11 New Google My Business Features for 2020 & Covid-19

Google has added several new features to Google My Business in 2020 to help businesses keep customers updated through the challenges of the pandemic. Google My Business was renamed to Google Business Profile in November 2021.

Every business should keep its Google My Business profile updated with any changes to keep local customers informed. Your Google My Business profile will be shown on Google search and Maps when customers search for your business on Google. You should provide customers with the most up to date information about your business.

46% of all Google searches are looking for local information.

An updated and optimized Google My Business listing is essential to improve local SEO or search rankings and stand out from your competitors in local search listings.

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business is a free online business listing provided by Google. It allows you to create a business profile and manage how your business information appears on Google Search and Google Maps. It helps customers find your business when they perform an online search on Google.

A complete Google My Business profile on Google lists your
• business name
• phone
• location
• hours
• services
• website URL
• business description
• photos
• reviews

How Can A Google My Business Listing Help My Business?

For a local business, performing well in online search rankings on Google is important so that customers can find your business when they search online for products or services in their local area.

According to a Google study on local search behavior,
• 4 out of 5 customers use search engines to search for local information including store address, hours, directions and product availability.
• 50% of people who did a local search on a smartphone, and 34% of those who searched on a computer, visited a store in one day.
• 18% of local searches led to a purchase within 1 day.
• 500% growth in “Near Me” mobile searches that include terms “can I buy” or “to buy” over the last 2 years.

An optimized and up-to-date Google My Business profile is essential for your business to:
• Reach customers searching online on Google Search and Google Maps.
• Improve local search or SEO (search engine optimization) rankings and stand out on Google search results so that your business listing is found when customers search for products and services like yours.
• Connect with customers with calls, messaging, special offers and reviews.
• Show what makes your business unique with photos, posts and special events.
• Direct customers to your website to get more information about your business or to make a purchase.

New Features in Google My Business To Keep Customers Updated in 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted many businesses. Businesses affected by Covid-19 should update their Google My Business listings to keep customers informed of any changes in business hours or services.

1. Update Changes in Business Hours

If your business hours have changed due to Covid-19, update your Google My Business profile with the changed hours of operation. This will let customers know when your business is open so that they can visit.

After you update your business hours, the update will be shown on your Google My Business profile.

2. More Hours

Use the “More Hours” option to list any additional services you provide at different times.

Use “More Hours” to list:

• Senior Hours
• Delivery
• Takeout
• Drive-through
• Pickup
• Online service hours

How to set More Hours:
1. Sign into Google My Business, select your location.
2. Click on “Info” in the left menu.
3. You will see “More Hours” under your regular hours, click the pencil to edit.
4. You will see a panel like the screenshot below. Add hours for specific services.
5. Click “Apply”.

google my business - more features

3. Special Hours

Use the “Special Hours” option to list adjusted hours or when your business is closed such as on
• Holidays
• Special events

How to set Special Hours:
1. Sign into Google My Business, select your location.
2. Click on “Info” in the left menu.
3. You will see “Special Hours” listed under the “More hours” section with a list of your holiday hours, click the pencil to edit.
4. Click “Apply”.

4. Temporarily Closed

Mark your business “temporarily closed” if your business has temporarily stopped providing all services due to Covid-19. When your business resumes operations, you can mark it as open.

If your business offers pickup and delivery services during Covid-19, do not mark it as temporarily closed, otherwise your business listing will not be shown on Google listings. Use the More Hours option to show special times for pickup and delivery services.

According to Google, marking your business temporarily closed will not affect its local search rankings.

How to set the Temporarily Closed feature :
1. Sign into Google My Business, select your location.
2. Click on “Info” in the left menu.
3. You will see the “Close this Business” section on the right.
4. Click on “Mark as Temporarily Closed”.
5. Click on “Close this Business”.

Google may send you a notification indicating that your business is “Reported as Temporarily Closed”. To confirm, complete steps 4 and 5 above to mark the business as temporarily closed. Google will mark the business as temporarily closed on Google Search and Maps.

google my business temporarily closed feature

5. New Service Attributes for Food and Retail Businesses

Food and retail businesses that are affected by Covid-19 have a new attribute on the top of their Google My Business profiles to highlight services offered. This will be prominently shown on their business listings on Google Search and Maps.

Food businesses can now indicate dining options on the top of their business listings including:
• Dine-in
• Takeout
• Delivery
• No-contact delivery
• Curbside pickup
• Stopped offering dine-in services

Restaurants in the U.S. can also accept online food orders for pickup through The Ordering App now owned by Google.

