Attention local businesses! Significant changes are coming to websites created through Google My Business (GMB) in March 2024. This article will explain what’s happening, the potential impact on your business, and what you can do to prepare.

GMB Websites  Shutdown in March

Starting in March 2024, Google will be discontinuing the service of hosting websites created through GMB. This means that any website you created using the GMB platform will no longer be publicly accessible. However, it’s important to note that your Google My Business profile itself will not be affected.

Impact on Businesses:

The shutdown of GMB websites can have several negative consequences for businesses, including:

• Loss of online presence: If your primary online presence was your GMB website, losing access can significantly impact your reach and visibility online.
• Broken links: Existing links to your GMB website will be broken, potentially leading to frustrated users and lost website traffic.
• Reduced website traffic: Without a functional website, you may experience a significant decrease in organic website traffic, impacting leads and potential customers.
• Negative impact on local SEO: A strong online presence and website are crucial for local SEO. Losing your website can negatively impact your search engine rankings, making it harder for potential customers to find your business locally.

GMB Websites Shutdown | Important Things to Do

Here are two key steps businesses can take to prepare for the GMB websites shutdown:

1. Create a new website:

Several website creation platforms offer user-friendly and affordable options for businesses. Popular choices include Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress. Once your website is built, remember to claim it on your Google My Business profile to maintain consistency and enhance your online presence.

2. Optimize your Google My Business profile:

Even without a dedicated website, your Google My Business profile remains a crucial tool for attracting local customers. Make sure your profile is fully optimized by:

• Adding high-quality photos and videos of your business.
• Writing comprehensive and informative descriptions of your services and offerings.
• Encouraging customer reviews and responding to them promptly.
• Keeping your business information (address, phone number, website) accurate and up-to-date.

While building a new website is a crucial step in adapting to the GMB websites shutdown, it’s not the only action businesses should take. Here are some additional strategies to ensure a smooth transition and mitigate potential challenges:

1. Communication is key:

• Inform customers and partners: Proactively communicate the upcoming website shutdown to your customers and partners through various channels like email, social media, and in-store signage. Explain the timeline and direct them to your new website (once created) or updated Google My Business profile for future reference.
• Transparency and clarity: Be transparent about the situation and clearly convey the steps you’re taking to maintain your online presence. This fosters trust and reassures customers that they can still find you and access your services.

2. Double down on local SEO:

• Optimize your Google My Business profile: As mentioned earlier, a well-optimized Google My Business profile holds significant value in the absence of a dedicated website. Leverage all available features, including:
  • High-quality photos and virtual tours showcasing your business and offerings.
  • Comprehensive descriptions with relevant keywords to improve searchability.
  • Encouraging positive customer reviews and responding promptly to build trust and credibility.
  • Keeping your contact information and category listings accurate and updated.
• Focus on local citations: Ensure your business information (name, address, phone number) is consistent and accurate across various online directories and local listing sites. This strengthens your local SEO presence and improves discoverability in local searches.

3. Leverage social media effectively:

• Increase social media engagement: Utilize your social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) as primary channels to connect with customers. Share engaging content, updates, promotions, and customer testimonials to maintain visibility and brand awareness.
• Drive traffic to your Google My Business profile: Include a link to your Google My Business profile in your social media bios and encourage followers to interact with your profile by leaving reviews, clicking on photos, or saving your business details.

4. Consider alternative solutions:

• Third-party website builders: While building a new website is generally recommended, businesses with limited resources or technical expertise can explore third-party website creation tools offered by some GMB platforms. These tools provide pre-built templates and basic functionalities, allowing for a quicker website setup. However, customization options may be limited compared to building a website from scratch.
• Landing pages: Depending on your business needs, creating a simple landing page can serve as an alternative online presence. This page can include key information like contact details, service offerings, and a call to action (e.g., contacting you for a quote).

Potential Impact of GMB Websites Shutdown on Local SEO

The impact of the Google My Business (GMB) website shutdown on local SEO can be potentially significant for businesses that have primarily relied on their GMB website for online presence. Here’s a breakdown of the potential consequences:

Negative Impacts:

• Reduced Website Authority: GMB websites, although not the most SEO-friendly options, still contributed some website authority and link juice to a business’s overall online presence. Losing this can lead to a decline in search engine rankings, making it harder for potential customers to find your business through local searches.
• Loss of Content and Backlinks: If your GMB website contained valuable content or attracted backlinks from other local websites, losing it can further hurt your local SEO performance.
• Inconsistent Information: If your GMB profile and other online listings (e.g., directory listings) display different websites or outdated information, it can create confusion for search engines and users, negatively impacting your local SEO score.

However, it’s important to note that the impact will vary depending on several factors:

• Existing SEO Strategy: Businesses that have already invested in optimizing their Google My Business profile and building a strong local SEO strategy with other tactics (e.g., online directories, local citations, high-quality content) may see lesser impact on their rankings.
• Alternative Website Presence: Businesses that already have a well-established website independent of GMB will likely experience minimal disruption to their local SEO.

Overall, while the GMB websites shutdown may pose challenges, it shouldn’t be seen as the end of your local SEO efforts. By taking proactive steps like:

• Creating a new website: Optimize it for local search using relevant keywords, high-quality content, and mobile-friendliness.
• Claiming your website on Google My Business: Ensure information consistency across platforms.
• Building backlinks from other local websites: This strengthens your online presence and local SEO signals.
• Maintaining a well-optimized Google My Business profile: Include high-quality photos, descriptions, and encourage positive reviews.

Businesses can mitigate the negative impacts and even potentially improve their local SEO in the long run.

Conclusion:

The upcoming shutdown of GMB websites presents a challenge for businesses that have relied on this platform. However, by taking proactive steps like building a new website and optimizing your Google My Business profile, you can ensure a smooth transition and minimize the impact on your online presence. Don’t wait until March 2024 – get started building your website today!