Google Updates Business Profile Links Policies

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Business Profile Links Policies Update

Google has officially released a Business Profile Links Policies Update. This update includes new regulations that change how businesses can add and manage links in their profiles.These changes aim to improve user trust, ensure accuracy, and reduce misuse of links in Google Business Profiles.

About Business Links and Eligibility

Customers can do things like make appointments, order food, or schedule services directly through a Business Profile thanks to business linkages. But not all businesses can use all forms of links. For instance, a salon might let people make appointments but not be able to use links to order anything online. Also, some nations and areas may not support all of the business link features.

Key Guidelines for Businesses

Verification Requirements

Before adding links, businesses must be verified on Google Business Profiles. Businesses that have been verified can only add or change links, and Google must approve any modifications before they go live.

Dedicated Landing Pages

Action links must direct users to dedicated landing pages. For multi-location businesses, links should point to the specific branch location, not a general homepage or unrelated landing page.

Direct Action Completion

Google needs links to finish direct actions. For example:

An order link must let people finish their order.
Links to social media pages, chat apps, app stores, and URL shorteners are not allowed.

Common Link Errors and Restrictions

Invalid Business Link

If the link has spaces, symbols, or invalid characters like backslashes, it may not work. Having more than one protocol (like “http://”) might potentially cause problems.

Duplicate or Existing Links

Companies can’t add the same link more than once. If a domain is currently in use by a business or a third-party service, new links to that domain may not be accepted.

Maximum Number of Links

For each sort of transaction (such Booking, Food Ordering, Pickup & Delivery), businesses can add up to 20 links. You have to take away old links before you can create new ones.

Business Links Crawlability Policy:

Link Verification

Google’s automated crawlers verify links every day to make sure they are still working. Links that don’t work or don’t follow the rules may be taken down.

Crawlability Requirements

Business links must:

Be easy for Google’s crawlers to find.
Send back valid HTTP 200 OK status codes.
Let all page resources (CSS, JS, pictures) load completely.
Not block crawlers via IP restrictions, CAPTCHA, login walls, or geoblocking.

If links return errors such as 404 Not Found, 403 Forbidden, 500 Internal Server Error, or 503 Service Unavailable, they may be removed.

What This Means for Businesses

Action Points for Compliance:

Verify your Business Profile before adding links.
Make sure that links go to pages that are useful, official, and relevant.
Don’t use third-party or duplicate domains.
Regularly test links to make sure they don’t lead to broken URLs or other problems.

Effect on SEO

This upgrade stresses the importance of link quality and relevance in local SEO for advertisers. Links that follow the rules can make trust signals stronger and may make your site easier to find on Google Search and Maps.

Conclusion

The Business Profile Links Policies Update highlights Google’s focus on accuracy, trust, and user experience in local search. Businesses can keep their exposure high, prevent having links removed, and create deeper relationships with customers who are looking for them online by following the new rules.

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