Google to Discontinue Websites Created via Business Profiles Soon

On January 8th, 2024, Google declared its intention to discontinue the Business.Site websites by March 1, 2024. Previously, local businesses using Google Business Profile (previously known as “Google My Business”) were offered the choice to let Google create a website for them. These generic sites were hosted under the domain business.site, such as yourbizname.business.site. However, a recent email notification from Google has confirmed the upcoming removal of these business.site websites. From March 1, 2024, visitors to any business.site webpage will be redirected to the corresponding Google Business Profile for that business. By June 10, 2024, these websites will cease to exist altogether. This move isn’t entirely surprising given Google’s recent sale of Google Domains to Squarespace.

Google sent the following email on January 8th, 2024, to holders of Google Business Profile accounts:

“Websites made with Google Business Profiles will be turned off soon

Starting from March 1, 2024, customers will be redirected to your Business Profiles when they visit these websites

In the past you’ve used a Google feature to make simple websites from the information on your Business Profiles.

This feature is going away in the coming months and will no longer be supported, meaning the sites you created with this tool will be removed. To help with the transition, starting March 1, 2024, customers will be redirected to your Business Profiles.

On your profiles you can showcase similar information about your business, and also add social media links so customers can learn more. Your websites will redirect customers until June 10, 2024, after which they will show as unavailable.”

Linking an Alternative Website to Your Google Business Profile

You can modify your Business Profile to connect to a different website if you are a local business using a business.site website. Now is the time to consider creating a professional website for your company.

Further details about the discontinuation of websites created using Google Business Profiles are available on the Google Support page:
https://support.google.com/business/answer/14368911?hl=en

From March, domains ending in business.site and negocio.site will start to be removed from the website section of your Business Profile. We advise updating your Google Business Profile to link to a new website.

Your Business Profile will otherwise remain unaffected. Visitors to your website created via Google Business Profile will be redirected to your Business Profile.

These changes won’t impact you if you haven’t created a website using a Google Business Profile.
I suggest transitioning to a self-hosted WordPress website if your Google Business Profile currently directs to a Business.Site address. Many businesses already direct to a website with their domain, so this change should pose little trouble.

If you are a business affected by this change and need a reliable website developer for your new website, please contact ITDwebdesign.com. We’d be happy to assist with your website transition to a more professional web presence.