Publish a short post whenever something changes: a new service, a dated offer or an event. Google offers three post types, updates, offers and events, and says posts older than 6 months are archived unless a date range is set. A steady rhythm, such as one post a week, keeps your profile current.
The three post types
- Update: news about the business, with a description, a photo or video and an action button.
- Offer: a sale or deal. It needs a title and start and end dates and times. You can add a description, a photo or video, a coupon code, a link and terms.
- Event: something happening at your business, with a title and start and end dates and times, plus an optional description, photo or video and action button.
Google says action buttons can send people to make a booking, order online or learn more.
Where posts appear
Google shows posts in the Updates or Overview tab of your profile on mobile Search and Maps, and in the From the owner section on a computer. On mobile, posts can also appear as featured posts.
Google says posts older than 6 months are archived unless a date range is set, so a profile with no new posts can soon look quiet.
How to publish a post on Google
- Go to your Business Profile, select Posts, then Add post.
- Choose an update, an offer or an event and fill in its fields.
- To publish later, turn on Schedule this post and pick a date and time. To repeat it, choose weekly, monthly or a custom schedule under Repeats.
- Publish, then check that it shows on your profile.
Post ideas
Give each post one piece of real news and a clear next step. Three to adapt:
New at Fern Street Physio: evening sports massage on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 to 9 pm. Sessions last 45 minutes and suit runners and gym regulars. Book a slot with the button below.
Autumn colour week at Willow Hair Studio: 20% off full colour booked between 3 and 10 November. Show this post at the desk when you arrive.
Free beginners' kettlebell class at Ironside Gym, Saturday 14 November, 10 to 11 am. All equipment is provided. Bring water and a towel, and arrive 10 minutes early to sign in.
What gets posts rejected
Google marks posts that break its content policy as Not approved. Google names these problems:
- Phone numbers, email addresses or social handles Google can't verify as yours. Use a Call now button instead.
- Misspellings, offensive language or images, untrustworthy links and sexually suggestive content.
- Details of regulated products such as alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceuticals or weapons.
- Offer posts from hotels, which Google doesn't allow.
Common problems
- How long does a post stay up?
- Google says posts older than 6 months are archived unless a date range is set.
- Can I schedule posts on Google?
- Yes. Turn on Schedule this post and pick a date and time. You can also repeat a post weekly, monthly or on a custom schedule.
- Why was my post not approved?
- It most likely broke Google's content policy, for example with an unverified phone number or an untrustworthy link. Fix that and post again.
- How often should I post?
- Google doesn't set a rhythm. Post when you have real news, at a steady pace you can keep up, such as once a week.
Draft and publish posts with Reach
Stuck for words? The free post writer turns what's new, on offer or coming up into a post draft you can edit and copy.
In Reach, the Posts page publishes updates, offers and events to Google with a photo or video, and can publish a post now or schedule it for later.