The information that Google is shuttering Google Business Profile web sites has made many customers ask us how to migrate their website to WordPress earlier than the service shuts down for good.
In March 2024, Google will be shutting down greater than 21.7 million web sites created with Google Business Profiles. This is the newest in a historical past of Google eradicating services and products.
If you’re one of many customers who might be affected by this modification, then now’s the right time to relocate your web site.
In this text, we’ll present you the way to migrate a Google Business Profile web site to WordPress.
Here’s an outline of what we’ll cowl on this information. You can click on the hyperlinks beneath to leap forward to your most well-liked part:
Why Migrate a Google Business Profile Site to WordPress?
When you create a Google Business Profile, you get an choice to add an internet site. Previously, in case you didn’t have an internet site, Google would enable you to create a free single-page site immediately.
This means, customers wanting up your model on a neighborhood search will see an in depth enterprise profile, together with a enterprise website, working hours, store locations, instructions, cellphone numbers, and extra.
However, Google is shutting down Business Profile sites in March 2024. Once the service closes, customers might be robotically redirected to your Business Profile web page.
Unfortunately, that redirection will solely work till June 10, 2024. People visiting your website after this date will see a ‘page not found’ error.
This can have a detrimental impact on your online business, as it can look much less skilled. Not to point out, prospects received’t give you the option to view detailed details about your organization, merchandise, and providers.
As a end result, your conversions might drop, and you can find yourself shedding prospects to your rivals.
That’s why it’s necessary to migrate your Google Business Profile website to WordPress.
Note: Google is barely shutting down the service that hosts websites by Google Business Profiles. The profile for your online business itself will nonetheless be accessible in search outcomes. Later on this put up, we’ll present you the way to hyperlink your new WordPress website with your online business profile.
Why Choose WordPress as a Platform for Your Website?
WordPress is the preferred web site builder on the earth, because it powers greater than 43% of internet sites on the web.
The better part is that WordPress is free to use and open-source. By migrating your Google Business Profile website to WordPress, you get extra management and adaptability.
For occasion, you get to personal all of your content material and don’t have to depend on a third-party platform. All you want is a hosting service and a website identify to get began.
With WordPress, you get a number of themes. This makes it very versatile, as you may create a easy 1-page WordPress web site or an entire online store. It additionally gives hundreds of plugins which assist add extra options and performance.
Besides that, WordPress is SEO-friendly. What this implies is you can simply optimize it for engines like google like Google. This helps entice customers to your web site and increase conversion.
Note: Remember that WordPress.com and WordPress.org are totally different platforms. WordPress.com is a hosted answer that gives restricted options, whereas WordPress.org is the well-known platform that everybody has come to love and use. You can see our full comparability of WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org.
That stated, let’s have a look at how one can simply migrate your Business Profile website to WordPress.
Step 1: Create a Backup of Google Business Profile Site
Before you may migrate your web site to WordPress, step one is to backup data out of your Google My Business website.
Note that Google Business Profile doesn’t provide an export choice, so that you’ll want to obtain all the photographs, movies, and different media recordsdata manually.
To do this, merely open your Google Business Profile web site after which right-click on the picture you need to save.
After that, merely click on the ‘Save as’ choice and save the picture anyplace in your laptop.
Similarly, you may merely copy the textual content in your web site and paste it right into a doc.
To begin, first spotlight the textual content in your web site after which hit the right-click button in your mouse. From right here, choose the ‘Copy’ button.
You may also use keyboard shortcuts to copy the textual content. For occasion, you’ll want to hit ‘Ctrl + C’ on Windows and ‘Command + C’ on Mac.
Next, open a Notepad file, Google Docs, or a Microsoft Word doc and easily paste the content material out of your web site. If you will have hyperlinks within the textual content, it’s a good suggestion to use Google Docs or Microsoft Word as a result of they are going to maintain these within the pasted textual content.
You can right-click anyplace on the doc and choose the ‘Paste’ choice. Or use the ‘Ctrl + V’ keyboard shortcut on Windows and ‘Command + V’ on Mac to paste the textual content.
Since Business Profile websites are small and single-page, downloading and copying your knowledge needs to be a fast course of.
Step 2: Choosing a Web Hosting Platform for Your Site
Next, you have to a hosting service to run an internet site utilizing WordPress. Web hosting is the place all of your web site recordsdata are saved. You can consider it as a home the place your website’s content material lives.
While WordPress is free to obtain, you’ll want to subscribe to a platform like Bluehost to host the positioning
Usually, hosting prices round $7.99 per thirty days (paid yearly), and area identify costs begin from $16.99 per 12 months, relying on the area extension. The cost to build a WordPress site can go even increased if you would like a customized theme and extra options.
