{"id":13747,"date":"2022-05-31T11:36:36","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T11:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.searchenginejournal.com\/google-business-profile-faqs-help\/451173\/"},"modified":"2022-05-31T11:36:36","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T11:36:36","slug":"5-top-google-business-profile-faqs-from-the-official-help-forum-via-sejournal-sherrybonelli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marketingnewsbox.com\/?p=13747","title":{"rendered":"5 Top Google Business Profile FAQs From The Official Help Forum via @sejournal, @sherrybonelli"},"content":{"rendered":"

Google Business Profile has gone through quite a few changes<\/a> over the past several months.<\/p>\n

A name change, new features, the push to manage business profiles in different ways, and more.<\/p>\n

Business owners and marketing agencies try to keep up with all the changes \u2013 but it can be challenging.<\/p>\n

Plus, because of its nature, everyone who uses Google Business Profile will encounter issues or problems at one point or another.<\/p>\n

And sometimes, those problems or questions turn into major roadblocks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here are five frequently asked questions on the Google Business Profile Help Forum \u2013 and the answers.<\/p>\n

(Now, if you think that none of these pertain to you, keep reading anyway \u2013 you never know when you will experience one of these issues. I\u2019m just sayin\u2019.)<\/p>\n

1. How Do I Start Managing My Business Profile In Google Search?<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve probably seen the not-so-subtle blue banner at the top of the \u201cInfo\u201d section in your Business Profile Manager encouraging you to manage your Business Profile directly on Google Search.<\/p>\n

Or perhaps you\u2019ve seen the \u201cnudge\u201d on the \u201cHome\u201d section of your dashboard:<\/p>\n

\"ManageScreenshot from Business Profile Manager, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Manage<\/div>\n

Either way, managing your Google Business Profile on Google search is something most business owners will have to get used to.<\/p>\n

If you only have one business\/location, soon, you will only be able to manage your Google Business Profile on Google search or the Google Maps App.<\/p>\n

This pop-up recently started appearing when you log in to your Business Profile Manager:<\/p>\n

\"GoogleScreenshot from Business Profile Manager, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Google<\/div>\n

If you\u2019re an agency or business that manages multiple Google Business Profiles, you can manage them from the Business Profile Manager. However, it\u2019s still a good idea to understand how to manage profiles in search<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When you manage your profile on search, you can essentially do everything you can in the Business Profile Manager.<\/p>\n

The challenge?<\/p>\n

Until you get used to where everything is, you may have to hunt around for the fields and options you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

How To Start Managing Your Business Profiles In Google Search<\/h3>\n

Make sure you\u2019re logged into the account you use to manage your Google Business Profile.<\/p>\n

Then search for your business name on Google (sometimes, you may have to enter your city and\/or state.) You can also search for \u201cmy business.\u201d<\/p>\n

If everything goes right, you\u2019ll see your Knowledge Panel on the right and the Merchant Panel off to the left.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how the management area looks.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll see your Business Profile\/Knowledge Panel and the Merchant Panel, where you will do most of your editing and management work.<\/p>\n

The Merchant Panel includes the Menu where you will find all the ways you can dig in and update your Business Profile and Chips, which are \u201cnudges\u201d Google gives you on extra things you can do with your profile.<\/p>\n

\"AnatomyScreenshot from Google Merchant Center Menu, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Anatomy<\/div>\n

From the various menus, you can manage your Business Profile.<\/p>\n

\"BusinessScreenshot from Google Merchant Center Menu, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Business<\/div>\n

Here\u2019s a brief breakdown of what you can do in the various menus.<\/p>\n

Edit Profile  <\/strong><\/p>\n

This is where you can edit your main business information, like your contact information, URL, business hours, and other information about your company.<\/p>\n

You can also add and delete products and services and upload photos and videos.<\/p>\n

\"EditScreenshot from Google Merchant Center Menu dialog, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Edit<\/div>\n

Note<\/strong>: It\u2019s typically in the Edit menu where you will find information that Google changed due to data found online that conflicts with the business owner\u2019s info or changes that users suggested and Google approved.<\/p>\n

If changes were made to your profile, you will get an email.<\/p>\n

However, in Google search, you will have to hunt around the various menus to find what changed \u2013 whether to your hours, business name, website URL, address, products or services, etc.<\/p>\n

