Google To Shut Down Business Profile Chat Feature via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern

Google has announced that it volition discontinue the chat diagnostic successful Google Business Profiles.

The wind-down process volition commencement connected July 15, and the functionality volition implicit connected July 31.

The quality was emailed to businesses, acknowledging the imaginable trouble of the determination and emphasizing Google’s committedness to remaining a adjuvant spouse successful concern management.

Google’s email to businesses reads:

“We are reaching retired to stock that we volition beryllium winding down Google’s chat diagnostic successful Google Business Profile connected July 31, 2024. We admit this whitethorn beryllium hard quality – arsenic we continually amended our tools, we occasionally person to marque hard decisions which whitethorn interaction the businesses and partners we enactment with. It’s important to america that Google remains a adjuvant spouse arsenic you negociate your concern and we stay committed to this mission.

Google volition halt creating caller conversations aft July 15, and chat functionality volition afloat extremity connected July 31. Please note, customers volition inactive beryllium capable to find and interaction your concern via Google Search and Maps – and larn much accusation astir you from your website links, concern description, photos, and thing other you stock connected your Business Profile.”

Impact On Businesses & Customers

Starting July 15, customers tin nary longer initiate caller chat conversations with businesses done Google.

Customers presently engaged successful chat conversations volition person notifications informing them of the upcoming phase-out of the chat feature.

However, customers volition inactive beryllium capable to find and interaction businesses utilizing Google Search and Maps and entree accusation done website links, concern descriptions, photos, and different elements shared connected Business Profiles.

Google’s Decision To Discontinue Business Chat

Google says the determination to upwind down the chat diagnostic is portion of ongoing efforts to streamline its offerings.

To assistance businesses successful the transition, Google has provided guidance connected the adjacent steps:

1. Chat History Download: Businesses that privation to clasp a grounds of their past Business Profile chats tin download their chat past of lawsuit conversations utilizing Google Takeout.
2. Alternative Chat Solutions: Google suggests that businesses invitation customers to alternate chat solutions to proceed conversations seamlessly.

Background & Context

Google Business Profile, formerly known arsenic Google My Business, is simply a escaped instrumentality for businesses to negociate their online beingness crossed Google, including Search and Maps. The chat diagnostic enabled customers to pass straight with companies done their Business Profiles.

While the chat functionality volition nary longer beryllium available, Google remains committed to providing a level for companies to negociate their online beingness and link with customers.

Featured Image: Vladimka production/Shutterstock

SEJ STAFF Matt G. Southern Senior News Writer astatine Search Engine Journal

Matt G. Southern, Senior News Writer, has been with Search Engine Journal since 2013. With a bachelor’s grade successful communications, ...

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