Big changes coming to Google My Business this week! GMB for small businesses is retiring in the new year, but no need to fret, your business will still have its listing just its name and management will be a bit different!
Introducing Google Business Profile
According to Google’s recent Ads & Commerce blog, starting this week businesses may now claim and verify their business profile directly on Google Search and in the app for Google Maps. Businesses no longer need to visit the separate GMB website to manage their listings.
Google My Business name is also going away. Instead, businesses will utilize simplified business listings under a new name Google Business Profile.
And in the new year, Google plans to end the Google My Business app completely. Business owners will edit their business profiles directly in maps or on Search, instead of the GMB app or website.
One very important note for large businesses: Google My Business will remain operational for large businesses with multiple locations. However, there is a new name there too: Business Profile Manager.
New Features to Google Business Profile
- Communicate directly with customers – you will now be able to message customers right in search.
- Call History Access – U.S. and Canadian business owners will now be able to see their call history of inbound calls and where they came from within Google Business Profile
- Upgraded Search & Map Experience – everything related to the business profile listing will now use the search or map interface for managing. Claiming a business and editing information for small businesses will be right within maps or search.
- Business Profile Manager – the existing Google My Business experience will change for multiple-location, larger companies under a new name with new features that Google will announce over the upcoming months.
For more detailed information about these changes, visit the Google support thread here: https://support.google.com/business/thread/133876833/introducing-new-updates-to-business-profile?hl=en
And of course, we’ll be watching these changes so stay tuned for updates on our Facebook page or this blog. If you need help with your Google listing, be sure to call our Google Business Profile consultants to learn more about our strategies.