Due to the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic, Google made recent changes to the Google My Business dashboard.
As a result of this new development, it is important you update your listings as soon as possible to keep your customers updated on Covid-19 business operations.
The first update was in April 2020: the update was to accurately and consistently update Google My Business with a valid business name, address, and phone number of your business. This small change impacts search results when a consumer types “near me” into the Google search bar. When the keyword “near me” is searched, your business will appear if it has updated and verified business information.
The second update rolled out in May 2020; this update stated necessary changes to your business hours and business description. Google allowed this update due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result of many businesses having to make accommodations to pivot in order to optimize business operations. Google provided a space for how to change the business hours for new opening and closing time.
To make any changes to your business hours, all you have to do is log into your Google My Business account and update the required fields.
The Google My Business dashboard has a COVID-19 Update section to provide any notes that should be displayed on the Google My Business Listing, such as curbside pick up available or now offering delivery. The latest update to the Google My Business Platform allows you to clearly state the effects of the pandemic on your business. This includes, if the pandemic has made some items unavailable or delayed, difficulty in processing orders, etc. Much like a social media platform, Google My Business now offers Posts. This is the perfect place to post what’s the latest with your business in this ever changing economy and environment.
More New Features
Another update that Google My Business has made in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic, is the option of marking a business “temporarily closed”. This feature had been disabled for some time, but it was deemed necessary given the Shelter in Place orders and other varying local government responses.
A new feature was also made available for medical professionals. They can now manage and claim their practice’s information through their Google My Business Profile. This change is allowing medical professionals to now be able to continuously add details about services offered. Medical Professionals can now include instructions to patients to their profile. Example: only one parent to attend the appointment with a child or face masks must be worn to enter the building.
The final modification is the ability to respond to reviews and Q&A from the Dashboard almost in real time. It’s very important for SEO and Marketing efforts to maintain a consistent online presence. Managing your business’ reputation online can be difficult as sites, directories, and social media can become a full-time job. If you need assistance keeping up with the ever-evolving online marketing, contact us for a complimentary discovery call!
For More information, watch our video.
