You may have heard that Google is retiring the Google My Business name and replacing it with Google Business Profile. They recently announced this rebrand and, although not a lot of information has not been provided yet, it seems like the name change will be the most drastic change to the platform.
Google has said that they chose to rename for simplicity’s sake, presumably for the same reason they renamed Google AdWords into Google Ads back in 2018. Besides the name, not much else will change regarding usability and features.
With that said, there are some key differences that will happen with the platform in 2022 that you need to be aware of. Let us walk you through the most significant changes.
What’s New for Business Profiles?
The most significant change besides the name is the greater integration of the platform into both Google Search and Google Maps. SMB owners will now be able to claim and manage businesses directly on Google Search and Google Maps, bypassing the need for the separate Google My Business app.
Although the ability to claim a business through Search and Maps is not new, Google is now being explicit in encouraging single-location business owners to run their Business Profiles directly from Search and Maps.
What does Will happen to the Google My Business App?
Google will be phasing out the Google My Business app in 2022. Although many marketers and multiple-location business owners had initially panicked about what this meant for them, reports have clarified that a new Business Profile Manager interface will be made available for marketers and multi-location businesses.
Google has not specified whether this will be a new app or whether it will replace the old Google My Business app. Regardless, we can safely assume that an alternative will be made available before the GMB app is officially phased out.
What if My Business Has Multiple Locations?
If your business has multiple locations, you will be able to manage them all through a new platform called Business Profile Manager. This new platform will be rolled out in 2022 and will replace the current Google My Business platform.
If you run a single-location business, however, Google has made it clear that they expect you to manage it through Search and Maps. Whether single-location businesses will be excluded from using Business Profile Manager is yet to be disclosed.
Key Takeaways
Unless you run a single-location business, the biggest concern you should have is getting used to saying GBP instead of GMB. This will likely take a long time of getting used to, as some people still refer to GMB as Google Places, a name that was discontinued in 2012.
If you have any questions about the Google Business Profile update and what it means for your SMB, do not hesitate to contact Auxilium Technology. As a full-service digital marketing company, we work with Google products every single day. Give us a call at 301-519-9622 to see how we can help you optimize your Google Business Profile.
