Google My Business is Now Google Business Profile

In November of 2021, Google changed the name of its platform, Google My Business (GMB), to Google Business Profile. This name change coincided with Google’s efforts to add more business profile management to Google Search and Google Maps rather than through the GMB app. While moving business profile management away from the GMB app, Google announced that the GMB app would be retired entirely sometime in 2022. The exact date has not been announced. So what exactly is Google Business Profile (GBP), and how is it different from GMB? 

Like GMB, GBP allows your multi-location business to manage how it shows up across Google products like Search and Maps. Google notes that optimizing your GBP allows your business to increase visibility in a particular location, which is critical for multi-location businesses. In addition to increased visibility, verified companies on Google are twice as likely to be considered reputable. 

New Features That Come With Google’s Name Change 

Two new features came along with Google’s name change. 

1. Businesses can now claim their business profile directly on Search and Maps. 

Businesses would have to use the GMB app to claim a new business profile in the past. This is no longer the case. To claim a new business through Search or Maps, search for the name of your business, and you’ll see the option to verify the profile or resolve other issues, like profile suspension. 

2. Businesses will now be able to manage their business profile exclusively through Search and Maps. 

Like claiming the listing within Search and Maps, you can now manage the information found in your listings in the same way. For instance, once you search your business’s name, you can edit the information people see when searching for your business name, including address, store hours, phone number, and more! 

What You Can Do With A Google Business Profile 

Now that you understand what is new with GBP, what are other things your business can use the profile for? Google explains that the three main benefits of GBP are to maintain accurate information about your business online, interact with current customers, and attract new customers. If your multi-location business isn’t already leveraging its GBP profiles to their fullest potential, it’s time to start. 

SOCi is here to help. SOCi Listings empowers you to manage your business listings at scale and optimize your online presence and local search rankings effectively. SOCi Listings is partnered with GBP, so your multi-location business can optimize its local listings at scale, saving your marketing team time and effort. Get more insight into how SOCi can help your business crush its local search efforts and beyond.