Google Business Profile posts let you share updates, offers and events directly on your profile in Google Search and Maps, using text, photos or videos. There are three types, Updates, Offers and Events, and any post older than 6 months is archived unless you've set a date range.
Posts are the closest thing your Business Profile has to a noticeboard. They're quick to add, and they give people checking you out on Google something more current than your opening hours.
The three types of post
| Post type | What you must add | Button |
|---|---|---|
| Update | A description; a photo or video is optional | An action button linking to where customers can book, order or learn more |
| Offer | A title, dates and time | View Offer is added automatically; a coupon code, link and terms are optional |
| Event | A title, plus start and end dates and times | An action button is optional |
If you don't give an event any times, Google shows it as lasting 24 hours on each of the event dates.
Where customers see your posts
- On mobile, in the Updates or Overview tab of your profile in Search and Maps.
- On a computer, in the From the owner section.
- As featured posts on mobile, for some food and drink businesses.
Featured posts are currently English only and limited to single-location food and drink businesses in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. They can pull events, deals and specials from your Facebook or Instagram as well as your Business Profile, and when they show, they appear in place of reviews on mobile. Your reviews are still reachable through your star rating or the Reviews tab.
How to add a Google Business Profile post
- Open your Business Profile and select Posts.
- Select Add post and choose Update, Offer or Event.
- Add your photo or video and the details.
- Add a button or a coupon code if it helps.
- If you want, turn on Schedule this post and choose a date and time, or use Repeats to post weekly, monthly or on a custom pattern.
- Select Post, then check the status shows Live.
If you manage several locations, you can post to multiple profiles at once by selecting them. To edit or delete a post, go to Posts and then More.
What the post statuses mean
| Status | Shown to customers? | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Live | Yes | Public on Search and Maps |
| Pending | No | Still uploading or processing, or your profile isn't verified |
| Not approved | No | It broke a content policy; the question mark shows which one |
Google reviews posts against its posts content policy after you publish, so a post can go live and then be pulled.
The catch: why posts disappear or get rejected
Two rules catch most businesses out. First, posts older than 6 months are archived unless you've set a date range, and offers and events carry dates, so an Update you wrote in spring won't still be greeting customers in autumn. Second, Google says posts that include a phone number in the description may be rejected if that number can't be verified as connected to your business. Put your number on your profile, not in the post text.
Google's tips for posts that get approved
- Keep it professional: no misspellings, extra characters, auto-generated or distracting content.
- Be respectful and family friendly, and only link to trusted sites.
- Regulated goods and services, such as adult products, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, pharmaceuticals, recreational drugs, and health and medical devices, can use posts but mustn't include content about those products.
- Add a descriptive title, plus event times and offer details where they apply.
Local listings don't stop at Google, as claiming a Yelp page explains.
What the three post types look like in practice
Here's how the rules play out for a made-up example: a single-location cafe in Leeds.
- An Offer: two for one coffees on weekday mornings. It needs a title, dates and a time. Google adds the View Offer button for you, and the cafe can add a coupon code, a link and terms if it wants.
- An Event: a Saturday latte art class. It needs a title plus start and end dates and times. Leave the times off and Google shows it as lasting 24 hours on that date, which looks odd for a two hour class.
- An Update: the new autumn menu. A description, a photo of the dishes and an action button linking to where people can order or learn more.
Because it's a single-location food and drink business in the UK, this cafe can also get featured posts, so on mobile the Offer and the Event could be the first thing a hungry searcher sees. That's a good reason to keep the dates, times and offer details accurate, and to take an Offer down the moment it ends rather than leave people turning up for a deal that's gone.
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My verdict
For a local business, posts are worth five minutes a week. Use dated Offers and Events so they don't quietly get archived, keep phone numbers out of the text and check each post reaches Live. Don't expect posts to lift your rankings on their own, because Google's help page says nothing about that. Think of them as a reason for someone already looking at you to pick up the phone. Keep the rest of your profile in shape too: start with claiming your Google business listing, reply to every review using my guide on responding to Google reviews, and if things go wrong, here's what to do when a Google Business Profile is suspended.
Frequently asked questions
What types of Google Business Profile posts are there?
There are three: Updates, Offers and Events. Offers need a title, dates and time, and Events need a title with start and end dates and times.
How long do Google Business Profile posts stay up?
Google says posts older than 6 months are archived unless a date range is set. Offers and events carry dates.
Why was my Google Business Profile post not approved?
It broke Google's posts content policy. The question mark next to the Not approved status shows which policy. Posts with a phone number Google can't verify as yours may also be rejected.
Can I schedule Google Business Profile posts?
Yes. When you add a post, turn on Schedule this post and pick a date and time, or use Repeats to post weekly, monthly or on a custom schedule.
Where do Google Business Profile posts appear?
On mobile, in the Updates or Overview tab of your profile in Search and Maps, and on a computer in the From the owner section.
