Google has announced plans to shut down basic websites created with Google Business Profiles in March, so customers won’t have anywhere to go other than your Google Business Profile unless you take action.
The change affects websites ending in business.site and negocio.site, and from March 2024, Google will automatically redirect customers from those sites to your Google Business Profile.
This temporary fix will last until June 10, 2024, giving business owners less than six months to update their online presence.
Google Business Profile websites will be closed
In a announcementGoogle said: “In March 2024, websites created with Google Business Profiles will be disabled and customers who visit your site will be redirected to your Business Profile… We recommend that you update your Google Business Profile to point to a new website.”
After June 10, customers will see a “Page not found” error when they try to visit your Business Profile website. This website will have been down for about three months by then.
Google continued: “If you want to continue having a website for your business, consider creating a new website using different tools and updating your business profile with the new website address.”
In addition to the obvious changes, Google has also highlighted some behind-the-scenes administrative tasks that business owners should do, including managing ad campaigns associated with the website and managing third-party domains.
More broadly, a Google Business Profile is a place where you can share updates and links to websites and social media platforms, as well as photos and contact information.
Interestingly, Squarespace came in second in Google’s suggestion of six website builders, behind Wix. GoDaddy, Google Sites, Shopify and WordPress were also included.
Google sold its Domains business to Squarespace in 2023 and has since been directing Google Domains customers to Squarespace.