This generally is a important funding, contemplating it was free to create an internet site utilizing Google Business Profile.
Luckily, Bluehost is providing an unique low cost for WPBeginner customers. You can get began for as little as $1.99 per thirty days and get a free area + SSL certificates.
Bluehost is among the greatest internet hosting corporations within the business. It is an formally really helpful WordPress internet hosting supplier.
WPBeginner customers can take pleasure in up to 61% off and get a 1-click WordPress set up. To begin, merely go to the Bluehost website and click on the ‘Get Started Now’ button.
After that, you have to to choose a internet hosting plan.
Simply click on the ‘Select’ button to select a pricing plan. You can choose the Basic or Choice Plus plans to get began, as they need to be appropriate for small enterprise web sites.
On the subsequent display screen, you have to to pick a domain name to your web site. A site identify is your website’s identify that customers will enter of their browsers (like wpbeginner.com or google.com).
Bluehost enables you to create a brand new area identify, or you should use an present area that you simply personal.
Pro Tip: If you need assistance selecting the correct identify, then attempt our free business name generator software. Simply enter phrases associated to your online business, and the software will generate a lot of concepts to your area identify.
After selecting a reputation to your web site, you’ll want to fill in your account particulars and finalize the Bluehost package deal.
Bluehost will add additional choices to your package deal. We suggest unchecking all the extra choices as you’ll lower your expenses. Plus, you may all the time add them in a while if wanted.
Next, you may add your fee particulars and full the acquisition.
Once that’s carried out, Bluehost will create your internet hosting account and e mail you the login particulars.
Step 3: Install and Set Up WordPress
Next, you may log in to the Bluehost account to view the dashboard. From right here, you’ll give you the option to handle your web site, get help, and set up WordPress.
The better part about utilizing Bluehost is that it robotically installs WordPress for you.
You simply want to head to the ‘Websites’ tab from the menu on the left. After that, merely click on the ‘Edit Site’ button.
This will open the WordPress dashboard, the place you may log in and begin including content material, customizing the design, and creating new pages.
Bluehost gives an AI-powered setup wizard that can information you thru the preliminary configuration. You can merely observe the on-screen directions to create a WordPress website. You may also opt-out of the AI assistant.
You can study extra by following our full information on how to install WordPress.
Step 4: Add Content From Business Profile Site to WordPress
Now that your WordPress website is prepared, the subsequent step is to import content material from the Google Business Profile website.
Since there isn’t a means to instantly import knowledge out of your Google My Business website into WordPress, you’ll want to add content material manually.
You can begin by creating totally different pages to your web site, like an about us web page, a contact web page, and extra. Simply head to Pages within the WordPress dashboard and click on the ‘Add New Page’ button.
Next, you have to to enter content material that you simply copied from the Google Business Profile website within the content editor.
To begin, enter a title to your web page on the high. After that, you may sort the textual content or just copy it from the file you created earlier and paste it into the content material editor.
Simply use the keyboard shortcut keys to copy and paste the textual content. For Windows, you’ll want to press ‘Ctrl + C’ to copy and ‘Ctrl + V’ to paste. If you’re utilizing Mac, then merely press ‘Command + V’ to copy and ‘Command + V’ to paste.
WordPress additionally enables you to add photographs, movies, and different media recordsdata to your content material.
To add an image, you may click on the ‘+’ signal and add an Image block in your content material. From right here, you’ll want to click on the ‘Media Library’ button.
A brand new popup window will open with the WordPress Media Library.
Next, you may swap to the ‘Upload files’ tab after which click on the ‘Select Files’ button.
Now, navaigate to the Google Business Profile web site photographs you saved earlier and choose them.
Once they’re uploaded, you will notice them within the Media Library. Go forward and choose the picture you need to add to your content material.
To study extra, please see our information on how to properly add images in WordPress.
Once you’re carried out, go forward and click on ‘Publish’ on the high of the web page. Simply repeat this step to create as many pages as you need to your web site.
Next, you may add the content material to every of those pages that you simply saved and copied out of your Google Business Profile website.
We suggest that you simply create a custom landing page to your web site utilizing the block editor or a plugin like SeedProd.
SeedProd is the very best WordPress theme and landing page builder. It gives a drag-and-drop builder, pre-built templates, and plenty of customization choices.
You can simply edit and management the looks of your website utilizing the plugin. Plus, there are totally different blocks to add to the design.
After creating pages, you may also add new weblog posts to your online business web site. For extra particulars, please see our information on how to add a new post in WordPress.
