Google just published a new article in the “Map User Contributed Policy” help center about posting restrictions. This is the first time that Google has broken down the various types of restrictions. These are specifically about user-generated content (UGC) restrictions. This means that the restrictions are referring to things like user-uploaded photos, videos, and reviews.…
Read MoreIt appears that Google has added a new feature to the New Merchant Experience (NMX), which is the new in-search editing interface, that allows a business to create a custom map to add to their website. First time seeing prompt to "add a map to your website" in the NMX interface. Clicking through takes you…
Read MoreGoogle Maps has just deprecated the “Follow” button and Welcome Offer feature that was first launched back in 2018. If you aren’t familiar with this feature, you’re likely not alone. When Google cancels a feature it is normally due to lack of adoption. Considering how little attention this feature received in the local SEO space,…
Read MoreGoogle has launched a new service for small businesses. The official name is Small Business Advisors. It is currently available in the US only. This was officially launched last November and Google is now starting to ramp it up. Here’s how Google describes the new service.Discover the different ways an Advisor can help you. We…
Read MoreUpdated on June 15, 2021 to include new Directions and Website Clicks breakdown Google announced some changes coming to GMB Insights in October 2020. According to this Google My Business help center article titled Changes to your Insights data: Business Profile Performance reporting is moving closer to your profile on Search and Maps. You’ll be…
Read MoreThe services menu in Google My Business allows you to add details about the different services your business offers. Up until yesterday, the fields would only show up on mobile as a tab that either display as “services” or “menu” (which looks silly for any non-restaurant businesses). The service menu can be created directly in…
Read MoreLast week Mike wrote an article about the new direct edit experience for Google My Business listings. As of this afternoon, we are seeing it in the wild. What has us really excited is the ability to view performance metrics graphed up to a six month period with a year-over-year comparison. It would be nice…
Read MoreGoogle My Business recently update the page titled “Get started with Google My Business for healthcare providers” with a section called “Manage insurance info for your practice”. Google states: Important: Insurance information is available for select merchants in the US only. It displays for merchants whose insurance availability is provided to Google. On your Business Profile…
Read MoreWe have been observing massive local ranking fluctuations that seem to have started around April 23, 2020. There is an active discussion happening at the Local Search Forum. We started to see the second wave of massive ranking fluctuation that corresponds with the announcement of the broad core algorithm update on May 4, 2020. Later…
Read MoreRESOLVED 1/29/2020 There appears to be another GMB related bug. Sporadically some users are not able to leave a review for a business the find via search & local knowledge panels. They also are sometimes unable to leave a review when given the GMB Profile Short Name URL. Users are reporting that the tap or…
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