Websites created and hosted through Google Business Profiles will now be redirected to the corresponding listing on Google Maps. This decision was previously announced by Google in January, with the official date for the shutdown being March 1, 2024. A new update was made to Google’s help page stating that as of March 5, 2024, Business Profile websites will no longer be accessible and visitors will be directed to the Business Profile itself instead.
When attempting to access a Google Business Profile website, you are instead directed to a Google Maps listing. The accompanying screenshot showcases this occurrence, with a link displayed above it. However, clicking on this link will lead you to Google Maps, rather than the desired website.
Just a reminder, the current 302 redirect will eventually expire. According to Google, this means that your customers will only be redirected to your Business Profile until June 10, 2024. After that point, they will receive a “Page not found” error if they try to access your website. Keep in mind that this change will take place in a few months.
Google has recommended utilizing any of these platforms as alternative tools for constructing a new website for your business:
- Wix
- Squarespace
- GoDaddy
- Google Sites
- Shopify
- Durable
- Weebly
- Strikingly
- WordPress.
It is important to note that Google Business Profiles websites will soon be going offline and you may have already taken action to create a new website using a different builder tool. If not, it would be wise to do so promptly. Additionally, remember to add the new website’s URL to your Google Business Profile. Unfortunately, in a few months, Google will no longer support redirects for old URLs associated with these profiles. It would be beneficial if they could keep them active permanently, but unfortunately that is not the case.
