Google Business Profile and Local Search News

Short, plain explanations of Google changes that affect local service businesses, and what to do about each one. New posts are added as Google makes changes.

Last updated October 2026

Google Business Profile

Changes to listings, edits, policies, and the dashboard you manage your profile from.

Google Is Testing a New Home Dashboard for Business Profiles (Oct 25, 2026)
Google Now Bans Deals, Prices and Calls to Action in Business Listings (Oct 21, 2026)
Google Posts Just Got Stricter About Phone Numbers (Oct 4, 2026)
Google Is Testing a Way to Set Your Business Hours Automatically (Oct 4, 2026)
Google Adds “Misuse of Support Channels” to Its Business Profile Policies (Oct 4, 2026)
Google Is Now Showing Your Social Posts Right on Your Business Listing (Sep 28, 2026)
Your Google Business Listing May Now Show an AI-Written Summary Instead of Your Own Description (Sep 24, 2026)
Google Will Now Email You When It Catches a Spam Review Attack on Your Listing (Sep 24, 2026)
Is Google Removing the “Permanently Closed” Option From Business Profiles? (Sep 24, 2026)
Google Now Gives You Just 4 Days to Reject a Wrong Edit to Your Business Listing (Sep 24, 2026)

Local Services Ads

Billing, redesigns, and who Google shows in the ads.

Google Says Out-of-State Local Services Ads Are Working as Intended (Oct 18, 2026)
Local Services Ads Are Moving Into Google Ads: What Changes (Oct 17, 2026)
Google Will Now Charge You for Missed Local Services Ads Calls (Oct 17, 2026)
Local Services Ads Just Got a Visual Redesign (Oct 4, 2026)
Local Services Ads Are Showing Your Real Phone Number Instead of a Tracking Number (Oct 4, 2026)

Maps, reviews, and listing scams

What customers see in Google Maps and what Google is watching for.

Google Maps Is Asking Customers Whether You Paid for Reviews (Oct 28, 2026)
Scammers Are Hiding Their Phone Numbers in Photos on Google Listings (Oct 24, 2026)
Google Is Testing Two Rows of Action Buttons on Mobile Local Listings (Oct 4, 2026)
A Mysterious Bug Is Dropping Some Business Pins in the Ocean (Oct 4, 2026)
Google Maps Now Requires Sign-In to Read All Reviews (Oct 4, 2026)

Search and rankings

Updates and reporting that affect how your site shows up.

Search Console Can Now Show You Visual Search Traffic (Oct 4, 2026)
Why Your Google Rankings Have Been Bouncing Around This Month (Sep 28, 2026)
Google’s September 2026 Spam Update: What It Means for Your Business (Sep 28, 2026)
Why Isn’t My Business Showing Up on Google? (Sep 24, 2026)

Free tools and answers

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Google Business Profile and Local Search News