(This is almost like an easter egg hunt, in my opinion.)<\/p>\n

You will find Google changes highlighted in blue.<\/p>\n

\"GoogleScreenshot from Google Merchant Center Menu dialog, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Google<\/div>\n

Promote<\/h4>\n

From the Promote menu, you can see your Google Business Profile insights, create a shortened URL that you can send to customers so they can leave reviews for your business, upload photos and videos, create posts, and more.<\/p>\n

\"PromoteScreenshot from Google Merchant Center Menu dialog, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Promote<\/div>\n

Customers<\/h4>\n

In the Customers menu, you can look at the reviews you\u2019ve received and respond to them, see inbound call information if you have the call history feature turned on, read and reply to messages, and even answer the questions people ask your business in the Q&A section.<\/p>\n

\"CustomersScreenshot from Google Merchant Center Menu dialog, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Customers<\/div>\n

Advanced Menu<\/h4>\n

The three dots next to the main menu is where you will find the advanced features.<\/p>\n

\"AdvancedScreenshot from Google Merchant Center Menu dialog, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Advanced<\/div>\n

You can do more advanced features from this menu like add and remove managers and owners, see your Business Profile ID, edit labels, store codes, and other more advanced settings, and even mark your business as permanently closed or stop managing the profile.<\/p>\n

\"ManageScreenshot from Google Merchant Center Menu dialog, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Manage<\/div>\n

You can also manage notifications and add a new business profile and other features. If you can\u2019t find something in the regular menus, chances are it\u2019s in the advanced menu.<\/p>\n

Chips<\/h4>\n

You will also see \u201cchips\u201d in the Merchant Center.<\/p>\n

Chips give you hints on optimizing your profile and doing other things.<\/p>\n

\"ChipsScreenshot from Google Merchant Center Menu dialog, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Chips<\/div>\n

Keep in mind that you can also do select edits and features directly from your Knowledge Panel.<\/p>\n

So now is the time to start practicing using Google search to manage your Business Profile<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. My Google Business Profile is Suspended. What Do I Do?<\/h2>\n

There is nothing worse than seeing that heart-stopping notification telling you that your Google Business Profile has been suspended.<\/p>\n

\"SuspensionScreenshot from Google Merchant Center Menu, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Suspension<\/div>\n

For many small to medium-sized businesses, Google Business Profile is their only form of marketing (which is not a smart idea, by the way).<\/p>\n

When you put all your eggs in one basket and your basket breaks, you are in big trouble.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what happens when your company gets its Google Business Profile suspended<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are two kinds of suspensions: A \u201csoft\u201d suspension and a \u201chard\u201d suspension.<\/p>\n

With a soft suspension, your Knowledge Panel still shows up in search results, but you cannot make any changes to your profile \u2013 it\u2019s almost as if your business is no longer verified.<\/p>\n

\"SoftScreenshot from Google Merchant Center Menu, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Soft<\/div>\n

If you get a hard suspension, your Business Profile does not appear on Google at all and is not visible to the public.<\/p>\n

\"HardScreenshot from Google Merchant Center Menu, Screenshot Credit: Colan Nielsen, May 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Hard<\/div>\n

Google doesn\u2019t tell you why your Business Profile is suspended. It\u2019s up to you to determine that.<\/p>\n

So what do you do when your Business Profile gets suspended?<\/p>\n

First, when your Business Profile is suspended, you need to carefully read Google Business Profile Guidelines<\/a> and restricted content<\/a> and identify which rule (or rules) your profile violates.<\/p>\n

(Many people don\u2019t realize that Google updates these guidelines frequently. And it\u2019s your responsibility to ensure you\u2019re up to date on the rules and that you follow them.)<\/p>\n

I always suggest that you read the guidelines line-by-line while you have your business information pulled up to check your profile against the guidelines as you\u2019re reading.<\/p>\n

Once you have identified the issue(s), you need to fix the problem with your profile and then fill out a reinstatement request<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Note<\/strong>: Do not fill out more than one reinstatement request.<\/p>\n

When you submit your reinstatement request, make sure you explain what the problem was and let Google know that you fixed the profile issue, providing proof that you are a legitimate business. You can do this by uploading:<\/p>\n