If you have a Google business account, you may have noticed that it has changed from Google My Business to a Google Business Profile at some point over the past few months. We’re going to unpick why this has happened and what it means for your online profile. 
 
What Has Changed? 
Google has changed the name of its local listing platform from Google My Business to Google Business Profile. The Google My Business app has also been retired and small businesses are now encouraged to manage their profiles directly from Search or Maps. If you’re signed in to your business account, you can quickly and easily update any information directly from a Google search of your business. Any businesses looking to create a Google Business Profile can do so directly from Search or Maps and you will have the ability to quickly see if your profile is publicly visible. 
 
Why Have Google Done This? 
As far as we can tell, it’s all about user experience. By making the Google My Business app redundant and allowing business owners to manage their profile directly from search results, it’s quicker and easier to keep on top of any changes that need to be shared with potential and existing customers. This means that you have more time to focus on running your business! 
 
The Added Benefits 
You can now make lots of changes to your business information quickly and easily, directly from a Google search. After ensuring you’re logged in, you will be able to edit: 
 
About – Your business name, industry, description of your business, opening date 
Contact – Your address, website, phone number, social media accounts 
Location – Drop a pin on Maps and add photos so people know what to look for 
Hours – Add main operating hours and any different hours eg. Bank holidays 
Products – Share what you have to offer, including price or price range, photos and descriptions 
Services – What other services does your business offer 
 
And if that’s not enough, from the ‘Customers’ tab, you can also: 
• Add an exterior photo so customers can recognise your storefront 
• See your call history from Google-directed calls 
• Post updates, as you would on social media 
• Allow customers to message you directly 
• Request reviews from customers 
 
All in all, it’s just a name change with a load of extra benefits thrown in for fun! 
 
A great place to look for more information is the Google Business Profile help page. You can find out how to get started, how to continually manage your profile and how to engage with customers. We look forward to reading all your information on Google soon! 
For any more advise on anything web related call 087 2413 232, Steve is based in Swords, Dublin so happy to meet up for a chat in person or over zoom. You can also email Steve on steve.taber@itseeze.com or visit the website itseeze-dublin.ie 
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