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.
Don’t miss out! Get the Search Engine Land newsletter delivered daily to your inbox. Subscribe for free!
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.
Apple Ratings is coming to iOS 14, how disruptive will it be?
The company may use device location to ensure review integrity.
Google Merchant Promotions will be approved faster this holiday, Google says
Google also announced pre-holiday updates for Local campaigns.
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.
Product feed optimization: Here’s more reason to use those attributes
Google is surfacing product attributes such as "Material" in Shopping ads.
How 9 major Google My Business updates in 2020 can help you rebound
A long road of recovery awaits but the good news is that your customers are paying attention to your GMBs so capitalize on that to help your business make it to the other side.
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.
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.
How to track free Shopping traffic from Surfaces across Google [Video]
Combine UTM parameters and Google Analytics to see how shoppers behave after they click through on your Shopping listings.
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."
Google local ranking changes in early May? Thank a bug
Google confirmed fluctuations seen in local rankings was a bug and says it fixed the issue.
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.
How local businesses should be communicating with customers during COVID-19
Hear how local search veterans are using every channel available to help their clients stay relevant and keep customers informed.
Google to show which local businesses ‘temporarily closed’ in Search, Maps amid coronavirus outbreak
Local data accuracy becomes critical at a time like this.
The rise of customer review amplifiers
We live in a feedback economy so if resources and budget are limited, prioritize managing reviews on Google and Facebook.
In feature battle with Google, Yelp improves restaurant waitlist functionality
Yelp is trying to stay one step ahead of Google with tools that benefit both consumers and business owners.
Happy 15th birthday to Google Maps, the company’s second most important product
Google updates the app that embodies its commitment to local search.
Apple’s big maps makeover now available across U.S., Europe coming soon
Apple Maps needs a 'breakout' feature. Could that be privacy?
Get ready for an even stronger Google in 2020
Brands need to monitor and respond to reviews to improve their online experience because customers will vote with their search behavior.
Yelp cracks down on ‘review rings’ as Google continues to see widespread mapspam
Will the problem of fake listings and reviews destroy trust in major platforms?
SMX Overtime: Managing Google My Business profiles, reviews and more
Local search expert Dan Leibson offers advice on how to manage GMB profiles and why it's important to implement a meaningful review system.
How verticalization and zero-click will impact local search in 2020
In the coming year it will be interesting to see how Google balances the priority of verticalization against the growing popularity of Google Maps as the first choice among searchers.
A wishlist of improvements for Google My Business in 2020
Joy Hawkins shares the top 5 features she’d like Google My Business to update or change this year.
The big list of Google My Business changes, upgrades and tests in 2019
The key GMB updates of 2019 with local experts’ perspective on what's most significant.
Google extends ‘Incognito Mode’ in Maps to iOS users
Bulk delete in Timeline is coming to Android next month.
How to level up from a Google My Business apprentice to a GMB master
Your business page is a dynamic asset so prioritize these updates to gain a distinct advantage over those that do not.
Google My Business phone support has ended, but help from the experts has not
Google's social media channels are reported to be helpful as well as connecting with local search pros.
Google Maps the dominant local search tool, followed by Facebook and Yelp
The average user is on a smartphone at home – and is most likely to visit a business the next day after a local search.
Paid search trends to watch for the 2019 holiday shopping season
Maps will play a larger role for retailers with physical stores and while Google Shopping will likely be the star, Amazon is poised to play the Grinch.
Google Maps becomes more ‘social’ with Local Guides follow feature
Local Guides are part of the reason GMB and Maps are so successful.
Here’s what you need to know about Google’s newest local algorithm update
Google’s biggest local algorithm update since 2016 will require businesses and agencies to be more vigilant about fighting spam in affected areas.
What does Google Maps ‘incognito mode’ mean for businesses?
Google is giving consumers more control to opt-out but likely priming the market for more ambitious advertising products in Maps.
Reservations, AR navigation coming to Google Maps
The new features are aimed at making Maps a hub for travelers.
Millions of fake Google Maps listings hurt real business and consumers
Google says it is working on it, but is still positioned to profit as local businesses claw back visibility with paid ads.
Google Maps displaying redirect notice alerts when users click on business website URLs
A bug within Google Maps may be resulting in traffic loss to company websites and locations.
“Popular dishes” have arrived in Google Maps listings
Machine learning will match restaurants’ most popular offerings with corresponding reviews.
Local SEOs mixed, some peeved at idea of paying for Google My Business services
They recognized the logic – but many had strong criticisms.
Building and scaling global SEO Centers of Excellence
Before you can involve your company’s executives in SEO advocacy, you need a set of best practices and clear goals to share. Here's how you do it.
What do the symbols mean in Google’s Map Pack and Local Finder?
Over the past couple of years, Google has been consistently expanding upon its functionality for extracting information and displaying in local search results. Here are four features and how they operate.