Google Maps
Google Maps is a free web mapping platform that helps searchers find directions to their chosen destinations and allows businesses to list their store locations.
This app is connected to Google Business Profile, allowing searchers to find even more business information on the Maps listing.
What you read here is written by our experienced in-house team, and subject matter experts from leading brands and agencies.
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Google local map pack goes missing in search results (now fixed)
The local pack that Google generally shows for queries with local intent has gone missing.
New with Google multisearch, Google Maps, and more previews of Bard
Google Lens is now used over 10 billion times per month.
Google Maps removed policy-abiding reviews from Local Guides
Google is working on restoring the reviews over the next few weeks.
Google rolling out cars for sale in Google Business Profiles
US-based dealerships can now add all their inventory to their local business profile in Google.
Google Business Profiles to stop allowing price ranges on products on February 15
Also, Google will no longer support custom call to actions.
Don’t fall for fake ownership requests for your Google Business Profile
There are reports of an increase in fraudulent ownership requests, so be careful.
Google launches new search, shopping and maps features
Multisearch for food, Google Lens translation, AR beauty and shoes, Maps live view search and more.
Report: Google Business Profiles bug causing reviews to disappear
A bug with automatically applied suggested edits leads to some businesses seeing all their reviews vanish from Google.
Google review guidelines say discouraging negative or selectively soliciting positive reviews is not allowed
Google is now being very explicit about this in their guidelines, so be careful.
Google prohibits incentivizing customers to remove or modify negative reviews
Now you can't offer incentives to ask people who left negative reviews to revise their reviews.
Google updates Business Profile posts spam policies
The posts that do not comply with this guideline may be rejected and removed from Google Maps and Google Search.
Google to test AR prototype glasses, lenses for visual search and more
Is this the second generation of Google Glass, how will this change the future of search and marketing?
Google Maps adds new store location feature, Locator Plus, Reserve with Google integration, new analytics and more
The familiarity of these features might be welcomed by your website users but it might also make you more reliant on Google services.
Google adds LGBTQ+ owned attribute to business profiles
These labels can help some businesses with visibility and potentially increase conversions.
Google introduces three new travel products for hotels
Hotels will now have a much easier streamlined process for adding room rates and availability to their Google Business Profiles.
Google multisearch to gain near me support
Soon you will be able to search by image for matches of places, stores or restaurants near you.
Google now allows virtual food brands to have Google Business Profiles
Google has updated its business profile guidelines to allow some delivery-only food brands.
Business redressal complaint form adds option for ‘This business doesn’t exist’
You can now identify the content on Google Maps that you claim might lead to fraudulent activity by saying the business doesn't exist.
Is the Google Business Profile Manager going away for multi-locations businesses as well?
Previously Google said the Google Business Profile Manager will remain for larger businesses that manage multiple locations but maybe that is not true?
Google may update business hours in local listings with AI
So make sure to routinely review your business hours to ensure they are accurate.
Google Business Profile review management tool expands support to those with many local listings
Previously, this tool only let those with a few listings manage their reviews.
Google Business Profiles add new recycling attribute
This new attribute may help your business stand out from the competition in the Google local results.
Google Search adds booking and appointment availability for healthcare providers
This is a pilot with a limited number of providers including MinuteClinic at CVS.
Google Maps blocked 100 million abusive business profile edits in 2021
Less than 1% of the content viewed on Google Maps was fraudulent or abusive, Google said.
Google Business Profiles new emergency help attributes for Ukraine support
Google also added hotel attributes to define if your hotel offers support to those displaced from Ukraine.
Google business profile reviews posting bugs should be resolved soon
Google has confirmed there was an issue with some reviews not posting and those reviews should be processed the end of this week.
Google’s free hotel booking links arrive on Search and Maps
The expanded capabilities may be good news for hotels, but not so much for online travel agencies.
Google ‘Confirmed by phone’ label in local panel may add trust to local listings
This label seems to be based off of Google Duplex calling businesses to verify their business operation details.
Google may require double verification for some business profiles
Google updated its help documents to say that it may require you to verify your business with an additional method.
Google Search local pack’s map is now interactive
The new map lets you zoom, pan, hover and click to see more details on the map.
Google testing questions and answers in the Google Maps interface
This feature first launched in 2017 in the local panel and Google appears to be testing it in Google Maps.
Google dropping follow and welcome offers in local listings
Soon, you won't be able to follow local businesses in Google anymore.
Google launches Google Business Profiles calls API
Businesses can pull call history data from this API and into their CRM software.
Marketers, Google agree that proposed ‘surveillance advertising’ ban goes too far
Legislation like this could be a game-changer for every digital marketer who advertises on Google, Facebook and other advertising platforms.
Apple Maps: What a maps web snapshot can do for your online content
Apple lets you create a static map image from a URL with chosen parameters and characteristics.
Google now lets you place products at the top of your local and Maps listing
Google Business Profiles now let's you mark a product as special to pop it to the top.
SEO 2021 in review: Endless updates, title rewrites, GMB becomes GBP and more
Despite facing a still-raging pandemic and a slew of updates, SEOs rose to the challenge. Here’s our recap of the year’s most important SEO stories and news.
PPC 2021 in review: Privacy and automation force advertisers to adapt
From the deprecation of broad match modified keywords to FLoC to RSAs becoming the default, PPC professionals dealt with a lot of change in 2021.
The ‘Vicinity Update’: Winners and losers from the November 2021 local update
This update seemed to be focused on changes around proximity and distance.
Google Maps adds dock to bottom
Searchers can now dock places they find in Google Maps to the bottom of the map interface.