In recent years, Google has offered businesses a simple way to create a free website through their Google My Business (GMB) platform, now called Google Business Profile. This feature was incredibly valuable, especially for small businesses looking to establish an online presence without investing in complex hosting or web development services. However, in early 2024, Google announced that it was discontinuing the free website creation feature on its Google Business Profile platform. This change has left many small businesses without an easy way to maintain a professional online presence.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the impact of this change, the importance of having a business website for small businesses, and how you can still create a professional Google Business Website without hosting fees using the GBPGM (Google Business Profile Growth Manager) tool.
What Was Google’s Business Website Feature?
Google’s business website feature allowed small businesses to create a simple, mobile-friendly website directly from their Google My Business profile. The website was automatically generated using the information from their profile, such as business name, address, phone number, services, and posts. The best part of this feature was that it didn’t require any technical skills or hosting fees. It was free and easy to use.
However, in 2024, Google decided to discontinue this feature, citing the need for users to invest in more comprehensive website solutions. This left small businesses scrambling to find alternatives, especially those that relied on this free service to create and maintain their online presence.
The Impact on Small Businesses
For small businesses, especially local shops, restaurants, and service providers, the free Google business website feature was a lifeline. Many small business owners don’t have the resources to hire developers or purchase expensive hosting plans for a website. Losing this feature has made it difficult for businesses to maintain a professional online presence, which is crucial in today’s digital-first world.
Without a dedicated business website, many small businesses risk losing potential customers who rely on the web to find services and products. Moreover, not having a website can hurt a company’s credibility and visibility in search engine results, making it harder for them to compete with larger businesses that invest in full-fledged websites.
Why Having a Business Website Is Crucial for Small Businesses
Even though many businesses rely on social media and directory listings, having a dedicated website is still one of the most important tools for a business. A website:
- Enhances Credibility: Customers often trust businesses that have their own website over those that don’t.
- Boosts Search Engine Visibility: Websites with good SEO practices help businesses rank higher on search engines like Google, increasing the likelihood of attracting customers.
- Acts as a Central Hub: A business website serves as a central location for important information, such as services offered, contact information, customer reviews, and more.
- Enables Online Marketing: With a dedicated website, businesses can implement a range of digital marketing strategies, including Google Ads, social media integration, and email marketing.
- Provides Ownership and Control: Unlike social media pages or directory listings, a business has full control over its website, ensuring the content and branding align with its goals.
What is GBPGM’s GBP Site?
Now that Google’s website creation feature is no longer available, businesses need a reliable alternative that doesn’t break the bank. This is where the GBPGM (Google Business Profile Growth Manager) tool comes in.
GBPGM is a tool designed to help businesses manage and optimize their Google Business Profiles. However, it offers more than just profile management. With GBPGM, you can create a professional free and premium Google Business website that’s fully integrated with your Google Business Profile – without the need for hosting fees or complex website maintenance.
Also Read: Google Business Profile Sites: A New Era of Online Visibility
Here’s how it works:
1. Easy Setup with Google Business Profile Data
GBPGM pulls all your relevant data directly from your Google Business Profile, including your business name, contact details, services, and more. This ensures that your website is always up-to-date with the latest information about your business.
2. No Hosting or Maintenance Costs
Unlike traditional website platforms, where you have to pay for hosting, GBPGM’s website feature eliminates these costs. Your website is hosted on a secure platform that ensures fast loading times and high reliability without any additional fees.
3. Customizable Design
GBPGM allows you to customize your website to match your brand identity. You can choose from various themes and colours, update your logo, and modify the layout to suit your business needs. This flexibility enables you to create a professional website that stands out from the competition.
4. SEO-Friendly
GBPGM’s websites are built with SEO best practices in mind, ensuring that your business has the best chance of ranking well in search engine results. You can also easily manage your meta descriptions, keywords, and other SEO elements directly from the tool.
5. Mobile-Friendly Design
In today’s mobile-driven world, it’s important to have a website that performs well on smartphones and tablets. GBPGM websites are fully responsive, meaning they look great and function seamlessly on any device.
6. Integrated with Google Business Profile
Because GBPGM is specifically designed to work with Google Business Profiles, your website will be fully integrated with Google’s search and map functionalities. This means that customers can easily find your business, read reviews, and contact you directly from your website.
7. Analytics and Reporting
With GBPGM, you also get access to powerful analytics that show you how your website is performing. You can track website traffic, user behavior, and other important metrics, helping you optimize your site for better results.
Features of Premium GBP Website
1. Expanded Menu Options
Add more functionality with features like Event or Offers Pop-ups for your website visitors and an FAQ menu to address common queries seamlessly.
2. WhatsApp Chat Integration
Engage with customers directly on your website through a WhatsApp chat option, making communication fast and convenient.
