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.
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Google Ask Maps: How to optimize for visibility
Ask Maps changes local visibility from ranking in a long list to being confidently recommended. Here’s what that shift means for local SEO.
Google Ask Maps is moving from listings to recommendations
New tests show Ask Maps is guiding users with recommendations, shifting how businesses get surfaced and how local rankings are influenced.
If your local rankings are off, your map pin may be the reason
Your rankings depend on where Google places your business on the map. Learn how hidden addresses and setup issues can hurt local visibility.
How AI is impacting local search and what tools to use to get ahead
Understand AI’s role in local SEO: See how AI is changing local results, user behavior, and optimization strategies — and explore the top tools to use now.
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 Maps Ads get scrollable sitelinks boost
Google rolled out scrollable sitelinks in Maps ads, letting advertisers drive users to specific site pages directly from promoted pins.
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.
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.
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.
Why website content won’t boost your Google Maps keyword rankings
Blogging won't improve your Google Maps rankings. Find out why this SEO myth persists and what strategies actually move the needle.
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.
Google Maps adds products nearby for product searches
You can now search for products in Google Maps and see product results.
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.
Google ties in Local Services Ads advertisers to Maps app
Google is launching Local Services Ads on the iOS version of Google Maps, with no option of running LSA without having it on.
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 maximize your local business’ Google Maps presence
Practical tips for optimizing your Google Maps presence to boost local visibility and drive more in-store customers.
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.
Google removes option to see more local results in the search results
It is unclear if this was intentionally removed or if this is a bug that Google will fix soon.
Google local pack not showing for many searchers
In some regions outside of the US, some are seeing local packs in the Google search results but in many regions they are not.
Google says it took down 45% more fake reviews in 2023 thanks to new algorithm
Google also shared new stats on actions it took in 2023 to block fake reviews and local listings.
Google local search ranking algorithm strengthens ‘openness’ signal
If your business isn't open 24/7, Google does not recommend you change your business listing to be open 24 hours per day.
Google adds small business filter to shopping search results
Google said it is "making it easy for U.S. shoppers to discover and shop at small businesses this weekend and beyond."
Google adds small business attribute and other information to business profiles and shopping listings
Google is also rolling out Product Studio.
Google Maps new search results makes photos significantly more important
This is a new "photo-first" search result layout where business owners need to pay more attention to the photos that show up for their business listings.
Google Business Profiles adds disabled-owned attribute to listings
Google also added new accessibility features to Google Maps.
Google Business Profiles to let you manage your social links
While Google showed social media profile links for local listings for a long time, Google Business Profiles may soon let you manage those links.
Google files lawsuit over fake review scams
Google said in this case the alleged scammers created 350 fraudulent Business Profiles and over 14,000 fake reviews.
Google Local Service Ads mass policy violations
Google is investigating if this is a bug or a new enforcement of some kind.
Google Maps can detect fake phone numbers in photos and remove them
Google also shared some states on how it fought fake reviews and content in local search.