Google Business Profiles ‘What’s Happening’ Feature Expands
▼ Summary
– Google has expanded the “What’s happening” feature to restaurants and bars in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, now including multi-location establishments.
– This feature allows businesses to highlight events, deals, and specials prominently at the top of their Google Business Profile to attract customers.
– It is designed to drive real-time foot traffic by surfacing timely promotions and events when locals are searching for places to eat or drink.
– The feature is currently only available for restaurants and bars, with plans to expand to more categories in the future.
– Businesses can use this tool to increase visibility and attract more visitors, especially those managing multi-location restaurants or bars.
Google has significantly expanded the availability of its “What’s Happening” feature for Google Business Profiles, now including multi-location restaurants and bars across the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This update marks a notable shift from its initial launch, which was restricted to single-location establishments. The feature is designed to help businesses showcase timely promotions, special events, and deals directly at the top of their profile, capturing the attention of potential customers at the critical moment they are searching for dining or entertainment options.
Originally introduced in May, the tool provides a powerful method for highlighting specific offerings like “Taco Tuesday” or “Happy Hour” to a local audience. Lisa Landsman from Google emphasized the value of this expansion on LinkedIn, noting its ability to drive real-time foot traffic by automatically surfacing unique specials, live music, or events that a business is promoting. This ensures that relevant, location-specific information reaches customers precisely when they are deciding where to eat or enjoy a drink.
The feature presents these promotions in a visually prominent section of the business profile, making it easy for users to see what’s currently available. Google has reported positive outcomes from initial testing and is eager to see how broader adoption benefits restaurant and bar owners.
Currently, the “What’s Happening” feature remains exclusive to restaurants and bars, though Google has indicated plans to extend it to other business categories in the future. Its availability is limited to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
For managers of multi-location restaurants and bars, this expansion opens up a valuable new channel for increasing visibility and attracting more visitors through Google Search. By leveraging this tool, businesses can effectively communicate their latest offers and events, potentially boosting customer engagement and in-person visits.
(Source: Search Engine Land)
