How to Use Google Business Profile Posts

Google Business Profile posts are short updates a business adds to its profile, and they can appear on the profile in Google Search and Google Maps. They are free to publish and aimed at people who are already looking at your business.

What are Google Business Profile posts?

A post is a short piece of content attached to your profile: a few lines of text, an image, and often a button. It can appear on the profile itself, so someone comparing you with another business may see it while they are deciding.

The main types are updates, offers and events. The options can vary by business type, and Google changes the interface over time, so what you see may differ from what another owner sees.

Posts are free to publish. Google does not list posts as a ranking factor in its public guidance, and Google says local results are based mainly on relevance, distance and prominence. Treat posts as information for people already looking at your profile rather than a confirmed lever on the map pack.

Which type of post should I use?

Match the type to what you actually have to say.

Option	Best for	Notes
Update	News, a seasonal service, a new photo of recent work, changed hours	The catch-all. Use it when nothing else fits.
Offer	A real promotion with a start and an end date	Set plain terms. Take it down when it ends.
Event	Something with a start and an end, such as a workshop or an open house	Give the date, time and place in the text.

If you are unsure, an update is the safe default. An offer only makes sense if the deal is real and you can honor it for the full run. An event post works when there is a defined time window, because the post ends on the date you set.

How do I add a post to my Business Profile?

1. Sign in with the account that manages the profile. Open the profile from Google Search or from the Google Maps app.
2. Look for the option to add an update or post. Menu names change, so if you cannot find it, look for a button near the top of the profile labeled something like Add update, Add post or Promote.
3. Pick the type: update, offer or event.
4. Write the text, add an original photo, and add an optional button such as Call or Learn more. If you use Learn more, point it at the page on your site that matches the post.
5. For offers and events, set the start and end dates.
6. Preview the post, then publish it.

Google may review a post before it appears, and it can reject one that breaks its content policies. If a post does not show up right away, that is often why.

What makes a post worth reading?

Lead with the useful detail. What is happening, when, and who it is for, so the reader knows within one line whether the post applies to them.

Use one clear action, pointing at the specific page on your site that matches the post rather than the homepage. If the post is about a service, link to that service page.

Add UTM parameters to the link so visits from posts show up separately in your website analytics. A simple set with source, medium and campaign is enough to separate post traffic from everything else.

Use original photos of real work. Stock photos of other businesses confuse people and can look like a different company.

Google's post guidelines discourage putting a phone number in the post text, and the call button is the place for it. If you are unsure whether a post fits the rules, check the relevant guidance for your industry before publishing.

How long do posts stay up and how often should I post?

Offer and event posts end on the end date you set, so they disappear from view on schedule. For other posts, Google has changed how long they stay prominent over the years, and older posts can drop out of view. Rather than relying on a fixed number of days, check your own profile to see what is currently showing.

Post when there is something real to say, at a pace you can keep. A regular weekly or monthly slot works for many businesses because it is easy to maintain. There is no required frequency, and posting filler just to fill a slot rarely helps anyone.

Remove or update an offer once it has ended. A stale offer on a profile looks careless, and it may mislead someone who was about to call.

How do I tell if my posts are working?

Open the profile's performance view and look at calls, website clicks and direction requests over time. The metrics Google reports change, so the exact numbers you see may differ from what another owner sees.

Use the tagged links to see website visits that came from posts. In your analytics, filter to the campaign tag you used, and compare it with other traffic sources.

Compare types and topics over a few months: which updates got clicks, which offers got calls, which events got direction requests. Many things affect these numbers, including seasonality, your other marketing and how the profile itself is set up, so treat the pattern as a hint rather than a verdict.

Posts are only one part of a profile people judge you by. Reviews are another: our guides cover how to get more Google reviews, using a plumbing business as the example, and how to reply to negative Google reviews.

Common mistakes with Business Profile posts

• Keyword-stuffed text written for search engines rather than customers. If it reads oddly to a person, rewrite it.
• Offers left up after their dates, or links to broken or slow pages. Test the link before you publish.
• Posting about services the profile does not list. Check that the services and categories on your profile match what you are promoting; the guide to Google Business Profile categories explains how those are set up.
• Promoting details in a post that do not match your listings elsewhere, such as an old phone number or address. Our guide to building and fixing local citations covers keeping those details consistent.
• Promising results or prices the business cannot honor.

If you run a service area business, posts work the same way, but you will want to be clear about the area you cover. Our guide to setting up a Google Business Profile for a service area business covers how that setup differs.

Frequently asked questions

How long do Google Business Profile posts stay visible?

Offer and event posts end on the end date you set. For other posts, Google has changed how long they stay prominent over the years, and older posts can drop out of view. Check your own profile to see what is currently showing rather than relying on a fixed number of days.

Can I edit or delete a post after publishing it?

Usually yes. Open the profile, find the post, and look for an edit or delete option. Menu names change, so the exact wording may differ. Editing an offer or event can change its dates; deleting removes it from your profile.

Why was my Google Business Profile post rejected?

Google reviews posts and can reject one that breaks its content policies. Reasons can include misleading claims, prohibited content, or a link that goes somewhere unexpected. If a post is rejected, read the notice, adjust the text or image, and try again.

Do Google Business Profile posts help my ranking?

Google does not list posts as a ranking factor in its public guidance, and Google says local results are based mainly on relevance, distance and prominence. Posts are useful for people already looking at your profile, but nobody outside Google knows the full list of ranking factors.

Can a service area business use posts?

Yes. Service area businesses can publish updates, offers and events the same way. Because there is no storefront for customers to visit, be clear in the post about the area you cover and how to reach you. Our service area business profile guide covers the setup differences.