10 Latest Google My Business Updates for Local Businesses

 

2020- what an extraordinary year for relevant and functional google my business updates! The adaptation to the new normal and pandemic situation was the aim behind GM updates.

Changes were fast, subtle and quite impactful - we can’t deny these facts.

But time has passed, so are the google highlights for users.

 

Here are the top 10 google my business new feature that defined 2020 and will be opening doors to a more recent post COVID world for us.

 

Google My Business New Features- How Will They Work and What to Expect?

If you are asking how to optimize google my business?- then we bet these ten subtle new features could be the answer to your local SEO queries.

 

1. Google Posts Feature

When you search for ‘ what are google my business updates’ - this is the first one that comes into mind.

Although the road was a little rocky in the beginning, and several posts got rejected. Once they have resolved the issues, it becomes a part of the local SEO services. Otherwise, it would have been a lot more difficult for the IT companies to connect to API and offer multi-location posts.

 

2. Suggested Categories for GMB Product Lists

The second google my business new feature that came around February was about many visible changes to the dashboard of Google my business. 'Suggested Categories' were added into the products section, although this feature’s impact on the ranking is still quite unclear. But the good news is they appear on mobile searches, which may lead to actual conversions.

 

3. Then Came March- Along with COVID Features

Talking about Google, my business new updates- Google has always been the trendsetter in almost everything; the same thing goes for GMB because they have dedicated many healthcare services, primarily for COVID-19. They also have launched resources by then for businesses to communicate and adjust to the circumstances well.

●     Features like COVID-19 Google post type

●     Options like 'Temporarily Closed' for different locations were allocated.

●     Disabled new photos uploaded by customers

●     Stopped recent reviews and Q&As for businesses.

These business-friendly features have helped people a lot through SEO by offering value by implementing their customer base proactively.

 

4. Telehealth Appointment + COVID Links

In April, GMB added many website links and options to the dashboard. The most essential two we're 'COVID-19 Info Links and Telehealth info link.

If you can look at the analytics, the links turned out to be great communicators of the latest protocols. They significantly contributed to driving traffic and even more leads and conversions.

 

5. Bedlam Algorithm

There was volatility observed in local search results in April, too, courtesy of this googles my business new feature. Later, it turned out to be only a bug.

Ranking fluctuations were also a part of this significant effect. The rank dropping and getting back up was so random and immediate that revenue lost and gained due to this big is phenomenal across all sorts of businesses.

 

6. Add More Hours

GMB came up with a new set of hours- businesses in different locations can add to their services. In response to the pandemic, some of the extra hours were appeared as 'Senior hours', which makes sense and we think it will be a forever thing even after this pandemic is over.

With setting this up, SEO for local businesses can bring back the traction - the more, the better.

 

7. Flag User Profiles

This was a whole new option. We as a user can flag any profile we want. This would come in handy whenever you coke across any fake reviews and want to report them.

Before this it was a long process of sending emails to Local Guides Support.

It is available on Google Maps ans you can use it by

●     Opening up Google Maps App.

●     Then search for a contribution or a post from the profile you want to flag.

●     Then tap on the user name.

●     Tap those three vertical dots which are in the upper right corner.

●     Then select 'Report Profile. '

 

8. Performance Metrics to Edit Experience

We are not talking about GMB direct edit experience. It is a very good way for GMB managers and owners to edit listings directly on the Google search. The best thing about this feature is you can always go back to data from months of the window from today and also you can go back to GMB dashboard.

Here is how you can find performance metrics:

●     First, perform a brand search.

●     Then go to the 'View profile button of your managed GMB accounts.

●     Then select 'Add a highlight'.

●     Then rap on 'Performance.'

●     Finally, you will be able to see the data insights for your GMB profile.

 

Although it was not available to all the businesses, we can now use it as a part of SEO services. It is being adopted with the rollouts.

 

9. Health and Safety Attributes

Pandemic has influenced so many GMB features to arrive this one amongst the latest ones. 'Coronavieus related health and safety attributes' were launched in September.

Google is adding more and more attributes to the list - you can tap these under the 'Into tab inside the dashboard of Google My Business.

These are visible in multiple places; you get to see them in every format, from mobiles to desktops and apps like Map and Google search.

 

10. Preview Call History in GMB Dashboard

It was early October when we have come across a separate module inside the dashboard. It was called ' Preview Call history Because back then. It is a part of the Local Search Forum, and we will know more about this with time.

Here are the things we know so far:

●     It is now US only and opening mode.

●     There are no call recording or transcriptions available.

●     Call logs can remain for 45 days.

●     The number you can see as the caller is the forwarding number.

●     This may affect offsite call tracking via Google my business. So. We have to use it with caution if we are using call tracking in our GMB strategy.

 

Google My Business New Updates- Key Takeaways

Consider these ten mentioned as google local business management tips- we have built a new perspective of local SEO and google my business optimization service around it. As we move forward in 2021, we are expecting few more updates and google my business's new feature to be more flexible with the changing times.

Let’s take an example for Telehealth- what more can Google offer in telemedicine and virtual healthcare?

We are looking forward to more and more google my business updates, and in the meantime, keep following our blog for all the latest updates in the digital world.