Anyone who has tried to have a text conversation with a teenager knows how dated full words and complete sentences are.
It’s possible that Google is following this trend. Google now allows verified businesses to create a short url or custom name that will allow customers to find them faster.
Now, once you create and share your short name, customers can enter it in their browser’s address bar, like “g.page/[yourcustomname].” The short name will take them directly to your Business Profile.
This makes a lot of sense in the age of intuitive swipe texting and mobile use. Nobody wants to type the full name of your business, even if your name is fairly short. Why type BobAndChucksAutoService when "g.page/BACAS" will do?
This process is simple, too:
- Sign in to Google My Business.
- Open your business location
- From the menu, click Info, then Add profile short name.
- Enter your short name. You can enter up to 32 characters, but remember the idea is to keep it short. Be as concise as possible.
- Note: if the name you want is already taken, you’ll get an error message. Try adding something that will differentiate you, like a location or specific service.
- Click Apply. Your short name will show as pending. When it’s ready, it will show on your business profile.
Or, via mobile:
- Open the Google My Business app
- Tap on Profile, then Add Profile Short name
- Tap Save
It is just as easy to undo, if you decide to change it. On the computer, just click next to your short url and click edit. Remove it and click Apply. Through the app, just tap the Profile, then Edit, remove and Save.
What uses do you see for this feature? Let us know in the comments!