Category: Google Maps

Google has added a call button to the local pack on desktop search results. So not only is there a call button on the mobile results but now you can click “call” from your desktop results. This started showing up yesterday morning.

Google My Business has added another attribute for businesses owners to use to enhance their business listings. The new attribute is named “black-owned business”, this goes on with the veteran-led and women-led attributes.

I think this is a new interface for the old Google Local Q&A box that launched sometime in 2017 or so. Here is the new look that Valentin Pletzer spotted and posted about on Twitter.

We have seen Google local pack carousels with images and also Google showed what was “sold here” but I do not believe I’ve seen local pack carousels with products with inventory status. Jackson Lo noticed this and posted a video screen grab of this in…

Google is now trying a subscription billing model for Google My Business, something Google has explored doing in the past, and is now actively pursuing. Google sent Tom Waddington an email asking him to “upgrade” his business profile for $50 a month.
…

Hot off the coattails of Google now sending notifications of Google My Business listing suspensions, Google is sending other notices as well. Here is a notice from Google that says your profile has been marked as a duplicate.

Francastro notified me on Twitter of a local panel he spotted in the Google search results that lists not one, but two different phone numbers. I am not sure if I’ve seen this before so I figured I share his screen shot here.

Casey Bryan shared a screen shot with me on Twitter showing what I think is a new, nifty feature by Google My Business. Google is now showing for some business local panels when the last time that business updated its business hours with Google.
…

Yesterday, like many others, when using Google Maps, Google showed a notification box at the top right, warning people to wear a mask. The notice said “wear a mask, help slow the spread of COVID-19.” The notice was also on Google.com’s home page. Bot…

Google has updated the products section within the Google My Business Console. It now has a cleaner interface, with “see it on Google” and a nice layout for “All products” and a way to filter your products.

Google will soon begin sending email notifications to businesses when their business listings or accounts are suspended with Google My Business. Until now, if your listing is suspended, you won’t know about it until you login to Google My Business to f…

Did you know that you can remove the “online order” buttons on your local business knowledge panel in the Google search and Google Map results? I do not believe this applies to the ads, which is frustrating, but it does apply to other providers.
…

Andy Simpson spotted this interesting Google Maps interface test. It shows a local listing or local pack carousel in the footer section on the Google Maps view. I don’t believe I’ve seen this before, but it is kind of nice.

Over the past few days Tim Capper has been noticing ads back in the local knowledge panels again. I personally was unable to replicate, but now I can here and there. Greg Sterling confirmed with Google that this is a new “pilot program” they are runnin…

Google is testing a new way of displaying the images in a Google local business knowledge panel listing. Google is using the stories view, where it plays the image like a slideshow story book.

As you know, Google said they would investigate the complaints around Google Maps spam with garage door installation and maintenance companies. Well, Danny Sullivan from Google said “we should see some improvements” around this in the “very near futur…

Google announced it has expanded the business messaging features it launched in Google Search and Google Maps. This service can now be integrated with your customer service platforms and Google added smart replies, visual product carousels, and unique…

Google Maps has added a large button on some map interfaces asking you to support your local businesses. The button says “support local businesses” and lets you the explore those businesses. When you click on it, it takes you into the explore nearby fe…

Thibault Adda noticed that now when in Google Maps Street View imagery, and you are looking at a specific business, you might get an icon that you can click on to trigger the launch of the local business knowledge panel. This makes a lot of sense and …

Google is testing showing a “service update” section in the Google local panels for some businesses. It seems to be a section to update searchers around COVID-19 changes to the business hours or services, like dine-in or curbside and takeout options fo…