each step requiring attention or else the process will fail.

Please read this procedure in its entirety before beginning.

Before you begin

The following are things you should know about the process before you begin:

  • Google notifies the agency by email when they need to start this process.
  • The email prompts the agency to start the verification process. It asks them to confirm their affiliation with 2KDirect, Inc. (the iPromote parent company) as their client's agency. After this initial form is completed, Google sends an email to the advertiser requesting that they submit their business information.
  • Thirty days is typically required to complete the process. Google stops advertising if the verification is not complete in time.

1. Set up the advertiser verification request

Note: The following procedure assumes you have received a notification email and are verifying your client by way of that email. You can also start the verification process directly in the Google UI. For more information, see How to complete identity verification.

This first procedure requires the agency to respond to a Google verification request email. It asks them to confirm their affiliation with 2KDirect, Inc. (the iPromote parent company) as their agency. After this initial form is completed, an email is sent to the advertiser requesting that they submit their business information.

  1. Go to your agency email, then open the Google email with the subject line that begins "[Action Required]: Start advertiser verification…". Click Start Verifying.

  2. In the Advertiser verification page that opens, click Verify an advertiser.

  3. In the Tell us about your business form, answer the questions found there, then click Continue.

    1. Are you an agency?: Yes
    2. Who do you want to verify today?: A client
    3. Does your agency pay for any of this client's accounts?: Yes, we pay Google Ads for at least one of this client's accounts
    4. Which payments profile(s) pay for this client's accounts?: 2KDirect, Inc.
  4. On the Select the advertiser you want to verify page that opens, click Ask a client to verify.

  5. A Because you pay for your client's ads... page opens. Review it and click Get Started.

    1. In the box that opens, in the Agency name field, select 2KDirect, Inc.

    2. In the Client business name box, enter the business name of the client you are verifying. Their name must be exactly as it is recorded in Google.
    3. In the Client email(s) box, enter the advertiser's email address(es).
    4. When you are done, click Continue.
  6. In the confirmation box that opens, do the following:
    1. Confirm that the information entered above is correct. This includes agency name, client business name, and client email(s). Click Send request.

    2. In the Thanks for helping build a more transparent web box that opens, click Done.

  7. Notify the advertiser that they should expect an important verification request email soon. The email is from 2KDirect, Inc. and reads, "2KDirect, Inc. wants to help you verify yourbusinessname for Google Ads."
  8. Wait for the advertiser to complete their steps and for Google to verify them, then link their profile to the applicable campaign. When the advertiser and Google have completed their parts, Google sends an email that reads, "Yourbusinessname is verified. Time to select their accounts."

2. Link the verified advertiser to a campaign

Note: Google refers to accounts, but in iPromote parlance these are campaigns.

After the verification request email has been sent out, the advertiser must upload documents and Google must verify them. If this happens on time and without issue, the next thing is for you to link the advertiser's profile to the applicable iPromote campaign.

  1. Log into your Google Ads account and ensure you are at the manager level, then click Overview.
  2. Click Tools and Settings then, under Billing, click Advertiser verification.
  3. In the Advertiser verification box that opens, click Verify an advertiser.
  4. In the Tell us about your business form, confirm that the questions are answered as follows:
    1. Are you an agency?: Yes
    2. Who do you want to verify today?: A client
    3. Does your agency pay for any of this client's accounts?: Yes, we pay Google Ads for at least one of this client’s accounts
    4. Which payments profile(s) pay for this client's accounts?: 2KDirect, Inc.
  5. Click Continue, then in the Select the advertiser you want to verify box, select the advertiser name of the verified account you want to link to the applicable campaign. Then click Select accounts.
  6. In the Select accounts that advertise for Yourbusinessname box that opens, select the account(s) that you want to link to and click Continue.
  7. In the Confirm box that opens, review the confirmation information, then click Confirm & agree. Close the verification pop-up box that appears. Await final verification.

Documents that Google accepts as verification

The advertiser might have questions about the kinds of documents they can use to verify their identity. The following is a list of such documents.

  • Any document, notice, or letter either issued by the IRS or stamped by the IRS that states your organization name. Some examples are CP575, 147C, CP299, 988, 937, 1050, and 5822.
  • Forms submitted to the IRS will only be accepted if a copy of the form is available on the IRS website. Some examples are Forms 8871 and 990. See Search for all electronic submissions of Form 8871 and Form 8872 and paper submissions of Form 8871, Form 8872 and Form 990 (political organizations) and Tax Exempt Organization Search (tax exempt organizations) for ways to search for your organization on the IRS website.
  • Certificate of Business Incorporation issued by the state where you conduct business activities that states your organization name.
  • Your most recent SEC filing (for example, 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K forms) that state the organization name.
  • Business credit reports that state your organization name from Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, or Dun & Bradstreet.
  • Organizations may also provide their Employer Identification Number.

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