In a recent update, Google announced that starting July 31, 2024, they bid farewell to chat features and call history tracking on Google Business Profile.
What Were These Features and Why Were They Useful?
Chat: This feature enabled customers to message your business directly through Google Business Profile on Google Search and Maps. It provided a convenient way for real-time communication and lead generation.
Call History: This feature tracked calls made directly through your Business Profile. It helped businesses understand how many calls they received and how effective those calls were at converting customers.
Google stated that these features had relatively low usage, and they are prioritizing focus on higher-impact features for merchants. This decision reflects their ongoing effort to streamline services and concentrate on tools that provide the most value. Managing your Google Business Profile is still a core part of any solid local SEO strategy.
Key Dates
July 15, 2024: The last day for customers to initiate new chat conversations. Existing chats continued, and users were notified about the upcoming shutdown.
July 31, 2024: Chat functionality ceased entirely. Call history reports were also removed on this date.
Preparing for the Change
Download Your Data: Businesses had until August 30, 2024, to extract their chat history using Google Takeout.
Update Your Profile: Since chat is going away, consider revising your welcome message to direct customers to your preferred communication methods, such as phone numbers, email, or social media handles. Our digital marketing team can help you adapt your local engagement strategy accordingly.
Need help managing your Google Business Profile or adapting your local SEO strategy? Contact Ruby Shore Software at 318.625.0860.