MAP Platform Updates For August 2024

Conscious Commerce • August 29, 2024

Our latest MAP Platform updates introduce a range of enhancements designed to optimize your workflow and improve user experience. From smarter communication tools and intuitive email templates to advanced site management features and expanded eCommerce options, these upgrades reflect our commitment to continuous innovation. With these new capabilities, managing your campaigns, meetings, and online presence has never been easier or more efficient.

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Preview & Restore Backup Versions of Your Site: If you make changes that don't work as expected, you can easily revert to a previous version without hassle. This feature ensures that your site remains secure and functional while giving you the flexibility to experiment with updates. With the ability to preview backups before restoring, you can confidently manage your website's content and design.


Build Pages Faster Using the New Page Builder: Build site pages faster by quickly structuring the page’s layout before finalizing its design in the editor. This streamlined approach allows you to efficiently arrange elements and establish a solid framework, saving time and simplifying the overall page-building process. Once the layout is set, you can easily move on to fine-tuning the design, making your workflow more effective and reducing development time.

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Automatically Flag Potential Meetings: The new "meetings booked" metric is designed to streamline your scheduling process by automatically flagging potential meetings. This feature tracks interactions and suggests possible meeting opportunities, helping you stay organized and proactive in your outreach. It ensures that no important connection slips through the cracks, making it easier to prioritize and manage your time effectively.

Send Inmail Messages Directly to Public Profiles: This feature enables you to connect with potential clients, partners, or leads more efficiently, even if they aren't part of your direct network. By reaching out to public profiles through inmail, you can foster new relationships and enhance your networking efforts, all within the platform.

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Stay Organized and Plan Ahead with Campaigns: Effortlessly plan, execute, and manage your social media campaigns from one centralized location. This tool streamlines the entire campaign process, providing you with the ability to schedule posts, track performance, and adjust your strategy in real-time.

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AI Assistant (One) Now Recognizes Intentions: By understanding the context and goals behind messages, the AI can provide more accurate responses, streamline workflows, and offer proactive suggestions. Whether it's answering customer inquiries or guiding users through tasks, this advanced feature enhances the overall chat experience, making interactions smoother and more effective.

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Simplify your email communications with new templates: These templates are tailored for various meeting scenarios, helping you send professional, consistent, and engaging emails with ease. Whether you're scheduling a meeting, following up, or confirming details, the new templates save you time while ensuring your messaging stays on point.

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New Store Pickup Option Added to Store Shipping: This update allows customers to choose in-store pickup for their orders, offering greater flexibility and convenience. By integrating this option, you can enhance the shopping experience and streamline order fulfillment, giving customers a seamless way to collect their purchases directly from your store.

