This Is Why Delivery And Takeout Availability Is Added To Google My Business Restaurant Names
- 24 March, 2020
- Jason Ferry
- SEO Companies
Google is making an exception to the rule on what can be used in business names for several restaurants. The terms "delivery available" or "takeout available" can be added to the business name of the restaurant. It must be noted by SEO companies and webmasters that this is only a temporary change and not typically allowed for business names in Google My Business.
Thibault Adda discussed this on Twitter, and Joy Hawkins verified it in the Local Search Forums:
According to Joy: "Google said that they are fine with restaurants adding "Delivery Available" or "Takeout Available" to their business names during these crazy times. Normally this is against guidelines but given the circumstances, it's helpful for users to be able to see this info easily".
Mike Blumenthal said further:
- They did not update their help section
- This advice is primarily targeted at restaurants/grocery stores so if I were in a high risk category I wouldn't think about it
- Google's view and yours should answer the question: is it in the best of the consuming public.
- So if a grocery store or restaurant is currently offering curbside pick that clearly qualifies
- If it were me I would not worry about suspensions (Google has been lax on name spam in most categories) and if it is in the best interest of your consumer just do it.
Google My Business Not Functioning As Usual Amid COVID-19 Scare
On Friday, Google implemented a temporary suspension of new local reviews including the ability of businesses to publish review responses. At first, this surprised many local SEO experts, even though it was previewed in Google's earlier news about limiting the functionality of Google My Business throughout the coronavirus outbreak.
Multiple issues and setbacks. On Monday, a lot of local SEO specialists voiced out their complaints about different difficulties and setbacks in publishing new listings or hours and address changes, despite Google stating it would give priority to "open and closed states, special hours, temporary closures, business descriptions, and business attributes edits." Mike Blumenthal said that Post isn't functioning.
For those who own a restaurant, and Post is not functioning, one possible faster way to inform the public about the availability of takeout or delivery services is to incorporate them on the business name. Though that would normally be not allowed, but Joy Hawkins said in the Local Search Forum, "Google said that they are fine with restaurants adding 'Delivery Available' or 'Takeout Available' to their business names during these crazy times".
Why we care. It is important for owners of local businesses and multi-location brands to update Google My Business to communicate their updated time or store closure details to everyone. However, everything seems to take more time than usual since Google is working with reduced support staffing.
All information discussed here came from https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-48029396 and https://seotradenews.com/google-my-business-not-functioning-as-expected-under-the-strain-of-coronavirus/. For more details, click these links.
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