Category: Google Maps

Google’s John Mueller was asked if the Google May 2020 core update or any core update can have an impact on the Google My Business reports. He said no, core updates in Google Search are unrelated to Google My Business. But yes, we did see many local …

Google suspended displaying new business reviews in Google Local/Google My Business in March. Well, now, Google seems to be showing new reviews and backfilling old reviews that were submitted between now and then.

A couple weeks after Bing Places added integration with GoFundMe, Google My Business follows suit and also integrates with GoFundMe for donation links in your Google local listing. Well, Google also added PayPal as another option. In addition, Google…

Did you know that if you mark your business as temporarily closed in Google My Business that Google will remove the buttons on your listing to go to your web site or call your business? Amy Toman shard this on Twitter and this is something a lot of bus…

Tim Capper, a local SEO, said you should be aware that in many cases, if you post a Google Post using the COVID-19 update, then it will likely replace any other normal Google Posts you add. He said on Twitter “it would seem that COVID-19 post in GMB a…

Google can now show if a specific location, pharmacy, etc, is a COVID-19 testing center and what requirements there are to be tested. Mike Blumenthal shared a screen shot of a Walmart store that has this testing set up and that in this one, you do need…

Google has added a new feature to Google My Business for hotels. This is a new feature lets hotels add if they offer free or discounted rooms for COVID-19 responders. Many hotels are being used to house COVID-19 responders so these responders do not p…

Google is now showing a “get online care” and “see COVID-19 info for visitors” links to a medical or hospital facilities local listing in Google search. We knew this was coming but now it is visible for searchers.

Google is now offering free printable posters for your local business with messages related to COVID-19. The posters can be hung in your business door window and they range from messages about takeout and delivery and no contact delivery.

Google has added options for some local businesses to highlight the types of services they are offering during the COVID-19 outbreak. This is within the Google Local Services Ads and you can select, depending on your business type, what levels and typ…

Google My Business had the ability for owners to reply to reviews within the console directly. Heck, it even tested automating some of those replies. But at some point, that feature went away. It is now back and working.

Google has added the ability to add a “telehealth info link” to a Google My Business listing, if the listing is a medical/doctor related office. Erica Paige shared a screen shot of this on Twitter.

Yesterday I saw a push notification on my iPhone that read “What’s for dinner? Check out places to eat & drink nearby.” I tweeted about it, figured it was an oversight and then Danny Sullivan from Google said the Google Maps team has taken care of it.

This may have come last week when I covered the new attributes for restaurants on Google My Business. But now in Google Maps it is showing as part of the restaurants name if the business offers takeout and delivery. Here is a screen shot from around…

If you login to Google My Business, click on Posts, you have a new option to write a post specific with COVID-19 information about your business. Google said on Twitter “COVID-19 update posts will appear at the top of your business profile in local se…

Google posted a microsite with tools and resources to help small businesses during these uncertain times. Google wrote “We know this is a difficult time for people everywhere, including small business owners. We want to help. We’ve gathered some usefu…

Google has posted an update on Twitter that now when you mark you business as temporarily closed, it will not impact your search rankings. Google said “keep customers updated on your status without affecting search rankings.”

Google has said it has reenabled the ability to use Google Posts after it was temporarily disabled. Google wrote on Twitter “business posts were temporarily disabled and have now resumed.”

Google is testing displaying new attributes for local results that show if there is dine in, delivery or takeout services. Brian Freiesleben and Mike Blumenthal shared screen shots with me over the past few days. Here they are:

Google My Business created a new help document giving guidance to how healthcare providers like clinics and medical offices should keep its patients informed during COVID-19.