Over the weekend, Google My Business added the ability to announce the day you’re business is opening directly in Google Maps and changed how it manages businesses that are within specific service areas.
Google began testing this feature back in September, in which it shows a business listing in Google Maps before it opens. The listing communicates to the searcher when the business will be opening in the future.
This feature has been confirmed to now be rolling out. Allyson Wright from Google posted in the company forums over the weekend that “Google My Business now supports businesses that haven’t yet opened to the public.”
With this feature, businesses can build awareness and prepare for opening day by communicating to customers when they are going to pen, what the business hours are going to be, and what can be expected by the customers. Wright said this “helps [new businesses] build their online presence and be ready for business on Day 1. Businesses can set a future opening date, engage with customers, and announce when and where they’ll be open for business.”
Learn more about how this works and how to set future open dates over here.
Changes where made by Google on how it will handle “service-area businesses” who visit or deliver to local customers. There are desperate fields now in Google My Business for you to edit your business address and service area. By updating your business information, you’ll be given the option to enter your address, service area, or both.
Google My Business gives service-area businesses have two options:
- If you don’t serve customers at your business address, leave the address field blank and only enter your service area.
- If you serve customers at your business address but also have a service area, enter both your address and service area.