Google Business Profile
Search Engine Land is your definitive source for Google Business Profile news and content. You’ll find a variety of up-to-date and authoritative resources, including the latest news, tactic-rich tutorials, and the latest data-driven insights to help you optimize your local search presence, work smarter, and make better decisions.
Why Google Business Profile matters for your strategy
Google Business Profile (GBP) is essential for businesses looking to attract local customers, improve their online visibility, and manage customer relationships effectively. With new features like AI-transcribed menu uploads, staying updated on GBP innovations can significantly impact your local SEO strategy. Whether you’re optimizing GBP listings, managing reviews, or utilizing advanced insights, this page offers tools and tips tailored to your business goals.
Our comprehensive coverage ensures you stay ahead of trends, such as new features for Google Business Profile, changes to local search algorithms, and actionable tips for maximizing the impact of your GBP; we break down what these changes mean for your local SEO strategy.
What you read here is written by our experienced in-house team, alongside subject matter experts from leading brands and agencies.
Explore strategies to improve your local visibility, manage customer interactions seamlessly, and improve your business’s reputation online
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Video: Dan Toplitt, SVP, Head of US SEO at Reprise Digital, on enterprise SEO
We also spoke about Google My Business, Google Shopping and how far back we go even before Dan got into SEO.
Featured snippets went missing but have now returned; Friday’s daily brief
Plus video SEO tips and a new way to manage local reviews in Google
Google My Business releases tool to manage your reviews
Previously, there was no real way to see the status of reviews you submitted for a takedown in an organized fashion
How agencies use call tracking to become indispensable to clients
Call tracking has helped agencies better position themselves as strategic business partners. And as the technology continues to evolve, it will become a point of differentiation for many agencies
Google Search algorithm watching; Friday’s daily brief
Make sure not to miss the new more visual changes in Microsoft Bing Search, the new Google My Business reports and the Google Ads mobile app notifications.
Google My Business report shows how people found your business
You can now see device and platform breakdown in your Google My Business performance reports.
Phone calls critical for business during the pandemic; Tuesday’s daily brief
Plus, we're introducing research Tuesdays
A few pointers from the pros during SMX Report; Wednesday’s daily brief
Plus, Google extends deadline for Partner Program requirements and Yelp releases new features to address new consumer behaviors.
Yelp’s Waitlist, analytics and POS updates aim to address shifting consumer preferences
Waitlist now supports takeout orders, and enhanced analytics may help managers evaluate how their restaurants are performing
6 tips to win local with paid search
Recent change in consumer behavior has put local search on the map.
Diversity and inclusion in search marketing and advertising; Monday’s daily brief
Plus, GMB adds messaging to desktop (finally)
Google My Business adds messaging to desktop interface
Businesses can now message with customers through their web browser, not just the mobile app.
Is Google moving toward being search marketing’s point of singularity: Thursday’s daily brief
Plus, we’re looking for speakers for SMX Create
Google might have to subsidize journalism, but not like this…; Wednesday’s daily brief
Plus, Microsoft is replacing CPC with eCPC by the end of April.
Google officially displays years in business in local pack
After several months of testing, Google has officially launched this new label that shows how many years your business has been in operation.
Google adds Black-owned business label to product results
This was first launched for the Google local business results in July 2020 and now is supported by Google Merchant Center.
Google My Business updates flag review feature
The new form and options are much more detailed now, compared to the old method.
Award-winning tips from the 2020 Search Engine Land SEM and SEO agencies of the year
Adam Heitzman from Higher Visibility and David Dweck with Wpromote give their best advice for running a successful search agency.
Google My Business launches new performance reporting
You can access these new reports within Google My Business under the insights section.
SEO year in review 2020: COVID forces platforms to adapt their local and e-commerce offerings, and more
Even a pandemic couldn’t slow down developments in the search industry. Here’s our recap of the year’s most important stories and news.
PPC 2020 in review: COVID leaves its mark on e-commerce and paid search
Platforms pivoted to accommodate advertising during a crisis and automation continued to be at the heart of paid search changes.
The expansion of People Also Ask in the search results
PAAs now appear in 9% of brand knowledge panels. Here's how they're different and why you need to optimize answers for brand-focused questions.
Google services were down including Google Ads, Google Analytics, Search Console & more
Much of Google is offline, it is not just you. Google began restoring services at around 7:28am ET.
Even as more people shop online, searches for ‘available near me’ up over 100% vs. last year
Google's Reena Nadkarni explains what retailers can do to drive local sales.
Google expands local business message & map query analytics
Consumers will be able to message with businesses in more ways and businesses will be able to see more local insights.
Google Guaranteed badge starting to appear on Google Maps listings
Google seems to be testing how consumers react to Google Guaranteed badges in places other than in Local Services Ads.
Google’s new Small Business Advisors program aims to help SMBs grow
Don't think of it as an enhanced version of Google Support.
Hijacked Google My Business listings appear to be a growing problem
GMB listings phishing is on the increase. Google says it's aware of the problem but business owners must be vigilant.
CallRail’s Lead Center is a virtual phone system and contact center for SMBs
The platform builds on the company's call tracking and analytics capabilities.
Online holiday sales could reach $200 billion according to Adobe
Smartphones will drive the majority of online retail traffic and 42% of sales.
Holiday 2020 is do or die for many SMBs
Small businesses need to focus their marketing on key consumer sites, especially Google, for survival into 2021.
Google Search gets deeper into the ‘real-world’ with Busyness, Duplex and AR in Maps
Building the data bridge between online and offline.
Google testing new ‘call history’ feature for Google My Business
The missed call log will remain available to businesses for 45 days.
Google My Business and reviews gain in 2020 Local Ranking Factors survey
But rankings and conversions aren't always the same thing.
Yelp brings Ads Dashboard into Yelp for Business, debuts new ads features
Advertisers can now optimize for goals such as phone calls, website visits or messages, add negative keyword targeting and more.
Google brings bidding to Local Services Ads
Only selected advertisers will get access to the auction during the beta period.
Google local ads gain Smart Bidding for store sales, ‘pick up later,’ service attributes
The company is investing heavily to address the dominant online to offline use cases, including buy online, pickup in-store.
Google rolling out video appointments, online classes to local business profiles
The booking can occur through GMB but the class or consultation won't happen on the business profile.
Google boosting visibility of ‘nearby’ product inventory with new Shopping features
Responding to changing consumer behavior, Google starts emphasizing BOPIS
Local businesses can highlight COVID-19 ‘health & safety’ measures with Google My Business
The attributes should start appearing in Search and Maps soon. They are intended to give consumers confidence and manage their expectations.