Google announced this week that they were temporarily limiting some of the features on Google My Business as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“During the unprecedented COVID-19 situation, we are taking steps to protect the health of our team members and reduce the need for people to come into our offices. As a result, there may be some temporary limitations and delays in support as we prioritize critical services.”
What’s the Update?
One of the biggest features that are temporarily on hold is reviews. No new reviews, review responses, or Q&As will be posted during this time.
Google is prioritizing making updates to listings as well as providing added support for healthcare-related businesses.
Why Did Google Make this Update?
In addition to focusing on supporting healthcare-related businesses that are providing critical services to our communities, Google is also trying to give businesses a little bit of grace. They want to keep business from receiving a ton of reviews in reference to their operating hours, which are likely changing. They know that businesses have a lot going on, and the last thing they want to deal with is reviews that may be the result of something they can’t control.
What Does This Mean for My Business?
As far as we can tell, reviews that are submitted now will likely come through once we’re through this situation. So, it means that you might be receiving an influx of reviews at some point in time and will want to have a plan in place for when that happens.
It also means that your local listings are more important now than ever. As our situation changes on a daily basis, your hours of operation or the way your business is operating may be changing frequently as well. In addition to publishing these updates on your website and social media pages, your listings are a critical place to include this information.
If you’re looking for any help managing your listings or online presence, we’re here to help. We know there’s a lot going on, and we want to be a resource for you during critical times as well as better times.
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