Google Business Profiles Roll Out Text & WhatsApp Chat
Google has introduced a new chat tool within Google Business Profiles (GBP) for US businesses to improve direct contact between companies and their clients. This upgrade makes it possible for consumers to text or WhatsApp businesses straight from a Google search results page, offering a quicker and more comfortable means of communication.
How It Works
If the functionality is enabled, customers who find a business on Google Search or Maps will now see a "Chat" button on the business's profile. Tapping this button will allow users to initiate a chat with either their native text messaging program or WhatsApp.
For businesses, setting up this new functionality is a simple process within the Google Business Profile dashboard:
- Log in to your Google Business Profile.
- Navigate to the "Edit Profile" section and then choose "Contact."
- Here you'll discover the new "Chat" option.
- You can then provide a phone number for text messages or a WhatsApp number.
It's worth noting that if a business enables both text and WhatsApp, customers will only see the text message option. This is a critical factor for organizations when determining which platform to focus.