It took a little bit longer than we were first expecting (an extra five days longer) but websites built and hosted on Google Business Profiles are now being redirected to the Business Profile listing on Google Maps.
This announcement was first made by Google in January, shutting down Business Profile websites on March 1, 2024.
Google helpfully updated its help page this morning to say, “As of March 5, 2024, websites made with Google Business Profiles are no longer available and customers that visit your site will be redirected to your Business Profile instead.”
Depending on your outlook, the redirection of Google-hosted websites will come as a sign that you need to get a dedicated website.
What this means
In short, if you had a website that was produced and hosted on Google sites, then your website no longer exists. Instead, your URL will automatically redirect visitors to your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) on Maps.
As you can see from the GIF above, when you click on the Google Business Profile website, you are redirected to a Google Maps listing. Therefore, businesses wanting to maintain their website must create an entirely new site using alternative tools such as WordPress or Wix, then update their Business Profile with the new site address.
The Elephant in the Room
As part of the updated announcement, Google also added, “Customers will only be redirected to your Business Profile until June 10, 2024. After that, customers will get a “Page not found” error when they try to visit your website.”
In other words, if you don’t have. anew site in place by June 2024, the redirects will stop working as well and won’t even show your Google Maps listing.
But don’t worry, whilst your current website isn’t accessible anymore, this is your sign to get a new website. Then make sure to add the new URL to your Google Business Profile.
In a few months, those redirects for your old URLs created by Google Business Profiles will stop working completely. It is a shame, we would all wish Google would keep the redirects up indefinitely, but this is an opportunity for you to take control over your site.
What can you do?
If your business has been affected by Google’s decision to stop supporting websites built, don’t despair. From WordPress to Wix, and Weebly to Google Sites. There are plenty of options moving forward.
Whilst each option won’t have the simplicity of linking directly to your Google Business Profile, what they will give you is even more flexibility to show off your business online and attract new customers.
If you are still struggling to protect your online presence after the redirects to Maps are in place, then book a call with EPR Marketing. There is always support available for small businesses looking to grow.
