Google confirmed it is essentially removing the Q&A feature within Google Maps, and instead, searchers can use the new AI-powered Ask button on a Google Business Profile to get the answers they are looking for.
Google announced that Gemini can now respond to your local questions with local results in a “rich, visual format.” Google will visually lay out the local results to include photos, ratings, and real-world info from Google Maps data.
Google Maps is updating its share buttons by removing the options to share on X and adding the options to share on Reddit and Facebook.
Google is now sending email notifications for when Google Business Profiles has removed the restrictions on your reviews and ratings. The email says, “Restrictions on your reviews and ratings have been removed” and it comes from the Google Business Profiles team.
Over the years, we have written that service areas are not used as a local ranking factor by Google Search. Well, the API leak document also implies this to be true.
The Google local pack within the Google Search results changes, I think. When you click on the “More businesses” button at the bottom of the local pack, you aren’t taken into Google Maps anymore; you are taken to the Google Places tab
For the past week or so, a number of local SEOs and local business owners have been unable to see the admin panel, also known as NMX, when they search for their business in Google Search. This is not impacting everyone.
Google has officially launched scheduling and multi-location publishing for Google Posts in Google Business Profiles. This was a feature Google tested last month and is now fully live.
Google announced some new features for Google Maps including a big one for reviews, where reviewers can now use nicknames instead of their real names when leaving reviews.
A month ago, we reported Google added a new form to report negative review extortion scams on your Google Business Profiles and local listings. Google also listed some tips on how to handle these extortion attempts.