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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Why Google is deleting reviews at record levels
Reviews are disappearing faster as moderation systems, industry risk, and geography shape which reviews stay visible.
Google’s Local Pack isn’t random – it’s rewarding ‘signal-fit’ brands
Data from 8.7 million Google Business Profiles reveals how industry signals – not generic SEO tactics – determine who wins visibility.
Google Business Profiles adds scheduling and multi-location publishing to Google Posts
This should make managing your Google Posts on your local Google Business Profile easier.
Google Maps adds know before you go, trending in explore tab and more
Reviewers can also now use a nickname and not their real name when leaving a Google review.
With negative review extortion scams on the rise, use Google’s report form
Last month, Google launched a form to report negative review extortion scams and it seems to work.
Google Business Profiles What’s happening feature expands
It is now available for multi-location restaurants, not just single-location restaurants.
Google Business links policies and guidelines updated
Google added new dedicated landing pages, direct action completion, social media sites and a new business links crawability policy.
How to get your service area business verified on Google
Master Google verification for service area businesses. Prepare documents, ace video verification, and keep your profile compliant.
Google Business Profiles Posts creation tool refreshed
Google Posts is easier to manage and use with these new user interface updates.
Google updates local ranking documentation
Are these changes signaling changes to how Google local rankings work or did Google just clarify its existing document.
Why your Google event post isn’t showing and how to fix it
GBP event posts for restaurants and bars can show in mobile search – but only if done right. Here’s how to meet Google’s criteria.
Why Google reviews will power up your local SEO in 2025
Photo-rich, specific reviews help your business rank higher in local search. Here's how to build a smarter Google review strategy.
Google Business Profiles launches ‘What’s Happening’
Google said the 'What's Happening' feature puts timely updates front and center, 'driving immediate engagement.'
Video Previews come to Google Business Profile verification
This will let you review your video verification video before you submit it.
Google credits Gemini for better detection of fake business reviews and maps spam
Google took down over 240 million policy-violating reviews from 2024, that's 40% more than the previous year.
Google Business Profile bug prevents adding new businesses
There seems to be an issue with phone numbers preventing you from creating new business profiles and also phone numbers being removed from some existing business profiles.
Google offers QR codes to get reviews from customers
You can share the QR code with your customers in your marketing materials or hang it in your store to help them leave you a review.
Google Posts gain AI-enhanced images feature
Now when you add a post in Google Business Profiles, you can add AI-generated backgrounds to your images.
Google confirms most review count bugs fixed but some still to go
A week after the stressful Google reviews count bug, Google still has not fully resolved the issue - but it should be resolved soon.
Google bug cause reviews to drop out of local listings
Starting this past Friday, Google seems to be showing fewer and fewer reviews on Google local listings. It seems like it is a bug that Google is working to fix.
Product studio now available within Google Business Profiles
When you manage your products within your local listings, you can now use Google Product Studio to change the background scenes.
How to set up and optimize your Google Business Profile
Learn how to create and optimize your Google Business Profile to boost visibility, attract local customers, and improve your online presence.
Google Business Profile’s AI-transcribed menu upload just got better
GBP now accepts multi-page PDF menus. Find out how this AI-powered update simplifies uploads, boosts accuracy and enhances restaurant SEO.
Google Maps adds products nearby for product searches
You can now search for products in Google Maps and see product results.
How FTC’s new review policy could impact your local SEO
Navigate the FTC's new review regulations confidently with tips for compliant review collection, Google Business Profile management and more.
Top SEO tips for location-specific websites
Learn how SEO differs for service area vs. brick-and-mortar businesses. Boost your presence with targeted tactics to reach local customers.
How to pick the right Google Business Profile categories
Choose effective primary and secondary GBP categories to improve your search rankings and connect with more local customers.
6 Google Business Profile questions asked and answered
Get answers to common questions on GBP listing edits, suspensions, address updates, review management and finding support.
How to handle negative Google reviews: Remove, respond, recover
Frustrated with negative reviews from unreasonable customers? Here’s how to respond to negative Google reviews related to your business.
11 local SEO tools you should be using
From analytics to rank tracking, boost your local SEO with these tools. Learn how to use them effectively and understand their limitations.
New Google Business Profile AI tool creates a menu from an image
Learn how Google's AI-powered feature helps you create a detailed menu from a photo, along with its benefits and limitations.
Google Business Profile chat is gone and call history going away
This is just a reminder that Google has discontinued Google Business Profile chat yesterday and call history is going away.
The Google Maps pin scam: A new Google Business Profile threat
Understand how this deceptive practice affects rankings and learn the safe way to correct your listing's location.
Report: Menu items, busier businesses may be Google local ranking signals
Google has not specifically confirmed this but a new local SEO report says these may be newly discovered local ranking signals.
How to extract GBP review insights to boost local SEO visibility
Gain a competitive edge by extracting actionable insights from your – and your competitors' – Google Business Profile reviews.
Google Business Profile chat and call history going away
July 31, 2024 Google will shut down call history and chat - you can download your history now.
How to reappeal a Google Business Profile suspension
Follow these steps to appeal your GBP suspension and increase your chances of getting reinstated on Google Maps and local search results.
What to do when Google changes your GBP information
Learn how to effectively manage and protect your Google Business Profile from unexpected updates by Google.
Google Business Profiles tools are temporarily unavailable
Verification status, managing appeals and managing reviews currently may not be working.
Google Business Profile websites are now redirected to Google Maps
Eventually these redirects will go away and the website URLs will lead users to a dead end.