Retail businesses can indicate changes in delivery options offered to customers including:
• Pickup
• Delivery
• Curbside pickup
• In-store shopping
• Not open for in-store shopping

google my business food service features

6. New Attributes for Online Service Options

A new “Online services” attribute is available to businesses that will be shown on their Google My Business listings.

These attributes are available to businesses that have a physical operating presence that provide online services in real-time including:
• Virtual classes
• Appointments
• Estimates

Services that involve contactless delivery or require visits to client locations do not qualify for these attributes.

7. New Covid-19 Update Post for Businesses

Businesses can use the new “Covid-19 post” on their profiles to share information with customers about
• Temporary closures and reduced hours
• Covid-19 safety and hygiene practices
• Changes to services such as takeout and delivery
• Requests for business support such as Gift cards availability
• Online classes and visits

Covid-19 posts appear prominently on the business profile.

To create a Covid-19 post, follow these steps:

1. Sign into Google My Business, select your location.
2. Click on “Posts” in the left menu.
3. From the options on top, select “Covid-19 update”.
4. Add your information. You can also add an optional button.
5. Click “preview” to preview the post.
6. Click “publish”.

google my business covid-19 post

8. Covid-19 Info Link for Health Care Providers

Healthcare providers like doctors and therapists can list their practices on Google My Business to connect with patients. When patients search on Google for healthcare services, your business profile may be displayed on Google search and maps.

Several new features were added to Google My Business for health care providers in 2020.

Healthcare providers are now able to :

  • Manage your business profiles on Google Search and Maps.
  • List a business description along with hours, phone number, directions, website, photos, reviews, education and licenses.
  • Display on your profile that you offer “Online Care”. You can add links for booking online appointments and for telemedicine. These links will connect to your online booking site. They will show only on mobile devices.
  • Add services offered like medical diagnostics, procedures and house calls.
  • Post photos of your practice, as well as educational photos for patients.
  • List insurance providers accepted by your practice under a “check insurance link”.
  • Publish posts on educational materials for patients.
  • Use the Covid-19 information link on your profile to link to a Covid-19 info page on your website. The Covid-19 info link shows on mobile devices only. The Covid-19 info link can link to your website to provide information on
    • Covid-19 testing
    • In-person office hours
    • Restricted hours for visitors
    • Covid-19 hotline

9. Covid-19 Info for Hotel Owners

Hotel Owners can add attributes to their Google My Business profiles to indicate special services that they are offering such as free or discounted rooms for Covid-19 first responders.

10. Business Attributes

The health and safety attributes that were available during the Covid pandemic have been removed from Google Business Profile in September 2022.

To add attributes, follow these steps:

1. Sign into Google My Business, select your location.
2. Click “Info” in the left menu.
3. Under “From the business”
4. Select the attributes you need.
5. Click “Apply”.

Business attributes available in Google Business Profile

Attributes available include:
• Identifies as women-owned
• Identifies as Asian-owned
• Identifies as Black-owned
• Identifies as LGBTQ-owned
• Identifies as Latino-owned
• Identifies as veteran-owned

10. Update Your Google My Business Profile directly from Google Search and Maps

Google has added the ability to edit your Google My Business profile directly from Google Search and Google Maps. This is available to verified businesses. People with owner and manager profiles can edit the Google My Business profile. This tool is currently available in English.

Make sure you sign into the Google account that was used to verify your business.

On Google search you can search for your business by name to edit your profile. Then click on “Edit Your Business Info” to make changes.

Your business must be marked “open” in Google My Business in order to make any changes.

From Google search and Maps, you can now directly:
• edit business information in your Google My Business profile, change hours or add a menu
• add photos
• respond to reviews and questions
• create posts

A new performance report provides information on how customers interact with your profile. This information is updated monthly.

11. YouTube Playlist of Google My Business Tips

There is a new YouTube Playlist with videos on commonly asked questions from Google My Business users.

Check it out:
YouTube Playlist with Google My Business Tips

Conclusion

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to change our lives and impact businesses, updating your Google My Business profile is important to keep customers updated of changes to your business when they search online on Google search and Maps. Posting updates to business hours and changes in services will let customers know what to expect when they visit your business.

If your business hours or services have changed due to Covid-19, you should use these new Google My Business features to update your profile and assist customers searching online on Google Search and Maps.

Article First Published: August 12, 2020, Updated: October 5, 2022

References

1. Google, Helping businesses capture their identity with Google My Business
2. Google, Guidance for businesses affected by Covid-19

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