Is Google Replacing LSA Reviews with GBP Reviews?
BlogStarting soon, businesses that run Local Service Ads (LSAs) will need to have an active and matching Google Business Profile (GBP). Without this, companies could face their ads being paused. This change, rolling out by November 2024, shifts customer reviews to the GBP, making it the main source for both ads and reviews. Google is positioning the GBP as the “source of truth” for LSAs. If your business doesn’t have a properly set up and verified GBP, you might experience pauses in your ads, potentially hurting your lead generation and sales flow. Why Does All This This Matter? Local Service Ads are a huge deal for businesses looking to grab local traffic. Without a verified and accurate GBP, your ads could be paused, messing up your efforts to capture leads and customers. Google’s move to consolidate reviews into the GBP means businesses need to pay attention to profile management to stay credible and visible in search results. Key Details You Should Know Deadline Details November 21, 2024 Businesses need a verified GBP to continue running LSAs. Verified Info The business name and address on your GBP must match the info on the LSA. Reviews By early 2025, all reviews will be pulled from your GBP for LSAs. Let’s break this down even further. Deadline: By November 21, 2024, businesses need to have a GBP in order to keep running Local Service Ads. Verified Info: Make sure your GBP’s name and address match what’s on your LSA. If not, expect your ads to be paused. Also, if your GBP is unverified or suspended, your ads will face the same fate. Reviews Consolidation: Reviews for LSAs are moving to GBPs. By early 2025, all reviews will appear on both LSAs and the GBP. What Are Experts Saying? Ben Fisher, a well-known expert in the field, spotted the notice from Google. He shared this on social media platform X: “Your Google Business Profile is now the source of truth for LSA. LSA ads will be paused if you do not have a GBP attached to an LSA.” This notice highlights the importance of keeping your GBP verified and synced with your LSA. The Bigger Picture This change from Google simplifies how businesses handle reviews and ads. It’s great for those who have their GBP and LSA lined up perfectly. But for businesses who haven’t connected these two yet, there might be some trouble ahead. If you don’t have your GBP properly aligned with your LSA, you’re looking at some interruptions in your ad campaigns. So, What’s Next? To avoid any disruptions, businesses need to ensure their Google Business Profile is verified, accurate, and linked to their Local Service Ads by the November 2024 deadline. If not, you’re risking pauses in your ads, which could lead to fewer leads and lost customers. Frequently Asked Questions About GBP and LSA What happens if my Google Business Profile information doesn’t match my Local Service Ad? If your business name or address on the Google Business Profile (GBP) doesn’t match the information on your Local Service Ad (LSA), your ads will be paused. Google requires these details to align perfectly to maintain trust and consistency across its platforms. An unverified or suspended GBP will also result in your ads being halted. This is why it’s crucial to double-check that both your GBP and LSA show the exact same business name, address, and other key information. How will consolidating reviews to the GBP impact my business? By early 2025, all reviews for Local Service Ads will be managed and displayed through your GBP. This means that reviews you’ve collected from LSAs will be combined with your GBP reviews. Having all reviews in one place can make it easier to manage your reputation, but it also means businesses will need to maintain a strong and accurate GBP. Positive reviews can help boost your business’s visibility, while negative reviews, if not managed, could harm your credibility in local search. What should I do if my GBP gets suspended? If your GBP gets suspended, your LSAs will automatically be paused. A suspended profile could result from incomplete verification or a violation of Google’s guidelines. You’ll need to go through the process of reinstating your GBP by correcting any issues, submitting required documents, and requesting a review. Make sure you act quickly because a suspended GBP not only affects your ads but also your visibility in local search. How does this change affect businesses that haven’t focused on their GBP before? If your business hasn’t paid attention to its Google Business Profile until now, this change could shake things up. Previously, you may have focused on Local Service Ads without worrying too much about the GBP. However, moving forward, your GBP will become the central hub for managing both ads and reviews. If your GBP isn’t properly set up, verified, or kept accurate, you could see interruptions in your ad campaigns and possibly lose out on customer leads. It’s time to make your GBP a priority!
Google’s New Business Profile Restrictions: Fake Reviews
BlogGoogle has just released a fresh document, explaining how they might restrict your Google Business Profile (GBP) over review violations or other policy issues. According to Google, they take “fake and/or incentivized reviews and ratings on businesses very seriously.” If they find out a business has violated their Fake Engagement policy, they won’t hesitate to apply restrictions. Google mentions that they might not just remove fake reviews, but also impose some restrictions on your profile. What Happens If You Violate Google’s Fake Engagement Policy? Google provides three examples of what could happen if your profile violates their rules: Action Details No New Reviews Your business won’t be able to receive new reviews or ratings for a specific time. Unpublished Reviews Existing reviews or ratings may be unpublished for a set time. Warning Notice Your profile might display a warning, letting customers know fake reviews were removed. Pretty harsh, right? Tim Capper’s Insight SEO expert Tim Capper noticed this change and shared it on X, saying, “It’s about to get real.” Before this update, Google’s policy only applied to UK merchants. There used to be a notice saying, “This article is for UK merchants only.” But now, it’s broader. Here’s how it looks today: Here is Mike Blumenthal’s warning screenshot post: In-Depth Questions on Google Business Profile Restrictions What is Google’s Fake Engagement Policy? Google’s Fake Engagement Policy cracks down on businesses that try to manipulate their online reputation. This could include buying fake reviews or incentivizing customers to leave positive feedback. If a business is caught doing this, Google might impose serious penalties. These actions ensure a fair and trustworthy system for all businesses and customers. By eliminating fake reviews, Google helps customers make better decisions. How does Google decide to impose restrictions on a Business Profile? Google uses advanced algorithms, human reviewers, and sometimes reports from other users to identify violators. They look for unusual patterns, like a sudden spike in positive reviews or reviews that seem suspiciously similar. If their investigation concludes that a business violated the policy, they take action. The restrictions could be temporary, but in extreme cases, they might be permanent. It’s always better to play by the rules! How long do the restrictions last on a Business Profile? The length of restrictions depends on the severity of the violation. For example, if fake reviews are detected, Google might restrict the ability to collect new reviews for weeks or months. Existing reviews might be hidden for a similar period. Additionally, businesses may see a warning message on their profile, which can impact customer trust. Google doesn’t specify exact timelines, but the penalties can hurt a business’s reputation significantly. What can businesses do to avoid violating Google’s policies? To stay in Google’s good graces, businesses should follow a few key steps. First, never buy or encourage fake reviews. Keep all customer feedback authentic and organic. Secondly, make sure employees understand these guidelines too—no one should manipulate reviews or ratings. Lastly, regularly monitor your Business Profile for any suspicious activity. If you spot anything unusual, address it quickly to avoid penalties. Prevention is always better than dealing with restrictions later! So, folks, play it smart. Google isn’t messing around with fake reviews anymore, and businesses need to stay legit. Always aim for authentic customer feedback, or you might see your hard-earned reputation disappear overnight.
