Navigating the Google Business Website Shutdown: Alternative Solutions
January 24th, 2024
Tech giant Google is making some significant changes to its business profiles that could impact the way they function.
Google business profiles have been given a three-month grace period before the curtain falls on their websites. The company recently announced it will shut down websites created with Google Business Profiles.
In March this year, websites made with Google Business Profiles will be turned off and customers visiting your site will be redirected to your Business Profile instead.
In an email to Android Central, a spokesperson from Google, Molly Shaheen, said, “due to low engagement, we are winding down websites made with Business Profiles, which previously created basic, templated websites based on Business Profile information.”
Between March until June 10, visitors to access these websites will be automatically redirected to the company's business profile.
After June 10, visitors will see a page not found error. Domains impacted include those ending with business.site and .negocio.site extensions. These domains will also no longer reflect on each of those Google business profiles.
Google assures users that these changes will not impact any other aspects of the Business profiles and people visiting them will be seamlessly redirected to the profile itself.
To ensure that your customers don't encounter errors while trying to access your website after June 10th:
- If you've set up custom domains directing traffic to your website created through Google Business Profile, note that this redirection is only active until June 10.
- For businesses running Ad campaigns linked to their now-defunct Google website must update their ads with a different link before March 1 or choose to pause their campaigns indefinitely.
- It's essential for businesses using custom domains in conjunction with their GBP sites sign in into their hosting account and select the redirect option.
What Are Your Options?
With the shutdown of GBP-created sites imminent, exploring alternative web hosting providers is crucial for maintaining an online presence. Here are several options along with pros and cons:
Clixoni
If you’ve an established business now’s the time to take your online brand seriously. Clixoni don’t just do websites, they will optimise your Google Business profile and build your online brand.
And signing up doesn't just get you a website platform, you also get tools to manage your sales and marketing efforts such as lead tracking, email sending and project management.
Pros:
✅ Everything you need to grow your business
✅ Marketing Automation (Email/SMS/Voice)
✅ CRM & Lead Management (Unlimited Leads & Accounts)
✅ Unlimited Sites, Landing Pages & Blogs (Hosting + SSL Included)
✅ Unlimited Projects & Task Management
✅ Unlimited Minutes Voice (Tracking/VoIP/IVR)
✅ Unlimited Social Scheduling & Curation Accounts
✅ Outsource your online marketing activity
Cons:
❌ Website builder not as intuative as other options
❌ Might seem expensive as you get everything right away, rather than paying for loads of addons
Wix
Wix is a popular website builder known for its simplicity and visual appeal. With a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, it's perfect for individuals or businesses looking to create a professional-looking website without needing to know how to code. Its extensive template library offers a wide range of styles and industries, while the robust app market extends functionality with numerous add-ons.
Pros:
✅ Intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
✅ Wide range of templates suitable for various industries.
✅ Extensive app market to enhance website functionality.
Cons:
❌ Can become pricey with add-ons and premium plans.
❌ Limited customization capabilities compared to more advanced platforms.
Squarespace
Squarespace stands out with its award-winning design templates that cater to creatives and businesses aiming for an elegant online presence.
As an all-in-one solution, Squarespace simplifies the process by including hosting and domain registration services, making it easier for users to get their site up and running quickly, however it is only all in one for websites, rather than business.
Pros:
✅ Beautiful, award-winning design templates.
✅ All-in-one website solution including hosting and domain services.
✅ Good built-in features for creatives and small businesses.
Cons:
❌ Less flexibility in terms of third-party integrations compared to competitors like WordPress.
WordPress
WordPress.org / Self Hosted
WordPress is the go-to platform for those who want full control over their website's customization and functionality. Known for its flexibility, WordPress supports everything from small blogs to large corporate websites thanks to its vast array of themes and plugins offered by a strong community of developers.
Pros:
✅ Highly customizable with thousands of themes and plugins.
✅ Large community support for troubleshooting issues.
✅ Powerful enough for complex websites with diverse requirements.
Cons:
❌ Steeper learning curve for beginners due to complexity.
❌ Requires regular maintenance and updates.
❌ Only built for blogging, needs a lot of customisation.
When choosing between these options consider factors such as ease-of-use versus customization needs budget constraints future scalability requirements, specific industry functionalities among others.
Each provider offers unique benefits challenges depending upon individual business goals and objectives. Remember to evaluate how well each service integrates existing digital marketing strategies CRM systems ensure seamless transition post-Google’s shift away from supporting GBP-based sites.
How to Choose the Right Business Website Platform for Your Company's Growth
In today’s digital landscape, having a robust online presence is crucial for any business looking to thrive. Your website serves as the virtual storefront of your company, and choosing the right platform to build it on can make all the difference in attracting and retaining customers. With a myriad of options available, selecting the ideal business website platform can be overwhelming. In this blog post, we'll guide you through key considerations to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals.
Ease of Use: First impressions matter when it comes to managing your website. A user-friendly interface allows you and your team to make updates swiftly without needing advanced technical skills. Platforms with drag-and-drop editors and straightforward management dashboards will enable you to focus more on content creation rather than figuring out how to use complex tools.
Customization Options: Your brand is unique, and your website should reflect that individuality. A good business website platform offers a range of customization options – from templates that set the basic design framework to extensive choices in colors, fonts, and layout adjustments – ensuring every aspect resonates with your brand identity.
Scalability: As your business grows, so too should your website's capabilities. Whether it's handling increased traffic or adding e-commerce features down the line, ensure that the platform won't limit your expansion but instead supports scaling up smoothly.
SEO Features: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is vital for making sure potential customers find you online easily. Opt for platforms offering comprehensive SEO tools like editable meta tags, customizable URLs, site speed optimization features, and seamless integration with analytic tools such as Google Analytics.
E-commerce Capabilities: If selling products or services directly from your site is part of your strategy or might become one in future expansions – consider platforms equipped with strong e-commerce functionalities like secure payment processing systems, inventory tracking solutions, shipping integrations, and SSL certificates for secure checkouts.
Mobile Responsiveness: With mobile internet usage surpassing desktop globally, having a mobile-responsive site isn’t optional anymore; it’s essential! The chosen platform should automatically adjust content layouts across devices without additional coding from you.
Speed & Performance: A fast-loading site enhances user experience significantly while also contributing positively towards SEO rankings due to search engines' preference for speedy websites—check reviews about performance metrics before committing.
Support & Community: Good customer support can be invaluable when navigating new territory or troubleshooting issues quickly—prioritize platforms known for their responsive customer service teams alongside active community forums where users share insights and solutions freely among peers.
Pricing Structure: Transparent pricing structures without hidden fees are what businesses need—evaluate what each plan includes regarding hosting fees domain registration costs premium feature access transaction fees (for e-commerce), etc., ensuring there are no surprises later on budget-wise.
Security Measures: Last but certainly not least security must never be compromised—look into what measures each platform implements regularly scheduled backups malware scanning data encryption protocols etc., safeguarding both company information client data alike against cyber threats effectively.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a suitable business website platform sets the foundation upon which much of your online success will rest—it’s worth investing time upfront researching comparing different offerings based on these criteria outlined above.
By doing so not only do you pave way smoother operations internally but also establish stronger connections externally leading ultimately towards achieving greater heights within industry space.
Remember functionality flexibility security always trump price alone because at end day quality truly does pay off long run Happy building!
Sources:
https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/google-shutting-down-business-profile-websites