Google's instructions and help on doing it are not what they need to be. I've tried all verification methods and I have lost count of the number of bizarre and misleading and contradictory error messages and instructions.
My favorite....one page that says "you are already a verified user of X", and then another page that says "You are not the verified user of X please follow the instructions at Y". I then follow the instructions at Y and end up in the same boat over and over again.