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At the very beginning of the new year, we were met with the news of the upcoming shutdown of the very popular Google tool “Google Business Site”, used by many businesses, including accommodation providers, to achieve better visibility on search engines and provide users with basic information about their services and operations. The service will remain available only for a short time, and after that it will be time to find an alternative.
To begin with – what are Google Business websites?
Google Business Site websites are actually very basic websites for promoting businesses and providing basic information about operations, such as opening hours, photos and reviews. They are easy to create and free to use. You can recognize them by the business.site extension, for example myapartment.business.site.
Their content is based on a Business Profile (Google My Business / GMB), which is practically the basic way of connecting with the online community for anyone who wants to take their business seriously. Precisely because of their accessibility and simplicity, Google websites were very widely used and popular.
Of course, they also had a number of disadvantages. Many criticized them for their uniform appearance due to limited personalization options, the lack of adequate customer support, issues such as identity theft and fake profile creation, as well as the inability to influence the publishing of reviews, which can seriously harm a business.
Still, they were free and simple, and that is exactly why they were used so much. They were practical for accommodation providers because guests could also arrange and book accommodation through the contact form on the website. In fact, for many people this was the only way to independently arrange reservations.
However, for the upcoming period, these websites can no longer be relied on, because they are soon becoming a thing of the past.
When are they being discontinued and what comes next?
Google announced that Google Business websites will be discontinued on March 1. If someone searches for that website after that date, they will automatically be redirected to the Google Business profile connected to the site, but that too will only last for a certain period, namely until June 10, after which the sites will simply appear as unavailable.
What accommodation providers now need to do is update their Business Profiles as soon as possible, and certainly before the beginning of March, and enter the website to which they want to direct their users and guests. If they already have their own website that is not a Google one, great – they should enter that website.
If you do not have your own website, now is the right time to think about creating one.
That is also what Google itself suggests, as it will not offer a new in-house option or replacement for these websites.
How can Apartmanica help?
It is quite clear that accommodation providers who have until now relied only on a Google website now need to find an alternative as soon as possible – in other words, create their own website. This is exactly where we can help.
Creating visually attractive websites for presenting and booking accommodation is our specialty. Apartmanica websites are already filling apartments for hundreds of accommodation providers, and more than 2,000 accommodation units are presented through Apartmanica websites.
These websites are designed to present everything guests want to know in the most effective way and encourage them to book. In addition to being able to present your apartment or holiday house much better than was possible through Google websites, with Apartmanica you will also manage your reservations more easily and professionally, and you will have full control over the guest reviews that are published.
What does the Apartmanica Standard package include?
The Standard package includes multilingual website options, a reservation calendar synchronized with other booking portals via iCal, a review collection system, a quick booking form with automatic accommodation price calculation, one-click reservation confirmation generation and much more.
It is time to find a replacement
The shutdown of Google Business websites is a clear signal that it is time for your own professional website over which you have full control. Instead of relying on a limited and temporary solution, your own website gives you better presentation, a more professional presence and a more secure channel for direct bookings.
If you are looking for a reliable alternative and want your website to be ready for new inquiries and reservations, now is the right moment to take that step.
What next?
Request an offer and expect a quick reply from us, after which we will guide you through the next steps of creating your website. Your new website is only a few clicks away.
