Products removed and Maps not clickable

[Niki]

Hi, I manage a number of Google business profiles for clients.

In the past days I've seen a lot of changes happening to the Google business profile side panel, especially on Google Search desktop results.

There are a couple of issues that seem to have stuck:

1) Products have been removed from the side panel of desktop even though still featured on mobile (see attachments)

2) The Google Maps image on desktop within the side panel is not clickable (the "see photo" and "see outside" are ok)

These are quite significant issues, been like this for around a week, and I have not seen anyone point it out... is it just me?

I must stress that this is not the only business... but it is a widespread issue here affecting all businesses profiles.

Looking forward to the feedback. Thanks.

 

[JS Girard]

I am not seeing this in french, but with GS location changer, I do see it. I also notice a completely new display for the reviews:

 

[Niki]

I am not seeing this in french, but with GS location changer, I do see it. I also notice a completely new display for the reviews:

Thanks for the info.

Yes, this new reviews display is showing for most businesses too.

I am starting to think that Google is using our area to test some different display formats...

 

[JS Girard]

Sounds like it. Have you tried profiles outside Malta? The maps link removal might well be an attempt to get around regulations against overintegration. I haven't been keeping up on what's going on in the EU in this area...

 

[Niki]

Just tried profiles outside Malta and non-EU.

They appear the same for me, that is, maps not clickable and with the new massive reviews display format...

 

[Lluc]

Hi Niki and JS,

I believe that what you are seeing are Google tests in order to comply with the European Digital Markets Act (DMA) that comes into place on the 6th of March. Barry Schwartz has published several articles on this, the most recent I think is this one. However, there are already issues with Google’s changes, especially in the travel industry.

I recorded a video this morning to show the new SERP designs, for the query “restaurants near me”
Google

Awesome Screenshot

www.awesomescreenshot.com

1. Change to search filters

The search filters no longer link to other Google services, such as Google Maps, Google News, Google Travel, Google Flights, etc.

This is a screenshot of the filters that appear for the search “restaurants near me”.

When clicking on the filters, a new SERP is shown, but there are no options to click to other Google Services.

1. Places Sites module

The “Places Sites” is replacing the “Find results on”.

Google frequently tests the position of these “modules”. The majority of times I see the module above the local pack, however for the last few days the module is below the local pack.

1. No Connection to other Google Services

This is quite noticeable for hotels. The hotel local pack no longer links to Google Hotels. Instead, it is basically the local pack is the same as for any other industry. The hotel price comparison module still shows up. More on this at another time, hopefully…

1. New rich results format on Search

There is a new rich results module, where there is an image, a title and text showing different pages from a website.

1. Spam

Regardless of the query, page 3 of the results is generally filled with “Google spam”, that is results from Google Books.

1. Google Ads carousel

We’ve seen this Google Ads carousel module for the last year as test, but we have confirmation since Christmas that this is now live.

This Google Ads carousel is also shown in Google Hotels.

I work mostly with hotels, so my focus is primarily on the travel industry. For the last 6 months, we’ve seen many different tests in SERPS’ for hotel and travel queries, flight queries, reviews, events, and travel forums.

The changes will have an impact, but we are not sure to what extent. I’ve actually been seeing the “new” DMA SERP for more than two weeks now, an extremely long time for a test compared to the previous tests which lasted anything between a few searches to two or three days maximum.

We’ve noticed the same issue with the link to Google Maps also very recently, and I had not seen that before. To me, it looks more like a bug, but I don’t know. There is still a link on the GBP page to Google Maps.

 

[Niki]

Hi Niki and JS,

I believe that what you are seeing are Google tests in order to comply with the European Digital Markets Act (DMA) that comes into place on the 6th of March. Barry Schwartz has published several articles on this, the most recent I think is this one. However, there are already issues with Google’s changes, especially in the travel industry.

I recorded a video this morning to show the new SERP designs, for the query “restaurants near me”
Google

Awesome Screenshot

www.awesomescreenshot.com

1. Change to search filters

The search filters no longer link to other Google services, such as Google Maps, Google News, Google Travel, Google Flights, etc.

This is a screenshot of the filters that appear for the search “restaurants near me”.

When clicking on the filters, a new SERP is shown, but there are no options to click to other Google Services.

1. Places Sites module

The “Places Sites” is replacing the “Find results on”.

Google frequently tests the position of these “modules”. The majority of times I see the module above the local pack, however for the last few days the module is below the local pack.

1. No Connection to other Google Services

This is quite noticeable for hotels. The hotel local pack no longer links to Google Hotels. Instead, it is basically the local pack is the same as for any other industry. The hotel price comparison module still shows up. More on this at another time, hopefully…

1. New rich results format on Search

There is a new rich results module, where there is an image, a title and text showing different pages from a website.

1. Spam

Regardless of the query, page 3 of the results is generally filled with “Google spam”, that is results from Google Books.

1. Google Ads carousel

We’ve seen this Google Ads carousel module for the last year as test, but we have confirmation since Christmas that this is now live.

This Google Ads carousel is also shown in Google Hotels.

I work mostly with hotels, so my focus is primarily on the travel industry. For the last 6 months, we’ve seen many different tests in SERPS’ for hotel and travel queries, flight queries, reviews, events, and travel forums.

