Google Business Profile has a messaging feature.
This allows potential customers to message you – without visiting your website.
Based on the research, Profiles which enable this feature and have response times of less than 12 hours – are rewarded with better visibility.
Update: If your response time is longer than 24 hours, Google may revoke this feature from your Profile.
Your Profile will have message buttons added:
Note: Google is always testing how to display its features. This may look different for your Profile.
Enable Messaging on Desktop
#1 Click the Messages button
#2 Toggle Messaging to on
#3 Add a Welcome Message
We want to do everything we can to encourage users to message us – since this helps engagement rates.
- First – click the Messages button – and then select Chat Settings:
- Customize your welcome message:
- This welcome message has been very effective:
Have any questions? We’re online!
Enable Messaging with the Maps App
If you’re on a mobile device, your Business Profile can now be managed through the Google Maps app.
- Open the Google Maps app (make sure you’re signed into the correct Google account).
- Tap the Updates tab.
- Tap the Messages tab and then the Business tab.
- Tap the … button in the top right corner.
- Then tap Manage Chat.
- Turn on Chat.
You can also toggle read receipts on/off – and edit your welcome message.