Google My Business Breaks Out Primary & Additional Business Categories
Google My Business made a small but useful change to the Google My Business dashboard where you edit your business listing. Now Google will show and let you edit your primary and additional (secondary) categories instead of lumping them into one big ca…
Google My Business Apps Gains Messaging, Posting, Photos & Much More
Google announced a revamp of the Google My Business app to help businesses create and manage their local listings in Google Maps. The new features in the app include a review management section, insight analytics, profile management, Google Posts mana…
Google Local Panel Adds See Other Locations Link
Google has added a link in some of the local knowledge panels, including the hotel ones, that say “see other locations.” So when you are viewing a specific location, it lets you click a link to see other locations from the same or similar brand.
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Google My Business Insights Has No Plans To Give Longer Periods Of Data
Google My Business said on Twitter that while they are reviewing the feedback around expanding the data in the Insights tab, there are no current plans to give more than a quarter worth of data in that analytics section. It doesn’t mean it won’t happe…
Google Discover More Places Surges In Google
Google has a feature to discover more places for some local intent queries. According to RankRanger, the feature exploded in terms of how often it is shown, starting on October 24th. In the US, it increased by almost 130%, from about 3.5% of queries …
Google Local Maps Follow Button Is Out
A couple weeks ago, Google announced a new feature in Google Maps and Local to follow a specific location or venue. The feature now seems to be rolled out and you can see it by searching for your favorite place to eat, shop or whatever. When you clic…
Google My Business Future Opening Dates For Businesses That Did Not Open Yet
A couple months ago we reported Google was testing future open dates within Google Maps listings and Google My Business. Well, this weekend, Google officially announced it in the Google My Business Help forums. Allyson Wright, Community Manager, Googl…
Google Separates Out Addresses & Services Areas For Local Service Businesses
Last week we reported Google was dropped addresses for some local service businesses. Well, Google posted over the weekend in the Google My Business help forums that they went ahead and separated out the addresses and service areas for these local ser…
Apple Maps May Not Be As Far Behind Google Maps As You Think…
Justin O’Beirne has published another amazingly detailed analysis of Apple Maps and how it has developed compared to Google Maps. While I shall yield to Justin’s mastery of all things geospatial, I feel like he kind of punted on his analysis of Apple Maps’ business listings data. O’Beirne observes that Apple Maps has few business […]
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Google My Business Removes Addresses From Some Service Area Businesses
Google seems to have dropped some the addresses from Google My Business listings for service area businesses. It seems like some businesses that set a service area in their accounts would see their addresses disappear from the Google My Business conso…
Google My Business Adds Setting For Google Assistant Calls Over Duplex
We know that Google is now going to be letting customers use Google Assistant’s duplex technology to book appointments or make reservations on their behalf. With that, Michael Wallace posted on Twitter that one of his customers has a new section to en…
Bug: Google Knowledge Panel Image Goes Missing
It looks like there is a recent bug with the Google knowledge panel images that some are actually missing. It was working fine a couple of hours ago, but right now, the images for many are simply blank. I assume it will be fixed soon.
Google Local Pack Results Add Book & Schedule Buttons
Google has added the ability to book reservations or schedule appointments directly from the local pack. This is a feature from the Reserve with Google platform but now it has surfaced directly in the local pack results.
Google My Business Cards In Google Maps Results
Google Maps is showing some people a card asking them to to take charge of their listings in Google My Business. Google is showing a “go to Google My Business” card where you can post updates and information about your business, directly in the Google …
Google My Business Personal Account Migration To Organizational Account Tool
Google has posted a new help document that walks you through the process of migrating your Google My Business listings from a personal account to an organization account. Kara from Google wrote in the Google My Business Help thread “When we launched t…
Google My Business Products Beta Lets You Add Products To Your Local Listings
Last week we showed how Google added a products and services section to the local listings in Google. Now I see reports of Google showing a beta tab in Google My Business to add your own products. It seems related to what we reported back in August wi…
Google My Business Video Upload Not Working: Server Reject Error
Google has confirmed they are working on fixing a bug within Google My Business for uploading videos to your business listing. When you try to upload videos, Google is returning a “server reject error.” Allyson Wright, Community Manager, Google My Bus…
Google My Business Insights Shows Branded Searches Now
As I covered yesterday at Search Engine Land, Google has added a new slice in the pie within the Google My Business Insights section to segment out branded searches from direct or discovery related searches. Here is a screen shot from my business in G…
Google Tests Large Slideshow Images For Local Pack Results
Google is testing large images that you can swipe through in a slideshow mode for the local pack results. We saw this being tested for hotel related results but now some are seeing it for normal local results as well.
Google Local Panel Shows Products & Services Section
Andy Simpson posted on Twitter and in the Local Search Forums a screen shot of Google showing a products and services section in the local panel result for a business. In Google My Business you have the option to fill in your products and services but…