There are numerous subjects you may write about associated to your online business. These may be useful guides, record articles, how-to tutorials that assist clarify how to use totally different options of your services and products, and extra.
Step 5: Optimizing Your Business Site for Local search engine optimization
After including content material out of your Google My Business website to WordPress, you have to to optimize your website for native search outcomes. This means, individuals looking for your online business can simply discover it on engines like google like Google.
A easy means of doing that’s by utilizing All in One SEO (AIOSEO). It is the best WordPress SEO plugin that helps optimize your web site for engines like google. It robotically provides schema markup and helps configure native search engine optimization settings with none technical information.
Schema markup is a particular code format that’s used in your website, and it tells engines like google additional details about your online business. For occasion, schema markup helps you present particulars like tackle, opening hours, map location, and extra on Google search outcomes.
Note: To use the Local search engine optimization characteristic in AIOSEO, you have to a minimum of the Plus plan.
First, you have to to set up and activate the All in One SEO (AIOSEO) plugin. If you need assistance, then please see our information on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Upon activation, you will notice the AIOSEO setup wizard. Simply click on the ‘Let’s Get Started’ button and observe the on-screen directions.
To study extra, please see our information on how to properly set up All in One SEO in WordPress.
Next, you may go to All in One search engine optimization » Local search engine optimization from the WordPress dashboard and click on the ‘Activate Local SEO’ button.
Add Location and Business Information
Once the Local search engine optimization addon is lively, you may head to the ‘Location’ tab.
Here, AIOSEO will ask in case you have a number of enterprise areas. If so, then merely click on the ‘Multiple Location’ toggle to Yes.
To study extra, please see our information on how to add multiple locations schema for local business in WordPress.
Next, you may scroll down and enter your online business data. For occasion, you may present a reputation, emblem, picture, tackle, choose sort of enterprise, cellphone quantity, and extra.
Add Opening Hours for Your Business
After that, head to the ‘Opening Hours’ tab and allow the choice.
Simply click on the ‘Show Opening Hours’ toggle to Yes.
Next, you may scroll down and add your online business hours.
There can also be an choice the place you may present your online business is open 24/7.
Show Business Location on Google Maps
AIOSEO additionally enables you to combine Google Maps and assist customers discover the place your online business is situated.
You can do this by going to the ‘Maps’ tab and getting into the Google Maps API key.
For extra particulars, please see our information on how to add Google Maps in WordPress.
Step 6: Update Website URL in Google Business Profile
Now that your new WordPress web site is prepared, the subsequent step is to replace the hyperlink in Google Business Profile.
You can do this by visiting your Business Profile on Google. From right here, merely click on the ‘Edit Profile’ choice.
You ought to now see a brand new popup window open with your online business data.
Next, you may navigate to the ‘Website’ part and substitute the URL together with your new WordPress web site.
That’s it! You’ve efficiently migrated your Google Business Profile web site to WordPress.
Now, customers who click on the ‘Website’ hyperlink in your Business Profile will land in your new WordPress web site.
Bonus: Install WordPress Plugins to Get the Most of Your Site
The better part about utilizing WordPress is the plugins. You can consider them as apps, and so they assist add further options and performance to your website.
For occasion, there are plugins for creating backups, enhancing safety, boosting speed and performance, beginning a web-based retailer, and extra.
That stated, there are over 59,000 free and paid plugins that you should use. This can get overwhelming for brand spanking new customers who don’t know which plugin to pick and set up.
To enable you out, listed here are among the high plugins we suggest utilizing in your WordPress website:
- WPForms – It is the very best kind builder for WordPress. You can simply create various kinds of varieties and add them to your website. For instance, it enables you to create simple contact forms, fee varieties, surveys, registration varieties, and extra.
- MonsterInsights – It is the very best Analytics plugin for WordPress. You can connect Google Analytics to WordPress with out modifying code utilizing MonsterInsights. Plus, it helps you learn the way individuals behave in your website, the place they arrive from, which hyperlinks they click on, and uncover different helpful insights.
- OptinMonster – A strong conversion optimization and lead generation toolkit for WordPress. You can create totally different campaigns to develop your e mail record, get extra leads, and improve gross sales.
- Duplicator – It is the very best WordPress backup plugin. You can create backups of your WordPress site and retailer them on the cloud. This means, you’ll have a contemporary copy to restore your website in case there’s a safety breach, or one thing goes mistaken.
For extra plugin suggestions, please see our full record of must-have WordPress plugins for business sites.
We hope this text helped you find out how to migrate a Google Business Profile web site to WordPress. You can also need to see our information on how to create a free business email address and easy ways to increase your blog traffic.
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