Google My Business Is Now Google Business Profile: Everything You Need to Know Today and Long-Term

Since the day Google began introducing local business profile features in March of 2004, they’ve kept developing it aggressively and have changed the name no fewer than six times. GMB’s rechristening to Google Business Profile last Thursday involves more than a simple rebrand, however, so it’s important to know what changes you can expect - both right away and in the near future.

Here is a look into the primary feature change, access via search:

What’s in a name?

Since the inception of Google Local (aka Google Local Business aka Google Places aka Google+ Local aka Google My Business) and right on up to the announcement of Google Business Profile last week, the tool has become a local marketing cornerstone, ensuring ownership and control over business information within search results. 

From SMBs with a single brick-and-mortar location to enterprise-level chains with hundreds of franchises, GMB (or GBP as we can assume it will become abbreviated - at least outside of England) has been on the top of everyone’s checklist for a long time. And that isn’t going to change, but some of the details definitely will evolve in both the short and longer-term. 

What’s changing in the short term?

As of today, the main differences accompanying the name change have to do with direct profile management and a shift in how Google wants you to do so. While it’s been possible for years, Google is now deliberately pushing those with single listings to manage their businesses within Search or Maps and not in the old Google My Business console or mobile app. 

Credit: SEORoundtable

Google has also announced a gradual new feature rollout which includes:

• Call History information and management from Maps and Search 
• Business Messaging response and receipt management from Maps and Search
• Ability to verify and claim business profiles directly from Maps and Search
• Improved confirmation of new profile visibility from Search

What’s changing over the next six months?

In line with their aforementioned preferences as to user interaction, the mobile app will eventually be retired (no definitive word yet as to time frame, but Google’s VP of Merchant Shopping hinted it will happen in 2022). The GMB web backend will be renamed Business Profile Manager and shift towards primarily supporting larger, multiple-location entities. It’s safe to assume this will also happen sometime next year. 

In addition, the current profile URLs will be rebranded and redirect to the new experience. Eventually, GMB’s API will be renamed to Business Profile API, with the current functionality and development focus retained.

Do I need to do anything today as a result of these changes?

The short answer is, “no.” If you’re an SMB, and frequent user of the GMB web backend or mobile app, our only short-term adjustment recommendation is to start getting used to editing your profile directly in Search/Maps. Long before you’re eventually forced to sometime in 2022.

Additional Resources:

• Official Announcement from Google
• GMB and Local SEO update timeline from SterlingSky
• Google Business Profile Optimization from Widewail
• Gif showing how to manage profiles directly in Search from SEORoundtable

Incremental Progress

Google’s recent announcement is more indicative of continuing and “natural” improvements to a cornerstone feature than anything you need to worry about reacting to today. 

Widewail is dedicated to keeping our customers informed and comfortable with industry changes related to our products. You can see Google’s full announcement here. We’ve included several informational links above and you can always reach out to your account manager by phone or email with more detailed questions.