Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google Removes Business Short Names from Profiles in Search and Maps
Google will no longer display business short names or their custom URLs on Google Business Profiles in Search and Maps. Existing short names and URLs will continue to function but will be hidden from both businesses and customers. This change aims to simplify the user experience and businesses cannot create or edit short names anymore. Reporting or flagging of short names is also now disabled.
Optimixed’s Overview: Simplifying Google Business Profiles by Removing Short Name Display
What’s Changing with Google Business Profile Short Names?
Google has announced a significant update to its Business Profile feature concerning the short names that businesses use to create custom URLs, such as g.page/YourBusinessName. While these short names were introduced in 2019 to help businesses promote easy-to-share profile links, Google will no longer display them on profiles in Search or Maps.
Key Details of the Update
- Existing short names and URLs remain functional but are no longer visible to customers or business owners on their profiles.
- Businesses cannot create new short names or edit existing ones as Google has disabled these options.
- Customers and businesses will no longer see options to report or flag short names.
- This update is part of a broader effort by Google to simplify the Business Profile product experience.
Implications for Businesses
Businesses should continue to use their existing short URLs if shared externally, as these will still work. However, they should note that new creation or modification of short names is no longer supported. This means businesses need to rely on other methods to share their profile links and engage customers.