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Table of Contents Notifications | Data Sharing | Advanced Settings
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Once you have created your Google Business Profile, you will need to complete the verification process before it can be shown publicly. Verification methods are automatically determined by Google, are based on your business type, public information, region, or business hours, and can’t be changed. In some cases, you may need to verify your business with more than one method. Methods include: Video Recording Record a 30+ second, unedited video proving you are the owner of the business and it is located at the address indicated in the profile. Phone or Text When you select this method, you will get a call or text with a code Email This method will have you receive an email with verification steps Live Video Call Similar to the video recording, you will join a live video call and show the support representative key details proving your business ownership and locations Mail A postcard will be sent to the address associated with your profile within approximately 14 days. On the postcard will be a secure verification code. What's Next After you complete the verification steps, Google reviews the info you provided. To help maintain the integrity of your Business Profile, verification review can take up to 5 business days. Once the review process is complete, you will receive a notification email. If your verification was approved, your profile will be visible to the public. If your verification was not approved, you will have one of these three options to proceed: Re-Verification When the “Get verified” button appears on your Business Profile again, it means Google couldn’t completely verify your business. To fix this issue, try to re-verify your business. Review Issues When you verify through a video recording and get a “Review issues” notification, it means your video wasn’t accepted. To fix this issue: Select Review issues . Follow the on-screen instructions. Give Additional Information If you’re asked to provide additional info to re-verify your profile, it’s likely because some of your business details were recently updated.
A man is taking a video with a camera.
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The most commonly used verification method for Google Business Profiles as of 2025 is video verification. This process involves uploading a video that captures key details about your business and helps Google confirm that you represent the business. Before you start Take the time to plan your video. You can’t record a video offline and then upload the file for verification later. Your video will need to be at least 30 seconds long and unedited. Your video recording should not include: Any sensitive information like bank account, tax, or identification numbers. Any other private information about yourself or others. Other people’s faces. Video Requirements For Storefronts Important: If your business doesn’t have permanent on-site signage, it's not eligible as a storefront and should be listed as a service-area business. Videos must show: The location of your business: Capture the official street and number signs, nearby businesses, recognizable landmarks, or the area around your business that shows your business is at the correct Google Maps location. Evidence that your business exists: Capture the storefront, showroom, or business signage. Show your business name printed on permanent fixtures, such as a signboard, wall, or window. The business name shown in the video must match the name of your Business Profile. Demonstrate proof of management: You can show that you’re authorized to represent your business by recording employee-only items or areas. Record yourself opening a cash register, accessing a point-of-sale system, unlocking the store, staff room, kitchen, or storage room. Video Requirements For Service-Area Businesses Videos must show: The location where you offer your services: Good examples include signs in your service area that advertise your business or street signs and landmarks next to your business. A bad example is land that can be present anywhere or unmarked land. Show evidence that your business exists: Capture branded work equipment, marketing materials, services or products for sale, or tools you use to serve your customers. Good examples include recording yourself unlocking a van with your business name on it or branded t-shirts for employees or customers. Demonstrate proof of management: You can record yourself providing the service or showing business documents. For example, business registration, invoices, or utility bills that match the name on your Business Profile. 
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If you’re a business owner but a verified Business Profile for your business on Google Search or Maps is owned by someone else, you can request ownership from the current profile owner.
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As an owner of your business's Google Business Profile (GBP), you can add users to the profile. Each user will get their own access and you won't need to share login information.
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When you add and verify your Business Profile, customers can find your business on Search and Maps. To make sure your business is eligible to show up on Google, verify your Business Profile . After you successfully add or claim your profile, you can control how your business information shows up on Google.  You can add or claim your business at no charge. If you have questions about profile verification, check the Business Profile community .
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Your Google Business Profile may be suspended or disabled for "not following Google's guidelines ". If you believe that it should be reinstated or that you have updated it to conform to the guidelines, you may submit an appeal. Submitting an Appeal Step 1: Prepare Your Evidence Once you begin your appeal process and open the evidence form, you will have 60 minutes to submit the form, or it will not be attached to your appeal. Evidence that you may be requested to attach includes things like your official business registration, a business license, and tax certificates. These documents must match the business name and address that you have listed on the Google Business Profile. Step 2: Submit Your Appeal Open the Google Business Profile appeals tool . If you’re signed in to the Google account related to the profile you want to appeal, select Confirm. To select a different account, select Switch account. Select the Business Profile that you want to appeal > Continue. The Google Business Profile appeals tool shows: The restricted profile The reason for the moderation action A link to the violated policy At the bottom right, select Submit Appeal. Optional: A prompt to submit evidence may appear. To strengthen your appeal, we highly recommend submitting evidence. To open the evidence form, after you submit your appeal, select Add evidence. Select Submit. Google will review your appeal and send you an email with a decision. Step 3: Check the Status of Your Appeal After you submit your appeal, you can stay aware of the status by doing the following: Open the Google Business Profile appeals tool . Make sure you’re signed in to the Google Account related to your Business Profile. Select the Business Profile for the appeal that you submitted. On the right, you’ll find the status of the appeal: Submitted Approved Not Approved Can't be appealed Eligible for appeal Optional Step 4: Request an Additional Review If your reinstatement request is denied, you may be able to request an additional review to prove your eligibility. In this review, you can submit more evidence that was not added to your original appeal. 
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You can have only one Business Profile for each business. Multiple profiles for the same business may mislead your customers and are against Google's policies. If a profile is considered a duplicate, it won’t show on Google Search or Maps. Understand Why Profiles are Marked as Duplicates There are several reasons why a profile may be considered a duplicate: Existing verified profile: A verified profile already exists for the same business on Google. Same address: Multiple profiles have the same address. Different services: Multiple profiles exist for the same business that offer different services. You can refer to the following guidance to resolve situations with duplicate profiles.
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Your Google Business Profile houses a lot of important information about your company. Keeping this information up to date will help to ensure your clients can confidently make informed buying decisions. The areas we will go into in this guide are : Address Hours Service areas Description Social media links Attributes Categories