Google My Business Rebrands to Google Business Profile

What Does GMB’s Rebranding Mean for Your Local Business?

Google recently announced it was rebranding Google My Business (GMB) to Google Business Profile (GBP). 

How does this impact your business?

The dust is still settling on the full impact of this change and everything that comes with it, but right now here’s what you need to know:

• The GMB App will be retired at some point in the near future. 
  • If you use the app to reply to reviews, reply to messages or make any other updates, you need to be aware of the change and know the app will be removed in the future.

• Individual profile listings will be managed via Google Maps and Google Search, not via Business.Google.com.
  • You won’t use Business.Google.com to manage your account when the change fully rolls out.

There will probably be other things that change, but since the name is the most noticeable update for many now, we’ll have to wait until more changes are implemented to determine the full impact.

What you need to know now:

My biggest concern is that you or your account managers will see your business on Google Maps or Google Search and make changes on the fly to your information without realizing the change can have a detrimental impact on your business.  For example, some changes to your profile can trigger a suspension or cause a drop in ranking (a decrease in conversions and revenue!), sending business to your competitors.

Since Covid first began, Google support has slowed down and actually gotten worse in recent months. You definitely don’t want your account suspended right now.

This is one reason that my clients have me make all of their updates on their GBP account.  I have a process that reduces the chance of suspension and also helps me resolve any suspensions faster if it’s from a bug in the system.

GBP is a significant part of Local SEO.  Are you using it to grow your business’s revenue?