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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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.
Voice SEO: Different tactics required for Google Assistant, Siri and Alexa
Study by SEMrush found only 1% overlap in answers to the same voice queries across platforms.
The average GMB profile has 73 reviews, 45 photos, 5 Posts and a star rating of 4.08
The findings come from an analysis of 2.4 million local listings in over 30 business categories.
Replay: Live with Search Engine Land season wrap-up—COVID and marketing disruption
Search Engine Land editors take a look back at the disruptions over the past few months, how marketers have adapted to the changes, and what the future may hold.
E-commerce explodes: 45% growth in Q2
While many retailers flounder, some omnichannel merchants are killing it online.
Yelp’s updated ‘Request a Quote’ and new ‘Nearby Jobs’ provide lead-gen for SMBs
No longer merely a 'review site,' Yelp repositioning as a 'one-stop local platform' to communicate and transact with local businesses.
How to optimize your Google local Knowledge Panel
Turn your local business profiles in the search results into portals that can deliver customers right from your listings.
Google now enables GMB profile edits from Search and Maps [updated]
The company is seeking more SMB engagement by making updates easier and more accessible.
Majority of chains call local-digital marketing an ‘untapped opportunity’
But 77% of multi-location brands complain executing locally at scale is very challenging.
Google adds ‘last updated’ hours notification to GMB profiles
The move, maybe temporary, is designed to give consumers confidence the information displayed on business profiles is accurate.
How to get a Knowledge Panel for your brand, even without Wikipedia
Your own site, Wikidata, third-party mentions and business databases can expand your Knowledge Graph entries in Google and Bing.
Google adds ‘Black-owned’ business attribute to local listings
The attribute can show when listings appear in Search and Maps and is part of several initiatives aimed at supporting Black business owners.
Google rolling out LSAs and ‘Google Screened’ to select professional services nationally
After successful test, the program goes into general availability.
Google offering ‘upgraded’ GMB profile with Google Guaranteed badge for $50 per month
Google tested the idea of subscription-based services for GMB in April 2019.
Google will now notify GMB account owners by email when local listings suspended
Seen as a major step forward, the notice still won't explain the reason for a Google My Business account suspension.
With new ‘pilot program,’ Google again testing ads on local business profiles
The ads can't be removed or influenced by the business owner.
Google positioned to dominate the ‘O2O economy’
Online-to-offline: Nearly $12 trillion in offline economic activity is likely impacted by the internet.
Google upgrades enterprise messaging capabilities in Maps and Search
Enhanced features include smart replies, visual product carousels, custom welcome messages.
Google to shutter CallJoy, virtual agent for SMBs, on July 22
Call intelligence service was another Area 120 project.
The Google Assistant may start calling businesses to confirm in-stock inventory
Google is expanding the use cases of its 'Duplex' AI tool.
Google adding local store details to Shopping, free Promoted Pins for Smart campaigns, more
New features and updates are aimed at local businesses and services in the "reopening phase."
Local SEOs most focused on link building and content development, report finds
80% of survey respondents said they were also buying (local) ads on Google.
Google My Business offers more flexibility with business hours
Check your Google My Business console to set your "more hours" to reflect COVID-19 precautions.
Google Ads credits for SMBs start rolling out
The $340 million program will phase in over the coming weeks.
New Google My Business features aim to help SMBs pivot and survive COVID-19
The new tools and capabilities mirror the expanding role of GMB as a gateway to both offline and online services.
Call Analytics tools in the spotlight: Marketing’s unsung heroes
The current environment is spurring a resurgence of voice calls -- a medium ripe with potential for analysis and insights.
More missing Google My Business reviews appearing as publication speed picks up
Google is now posting user reviews and photos in all countries and the vast majority of business categories.
Don’t try to reinvent the SEO wheel, says Google’s Martin Splitt
Splitt addresses the most common indexing and JavaScript mistakes, why he doesn’t take ranking questions and shares why Google’s communications aren’t always as proactive as we’d like.
Google tests ‘Curbside Pickup’ badge for local Shopping ads
Local Inventory Ads gain prominence with "In store" mobile experience and "Curbside pickup" option.
GMB usage declines, but poised to become more powerful post-coronavirus
Google, and the pandemic, have made GMB into the most important local marketing tool for SMBs and multi-location brands.
Google shouldn’t pause algorithm updates during the pandemic, expert SEOs say [Video]
While it’s not business as usual, search engines need to continue to help users, provide vital resources and fight against misinformation.
SMX Overtime: Here’s why optimizing images in Google My Business is important
SEO pro Greg Gifford explains why professionally shot, high-res photos will win over user-uploaded photos if you take the time to manage it right.
SMX Overtime: When to use the Q&A in Google My Business and how to keep it fresh
SEO expert Niki Mosier of Two Octobers shares insights about managing Q&A and when it makes sense to add a service menu.
Google allows retail chains to Post at scale via GMB API — will it last post-COVID?
Google Posts are free and can be a very effective communication or promotional tool.
Video: Dan Leibson on local neural matching and Google My Business issues
Google My Business support is lacking in a big way according to Dan.
Google reviews coming out of quarantine
New user reviews, photos, Q&A will return gradually, by category and country.
Google introduces new COVID-19 and Telehealth GMB links for healthcare providers
These new links are part of the company's larger effort to make healthcare information more accessible through Google Search.
Is recent Google algorithm volatility related to COVID-19 or normal? Live panel to discuss Tuesday
Live with Search Engine Land to livestream discussion with Barry Schwartz, Moz's Dr.Pete, Marie Haynes, Olga Andrienko and Mordy Oberstein. Join us.