Google has announced the shutdown of their Business.Site web services, effective March 1, 2024. If your business operates under the soon-to-be-discontinued business.site domain, it’s time to explore alternative website platforms.
While your business.site will initially redirect to your Google Business Profile, this temporary solution will end on June 10, 2024.
Here’s what Google had to say:
Websites made with Google Business Profiles will be turned off soon
Starting from March 1, 2024, customers will be redirected to your Business Profile when they visit these websites
In the past you’ve used a Google feature to make a simple website from the information on your Business Profile.
This feature is going away in the coming months and will no longer be supported, meaning the site you created with this tool will be removed. To help with the transition, starting March 1, 2024, customers visiting gal-tech-roofing.business.site will be redirected to your Google Business Profile.
On your profile you can showcase similar information about your business, and also add social media links so customers can learn more. Your website will redirect customers until June 10, 2024, after which it will show as unavailable.
Updating your profile with a different website
You can update your Business Profile to link to a different website. If you need to make a website, you can use a site builder such as Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, Google Sites, Shopify, or WordPress.
This decision comes after Google’s sale of Google Domains to Squarespace, marking a strategic shift away from offering direct website services.
As a local business that previously benefited from Google’s business.site service, you need to transition to a new platform to maintain your online visibility.
Our Take: The Impact on Business Owners and Google’s Strategic Shift
Google’s decision to shut down Business.Site services is part of a broader strategic realignment. By selling Google Domains to Squarespace and discontinuing Business.Site, Google appears to be streamlining its focus towards core services and technologies. This shift allows Google to concentrate on its strengths – search, advertising, and cloud services – while leaving website hosting and domain services to companies that specialize in these areas.
What Does This Mean for Business Owners?
For small and medium-sized business owners, this change signals a critical juncture. The primary impact is the need to swiftly migrate to alternative platforms to maintain their online presence.
“Google’s decision is forcing the hand of small business owners to seek alternatives — but I see this as an opportunity for them to gain ownership of their online presence.”
Adam Wright, Adam Wright Design
Business.Site offered a straightforward, albeit basic, way for businesses to establish an online presence directly tied to their Google Business Profiles. Its closure means businesses must now seek other user-friendly platforms that offer more robust features and greater control over their online branding.
- Transition to More Comprehensive Platforms: Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress not only offer website building services but also provide comprehensive tools for SEO, e-commerce, and customizable design. This transition could be a hidden blessing for businesses, allowing them to create more engaging, functional, and brand-aligned websites.
- Opportunity for Digital Upgrade: For businesses that relied solely on the simplicity of Business.Site, this change is an opportunity to upgrade digitally. It’s a chance to build a more dynamic online presence, crucial in a digital-first world where a website often serves as the first point of contact with customers.
- Need for Proactive Digital Strategy: The shutdown underscores the importance of having a proactive digital strategy. Businesses should not overly rely on a single provider and must be prepared to adapt to changes in digital services.
- Potential SEO Impacts: The transition may impact search engine rankings temporarily. Businesses must ensure that their new websites are optimized for search engines to regain or improve their visibility.
Google’s decision to close Business.Site is a wake-up call for businesses to reassess their digital strategies. It emphasizes the need for a more holistic online presence beyond a simple Business Profile. For businesses, the focus should shift towards building a more robust, independent, and versatile online footprint, leveraging the tools and services of dedicated web hosting and site-building platforms.
Here’s what you need to do next:
Traffic to your website will be temporarily redirected to your Google Business Profile — but that won’t last long.
And while that’s okay as a stop-gap, it’s not a long-term solution. Google has a reputation for shutting down profiles for no explainable reason, and you have no ownership of your Google Business Profile listing.
To ensure your long-term online presence, you’re going to need a new website.
At RVA Site Co., we provide seamless solutions tailored for businesses transitioning from Google Business.Site websites.
Whether you’re looking to create a brand-new website or simply need guidance on how to navigate this change, RVA Site Co. is here to help. Contact us using the form below to safeguard your online presence:
Let RVA Site Co. assist in maintaining your online presence post-Google Business.Site closure!
Frequently Asked Questions
Google Business.Site is a service provided by Google that allowed small businesses to create free, simple websites hosted on the business.site domain. Integrated with Google Business Profiles, it offered a basic online presence for businesses without the need for complex web development.
Google is shutting down Business.Site to realign its strategic focus towards core services. This decision follows the sale of Google Domains to Squarespace and indicates Google’s shift away from direct website hosting and domain services to concentrate on search, advertising, and cloud services.
Google Business.Site services will be discontinued starting March 1, 2024. Initially, business.site domains will redirect to the respective Google Business Profiles, but this will cease on June 10, 2024, after which the websites will become unavailable.
Businesses should transition their online presence to alternative website platforms such as Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress. It’s crucial to update the Google Business Profile with the new website link and ensure that the new site is optimized for search engines and user engagement.
To maintain their online presence, businesses should build a new website using a platform that offers comprehensive features like SEO tools, e-commerce capabilities, and customizable designs. Additionally, they should update their Google Business Profile and consider investing in digital marketing strategies to enhance their online visibility.