Category: Google Maps

In September 2020, Google added a new section for “health and safety” attributes to Google Business Profiles (formerly Google My Business). Those remained as an option until last week, Google removed those health and safety attributes late last week.

There seems to be a much higher level of Google Business Profiles suspended in the past couple of weeks than one would typically see. So a higher number of businesses set up in Google Maps are being suspended and removed from the Google local search re…

Over the past 24 hours or so, there has been a ton of complaints that the Google Posts submit button is not working. I personally tested it and it seems to work for me, but a Google My Business help thread has tons of complaints about the Google Posts…

A couple of weeks ago we reported on a possible Google local search ranking update that turned out to not be an update but rather a bug. Well, that bug seems to be fixed or being fixed now and rankings are beginning to return for these local service ar…

Did you know that in some countries, like Germany, if you report a review as being fake or spam, Google will email the reviewer about the objection and see if they respond? Mike Blumenthal spotted that in a Google Business Profile help thread.

Google has updated its Google Maps contributor guidelines, specifically disallowing a business to incentivize those who leave negative reviews to remove those reviews. Previously, the guidelines only prohibited incentivizing leaving positive reviews.

Google seems to be testing showing when a photo was taken or uploaded to a Google Business Profile listing. Google has done this for image search and other areas but I am not sure if this was done for photos on Business Profiles.

The Google Home Hub display can show users an “about reviews” disclaimer or notice that talks about how the review may not be verified by a confirmed visit or experience.

Google has added a new section for products to the Google Business Profile guidelines. The section says “If you run a retail business, you can show nearby shoppers what you sell by adding your in-store products to your Business Profile at no charge.”

Google is testing a “browse places” search feature where it shows you place cards that you can swipe through and then click on. It is kind of like a new local pack grid view for restaurants, kind of…

Chris Silver Smith noticed how Google has updated its Google Maps contributed content policy and removed a line that prohibited review-gating. The line that was removed was “don’t discourage or prohibit negative reviews or selectively solicit positive…

Google is asking some Google Local Guides to leave sub-reviews about a single business listing. So Google might ask the local guide about the restrooms in the restaurant or the if the place is dog friendly.

Google is testing allowing business owners add captions or descriptions to photos they upload to their business profiles. Mike Blumenthal spotted this in a Google Business Profile Help thread and also posted about it on Twitter.

As Google continues to migrate off of the old Google My Business manager to the web search interface to manage your business, Google keeps adding subtle but more features. Now, when you search [my business] in Google, Google will show you a link to “Vi…

Google is testing a new layout and user experience for the Local Service Ads. This interface has the local service ads on the left and when you click on one, the box expands to the right with all of the details on the business.

Google Maps is now notifying reviewers when their review isn’t posted. The email says “your review isn’t posted” and explains why. In the case below, Google said its moderation systems and processes considered the review to be fake.

Google seems to be testing overlaying on top of the web search results the popular destinations feature and details you’d normally get in Google Travel. Previously, Google would show you a snippet and when you clicked in for more, it would take you to …

Google is testing an expandable map feature in Google Search for when you see the map load in mobile search. This is instead of when you click on the map and it takes you into Google Maps, here Google is just expanding the map screen larger and adds a…

Google has updated its Business Profile posts content policy to specify that Google now considers duplicate photos, posts, videos, and logos as spam. If you have duplicate photos, posts, videos, and logos on your Google Business Profile, your post may…

Google seems to be testing overlaying the photos of some Google Business Profile listings in the web search results. Typically when you click on a photo in a Google Business Profile listing you are taken into the Google Maps interface to view the photo…