Google Announces End of Google Business Profile Website Service
Introduction
Google has announced that it will discontinue its Google Business Profile (GBP) website service, a feature that allowed businesses to create simple websites directly from their Google Business Profile information. This change will take effect on March 1, 2024, marking a significant shift for many small businesses that rely on this service for their online presence.
https://support.google.com/business/answer/14368911?hl=en#:~:text=As%20of%20March%205%2C%202024,Profile%20until%20June%2010%2C%202024.
Key Dates and Changes
- March 1, 2024: Websites created through Google Business Profiles will be turned off. From this date, customers visiting these sites will be automatically redirected to the business’s Google Business Profile page.
- June 10, 2024: The redirects will cease, and customers attempting to visit the old GBP websites will encounter a “page not found” error. Businesses need to ensure they have transitioned to a new website by this date to avoid disruptions in their online presence (TechRadar) (Search Engine Land) (Search Engine Journal) (Search Engine Roundtable).
Reasons for Discontinuation
Google has cited low engagement as a primary reason for ending the service. The company believes that businesses are better served by creating more comprehensive and engaging websites using other tools. This move allows Google to focus on improving other aspects of Google Business Profiles and enhancing the overall functionality for users.
Impact on Businesses
The discontinuation of this service will require businesses to find alternative solutions for their online presence:
- Loss of Easy Website Creation: Small businesses that relied on the simple, automated website creation feature will need to seek other platforms.
- Potential Disruptions: Without timely transition to a new website, businesses may face periods where their online visibility is diminished, impacting customer engagement and sales.
Tips:
- Domains that end with business.site and negocio.site have been removed from the website field on your Business Profile. We recommend you update your Google Business Profile with a new website.
- Other than that, your Business Profiles aren’t affected.
- If you don’t have a website made with a Google Business Profile, the changes mentioned in this article won’t affect you.
Managing Your Ads and Third-Party Domains Post-Google Business Profile Changes
Manage Ads Campaigns Connected to Your Website
Starting March 5, 2024, ads linked to websites created with Google Business Profile may be disapproved and cease running. This is because the domain in the ad’s display URL will no longer match the final URL, which violates ad destination requirements. To keep your ads running, you need to create a new website or landing page that complies with these requirements. Learn more about creating a compliant website or landing page to ensure your ads continue to run smoothly.
Additionally, you have the option to pause your campaigns if needed.
Manage Your Third-Party Domains
If you are using a custom domain name to forward traffic to a website created with your Google Business Profile, note that starting March 5, 2024, visitors will be redirected to your Business Profile. This redirect will only be active until June 10, 2024. To maintain traffic flow, sign in to your hosting account and use the “Redirect” option (or a similar feature) to forward your third-party domain to a different website before the June deadline.
Conclusion
The end of the Google Business Profile website service marks a significant change for small businesses. While this may pose initial challenges, it also presents an opportunity to upgrade to more robust website solutions that can enhance customer engagement and business growth. By planning ahead and exploring alternative platforms, businesses can ensure a smooth transition and continue to thrive online.