3. Blog Post Visibility with Custom Slugs
Showcase your posts (posted on GBP) as full articles with unique URLs (slugs), giving a professional touch to all the posts you’ve created.
4. Push Notifications for Visitors
Automatically notify your website visitors about media updates, new posts, or event/offer uploads on your Google Business Profile through push notifications powered by Pushmagnet.com.
5. SSL Certificate for Custom Domain
Ensure your custom domain is secure with an SSL certificate included, offering protection and enhancing your visitors’ trust.
6. Hosting Included
No need to worry about hosting fees, as premium GBP websites include hosting, ensuring your site is always live and accessible.
7. Google Search Console Submission with Sitemap
Easily submit your website to Google Search Console with a sitemap, helping search engines index your site and improve visibility.
8. Ad Integration
Connect your website to run ads seamlessly across any platform, boosting your marketing efforts and reaching more potential customers.
9. Google Analytics and Tag Manager Integration
Track and analyze your website’s performance by integrating with tools like Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager for detailed insights.
10. Customizable Menus
Enable or disable menu options as needed, allowing you to control what’s displayed on your website and tailor the user experience.
11. Add Multiple Branch Addresses
If your business has multiple locations, you can easily add branch addresses and contact details to your website for better accessibility.
12. Theme Color Customization
Personalize your website by changing the theme color to match your brand identity, offering a cohesive look and feel.
13. Social Media and Contact Info Integration
Add links to your social media profiles and other contact information, making it easy for customers to connect with you across multiple platforms.
14. Auto-Generated Mandatory Pages
Save time with AI-generated mandatory pages, such as privacy policies and terms of service, that comply with Google’s policies without manual effort.
Steps to Create a Premium Google Business Website using GBPGM Tool
Now that you understand the importance of having a GBP website and how GBPGM can help, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of creating your premium Google Business Website.
1. Login
Log into your GBPGM (Google Business Profile Growth Manager) acount.
2. Go to Tools
Navigate to the “Tools” section from your dashboard.
3. Go to GBP Site
Select “GBP.site” to begin the website creation process.
4. Input subdomain name
Choose a subdomain for your website (e.g., businessname.gbpgm.site) and check its availability.
5. Enable Site
Enable your website to activate it for public use.
6. Save
Once done, click “Save” to publish your basic website.
Note: If you want a FREE basic website without any premium features you can stop here but if you want the premium business website than follow the next steps.
Read also: Revive Your Free Google Business Profile Website with GBPGM
7. Activate Premium
Upgrade to premium by ‘activate premium’ for advanced features. To avail this premium GBP site feature you need to buy a premium GBPGM plan.
8. Customize Menus
With the premium version, additional menu options are enabled. You can enable or disable any menu, including FAQ, Events & Offers, and Blog Posts—menus not available in the free version.
9. Add Mandatory Pages
As required by Google, you can add AI-generated mandatory pages (e.g., Privacy Policy, Terms of Service) with a single click. These pages will be created using information from your Google profile, or you can manually draft them. Once saved, these pages will appear as separate entries in the footer.
10. Contact Info
Add additional contact details such as email, WhatsApp number, and social media links. This feature allows visibility of a WhatsApp chat option and a call-to-action even if the number is not approved on your profile.
11. Google Search Console & Tracking Codes
Connect your website to Google Search Console for better indexing and visibility. You can also add tracking codes for platforms like Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics, Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads, and Google Ads. Additionally, you’ll receive an XML Sitemap to help Google index your blog posts and other pages.
12. Additional Settings
This tab provides lots of settings which are as below:
- Add custom Domain: Add your custom domain or purchase one via the provided discounted links.This step is optional but adds a professional touch to your website.
- Enable Push Magnet: Integrate with Push Magnet to enable push notifications for your website visitors when new media, posts, or events are uploaded.
- Select Branches: If your business has multiple locations, show these addresses as branches in the footer. Select which branch to display from the list.
- Themes: Customize your site’s appearance by selecting and changing color themes as needed.
- Blog Post Slug: Edit or auto-generate SEO-friendly blog post slugs, which help improve your ranking on Google.
13. Remove Site
If you no longer need your site, you can remove it at any time. However, be aware that removing your site will delete all settings and content, and you will have to start from scratch if you decide to recreate it.
Conclusion
Google’s decision to discontinue its free website creation feature has undoubtedly impacted many small businesses, especially those that relied on this tool for their online presence. However, thanks to the GBPGM tool, there’s a powerful alternative that allows businesses to create professional websites without hosting or maintenance fees.
By using GBPGM, small businesses can continue to have a strong, credible, and SEO-friendly online presence, helping them attract more customers and grow in today’s competitive digital landscape.
If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to build a professional Google business website without the cost and complexity, GBPGM is the perfect solution. Start building your business website today and keep your business visible and competitive!
