If you created your company website with Google Business Profiles, it may be time to build a new website. Google has announced that, come March, these websites will be switched off. Until June 10, visitors to your site will automatically be redirected to your Business Profile, but beyond this date, all bets are off, and your customers and potential customers will come up against the dreaded page not found error. If this is where you’re at, it’s time to have The Web Guys rebuild your site using a fresher platform.
Finding an Alternate Route
You naturally want to maintain your business website, and Google has been kind enough to offer some reliable platform options, including:
- GoDaddy
- Google Sites
- Shopify
- Squarespace
- WordPress
From here, you’ll need to refresh your Business Profile with your new website’s address before the witching hour strikes to help ensure a seamless transition. It’s important to note that, other than this major shift regarding your website, your Business Profile will not be affected.
Managing Your Ads Campaign
If your Google Ads campaign was created through a Google Business Profile based website, you’ll need to also link your ads to an alternate website or landing page prior to March 1, 2024, to ensure they don’t go dark. Another option is pausing your campaigns while you get up to speed.
Managing Your Third-Party Campaigns
You may not be surprised to learn that Google isn’t stopping there. If your company’s custom domain name was created through your Google Business Profile and it forwards online traffic to your website, that action will halt on June 10, 2024. The fix is signing into your account with that third-party hosting company and choosing an option like Redirect to forward visitors to the new website you’ve created.
Beyond Basic
As Google itself points out, websites made with Google Business Profiles are basic websites powered by the information on your Business Profile, and you can do better than basic. If you’re ready to begin – and Google is pushing you out of the nest even if you aren’t – there are several primary factors to consider when it comes to building a better website.
Identify Your Vibe
If you’re an IP legal firm, the website tone you’re going for is likely very, very different than it would be for a tech startup or a fast fashion company – and vice versa. Think about the energy you want to project and find online examples that hit the mark – templates are a great place to start.
Choose Your Web Host
Google’s given you a leg up with this one by offering a list of Google-approved web hosts. Doing a bit of research will help you find the best fit for you.
Focus on SEO
Search engine optimization is king when it comes to your website, and in the midst of a shakeup of this caliber, it’s important not to lose sight of SEO. The stronger your SEO game, the higher you’ll rank and the better your visibility will be, which translates to improved business potential. In other words, don’t be a slouch when it comes to SEO.
Helpful hints include:
- Make sure your relevant keywords are just that – relevant. Research pays off here. Your potential customers employ certain words and phrases to find what they’re looking for – and you want to show up.
- Jazz up your website’s performance by paying attention to the details and embracing a less-cluttered approach. Clunky websites don’t get the kind of love you’re looking for.
- Bolster your meta description with keyword optimization that clicks with the potential customers you want to connect with. This short come-on amounts to your proverbial first impression, and because you never get a second chance, you shouldn’t skimp.
Think about User Experience
The smoother the user experience you create, the stronger your connection with customers and potential customers alike. Once you’ve ironed out the wrinkles and tweaked your site to the point of intuitive interaction, you’ll be well on your way to elevating your brand while building a solid fan base. Always check things out live, including the mobile experience. Don’t be shy about enlisting others to give your site a whirl – neutral third parties tend to be the keenest critics.
There are several elements that are worthy of special attention.
The Navigation Menu
Without a tiptop navigation menu, your visitors may flounder and move on. When it comes to navigation, it’s important to prioritize clarity. Don’t make customers dig for that menu.
Calls to Action
Are you talking to the reader? Your call-to-actions should be doing just that. The goal is to entice, beguile, enchant, and inspire users to take the plunge by clicking through and moving forward toward purchase or service.
Social Links
Different users have different social media favorites, and offering the people what they want helps them feel more at home on your site. When you give social media the cold shoulder, you do so to your own detriment. Whether you use social media icons, integrate live feeds, or include a social bar, you’re creating a direct link to your social channels that broadens your reach.
If It Seems Like a Lot
If you’re in panic mode, thinking that creating a new website seems like a lot, it’s time to take a deep breath and remember that you’re not alone out there. Yes, Google likes to mix things up, but there’s never been a better time to beef up your website, and Google just greenlighted the project – with a little push for good measure. Find yourself a savvy website pro and get this party started today.
Need to Level Up Your Website Game? We Can Help You with That
The Web Guys have a team of web designers who are poised to help make your website dreams come true. While it may seem like Google is pulling all the strings, you’re the master of your website, and we can help you show them how it’s done. We offer digital marketing, email marketing, and more to areas throughout Indiana, Michigan, and Florida including Carmel, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, and Sarasota. To learn more, contact us at (317) 805-4933 today.