The changes will have an impact, but we are not sure to what extent. I’ve actually been seeing the “new” DMA SERP for more than two weeks now, an extremely long time for a test compared to the previous tests which lasted anything between a few searches to two or three days maximum.

We’ve noticed the same issue with the link to Google Maps also very recently, and I had not seen that before. To me, it looks more like a bug, but I don’t know. There is still a link on the GBP page to Google Maps.

Hi Lluc,

Thanks for the detailed answer. It gives a much better insight into what's happening... even though, as you said, it is all a bit up in the air at the moment with lots of changes and many things not working.

So I guess we can only expect more changes.

Do you report these bugs/issues anywhere specific?

 

[Lluc]

Bongu Nikki,

From what I've seen for the last year I think this is what we will see in March. With regards to the travel industry, there have been some complaints from OTA's that the changes are not enough.... so, difficult to say really.

With regard to reporting bugs, I have not done so.

One thing I forgot to mention is that the description of the business does not seem to appear in the local pack when you click on one of the businesses. Do you see the description or Q&A's?

I am also curious to know if for a search like "adults only hotels in Malta" when you click on the business, the GBP profile comes up or does it take you to Google Hotels?

 

[Niki]

Bongu Nikki,

From what I've seen for the last year I think this is what we will see in March. With regards to the travel industry, there have been some complaints from OTA's that the changes are not enough.... so, difficult to say really.

With regard to reporting bugs, I have not done so.

One thing I forgot to mention is that the description of the business does not seem to appear in the local pack when you click on one of the businesses. Do you see the description or Q&A's?

I am also curious to know if for a search like "adults only hotels in Malta" when you click on the business, the GBP profile comes up or does it take you to Google Hotels?

Hi Lluc,

I am getting the GBP profile when I click on the local pack. See two screenshots below:

 

[Lluc]

Thanks Niki!

 

[Niki]

As of this morning everything seems back to normal for the Google business profile panel in desktop search results. Products are featuring again and the large reviews section is not there any longer.

The only thing that has stuck is that the Maps preview pic is still not clickable (the one next to "see photos" and "see outside"

 

[Lluc]

Strange, I'm hearing from more people across Europe that they see the new layout.

Also, I'm now seeing it in Incognito...

 

[Niki]

Strange, I'm hearing from more people across Europe that they see the new layout.

Also, I'm now seeing it in Incognito...

I am not referring specifically to hotels but rather to the business profile panel that appears when you Google the name of a particular business, eg:

 

[Lluc]

Understood. They are showing also in the local pack.

However, they have no image and when I click on the product it leads me to this page that says the product can not be found.

 

[Michael Keuntje]

Hi, I manage a number of Google business profiles for clients.

In the past days I've seen a lot of changes happening to the Google business profile side panel, especially on Google Search desktop results.

There are a couple of issues that seem to have stuck:

1) Products have been removed from the side panel of desktop even though still featured on mobile (see attachments)

2) The Google Maps image on desktop within the side panel is not clickable (the "see photo" and "see outside" are ok)

These are quite significant issues, been like this for around a week, and I have not seen anyone point it out... is it just me?

I must stress that this is not the only business... but it is a widespread issue here affecting all businesses profiles.

Looking forward to the feedback. Thanks.

Hi Niki
I have observed two things since a while and they haven't changed:
- the map cannot be clicked to open Google Maps any more.
- the view when clicking images is no longer the one which can still be seen in Google Maps but a vertical window listing (but not organising) all kinds of image material (photos, panos, videos) without tabs so that finding the panos for example has become hard. So it looks like the connection between Google Business Profile and Google Maps is getting cut.
If as some answers suggested this is because of European laws it is weird that you can still open the maps view as before by clicking on the address.
So did you in the meantime learn anything more about this?
Best
Michael

 

[Niki]

Hi Michael,

Things seems to have remained as they were with the new changes implemented. I am pretty certain it is because of the new EU anticompetitive regulations but it remains an assumption.

Through the 'Insights' provided by business profile dashboards, I have also seen a very significant spike in views of business profiles on Maps to the detriment of Search in the past months. This was across the board and not specific to any business or sector.

Best,
Niki

 

[Michael Keuntje]

Hi Niki

thx to kindly responding.

I find it amazing and at the same time I have switched myself to looking for the profiles on maps. But I am a 360° tour producer and cannot find the panos in search any longer. Or it got hard. So I don't qualify for standard user behaviour. Do you have an idea why people go to maps for business profiles?

Best
Michael

PS
How and where can you see stats on usage of business profiles on Google maps versus those in search results?

 

[Niki]

Hi Michael,

As you know, you can do a normal search in Google Maps, and get Google listing results quite similar to those on Google Search, so I guess people have started to use it more. I wouldn't know the specific reason why people are using Maps more (or at least that is what stats show), but I imagine the decoupling of Search and Maps is a big factor... or at least the coincidental timing seems to suggest so.

In order to see the usage of business profiles you would need to be an owner/manager of that business profile and Google will give you a dedicated dashboard from where to edit and see stats apart from other functionality. I do 360 tours too but I also offer a service to manage client's Google business profiles and so I have access to quite a number of them as a 'manager'.