How to Move from Google Business Profile Websites to WordPress
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Are you still relying on Google Business Profiles for your website? Google announced that as of March 2024, those websites won’t be available, and visitors will be redirected. If your business gains conversions from a GBP website, those numbers might drop after the shutdown.
Thus, it’s time to make a strategic move – shift to WordPress with SiteGround for a seamless transition.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the why, the how, and the what of migrating your Google Business Profile Website.
Until recently, Google Business Profile websites were a quick solution for small businesses to establish an online presence. These simple sites, integrated with a business’s Google Business Profile, showcased essential info like location and hours. They were a boost for local SEO, appearing in Google Maps and Search.
However, Google shuts down this service and domains, steering businesses towards other website-building options.
After June 10, the redirect to your GBP will cease functioning, and visitors will reach a 404 Not Found page. To avoid that and keep your visitor base, you must update your GBP with a link to your new website.
Why WordPress is Your Next Best Move
With the curtain closing on Google Business Profile websites, WordPress emerges as the natural successor for your online platform. This Content Management System holds over 43% of all websites worldwide. It’s a seamless step up, offering an intuitive experience that simplifies the creation and management of your site, regardless of your technical know-how.
Transitioning to WordPress means you’re not just replacing your website, you’re enhancing it. You’ll gain the ability to evolve from a basic landing page to a sophisticated site as your business demands. WordPress is all about growing alongside your business, giving you the tools you need when you need them.
But there’s more to WordPress than just scalability. It’s built with SEO in mind, which means your site gets a head start in the race to the top of search rankings. And customization? You’re spoiled for choice with a vast library of free themes and plugins, allowing you to tweak and enhance your site without dipping into your wallet.
Switching to WordPress isn’t just a quick fix—it’s investing in a digital presence that can expand, adapt, and stand out. So, let’s take this step together and set your business on a path to online triumph with WordPress.
How to Prepare for the Move?
With GBP Sites shutting down, businesses are losing out on its support and features, making it necessary to find alternatives. That is the case with Google Business Profile sites (including business.site and negocio.site domains). To avoid any hiccups, it’s best to move to a new platform before June 10, 2024 – that’s the deadline for keeping your site’s visibility smooth.
Platforms like WordPress offer more room to grow and customize, which can be a game-changer for a business’s online presence and search rankings. Plus, having more control over your site boosts credibility.
Switching from your Google Business Profile site to a shiny new one doesn’t have to be a headache. There are a few aspects to consider in preparing for the move, here they are:
1. Choose Web Hosting
First up, you’ll need a new place to host your website. SiteGround’s hosting is your best choice for lightning-fast, secure hosting with top-notch support that makes managing a site effortless.
Ensure Scalability
Start small or go big. With SiteGround, you can adjust your hosting plan as your business expands. No need to worry about outgrowing your space – we let you expand your resources as your business flourishes. Let’s ensure your hosting plan grows with you every step of the way!
Enjoy WordPress Perks
Our platform’s packed with WordPress goodies, so whether you’re a newbie or a pro, you’ll have all the tools at your fingertips. Our hosting is optimized specifically for WordPress, meaning you’ll enjoy features like one-click installs, automatic updates, and expert support that understands the ins and outs of your site.
Stay Safe with Backups
Backups are your safety net. Our automatic daily backups ensure that even if something goes wrong, you can restore your site to a previous state with a single click, no sweat. Rest easy knowing your website’s data is protected around the clock – because when it comes to your online work, we’ve got your back(up)!
2. Pick a Suitable Hosting Plan
When it’s time to pick a home for your WordPress site, SiteGround’s shared hosting plans are tailored to fit just right.
- StartUp for small businesses
If you’re just kicking off and keeping it simple, our StartUp plan is your match – ideal for a sleek, single-site setup.
- GrowBig for expanding businesses
Got a growing audience? Step up to GrowBig. It’s perfect for managing multiple sites and comes with extra tools to boost your performance.
- GoGeek for big businesses
And for the online wizards with resource-heavy sites or e-commerce shops, GoGeek is your powerhouse, packing all the perks for supreme speed and geeky customizations.
- Cloud server plans
Taking the leap to Cloud servers with SiteGround means gearing up for some serious performance. Ideal for websites that have outgrown shared hosting. Our cloud server options offer a customizable, scalable, and ultra-reliable hosting environment. With the flexibility to adjust resources on the fly, you’ll never hit a ceiling – your site can grow as fast as your dreams.
No matter where you’re at on your digital path, we’ve got the plan that fits. Find the one that’s right for you and get your WordPress site living its best life on SiteGround.
3. Get a Domain
Starting a new site to outrun the Google Business Profile website shutdown requires purchasing a domain name. That’ll be your new site’s name address, so choose wisely.
A few pointers for choosing a domain name representing your business best are ensuring it is short, relevant, easy to recall, and spell.
With SiteGround, you get to choose a free domain when you sign up, making it seamless to start with a bang. We’ll help you register a catchy domain relevant to your brand, and easy for your audience to recall.
So, before June 10, 2024, rolls around, let’s get you set up with a new, more powerful website. With SiteGround, you’re not just moving; you’re upgrading. Let’s chat and make your transition as smooth as possible!
How to Create a New WordPress Website for Your Business?
Once you’re set with WordPress hosting and domain, it’s time to start creating your new website. Building a new WordPress website for your business is a piece of cake with SiteGround.
- Install WordPress with our Setup Wizard
After logging into your account, the Setup Wizard will greet you. It walks you through the WordPress installation with just a couple of clicks.
- Enter your new WordPress Dashboard
Login to your WordPress admin and follow the steps with the WordPress Starter plugin by SiteGround. The plugin comes pre-installed with each WordPress instance and helps you setup a new site out of the box.
- Choose a Theme
The Starter then lets you choose your business niche so it can offer you relevant theme designs. After choosing your topic it presents you with a selection of professional WordPress themes. Pick one that aligns with your business’s style to set the visual tone of your site.
- Theme Installation
Install your chosen theme through the Starter plugin, and your site’s basic structure is ready to go.
- Add Extra Functionality
The Starter plugin allows you to choose from the best and most popular plugins for WordPress. Save yourself the research time and take advantage of our expert’s experience.
And there you have it – your WordPress site is now a blank canvas, waiting for you to bring it to life with your unique content and flair!
How to move your Google Business Site to WordPress (step by step)
Practically, you can transfer only certain items from your Google Business Profile site. Unfortunately, GBP sites do not have an “Export” feature available. The items you can export from the platform are media files and any text content you may have.
To complete the transfer from Google Business Profile sites, follow these steps:
- Copy Text Content. Open your Google Business Profile website, select the text on your pages, and copy it. Paste the text into a document on your computer, such as a Google Doc or a Microsoft Word document, and save it.
- Download Images. Right-click on each image you want to keep and select “Save image as…” to download it to your computer. Organize the images into folders to easily find and upload them to your new WordPress site later.
- Save Any Additional Content. If you have other content types (like PDFs, videos, etc.), download them individually to your computer.
- Take Note of Your Current Website Structure. Note how your site is organized – the menu items, the layout of each page, and any features you want to replicate on your new WordPress site.
- Recreate Content on WordPress. Once you’ve set up your WordPress site, you can manually recreate your pages by copying the text from your saved documents and uploading the images from your computer.
- Customize your New WordPress Website. Craft your new business site’s design to your liking by customizing your chosen WordPress theme. You can always hire a web designer or follow the steps in our detailed tutorial on How to Customize WordPress Themes.
- Update your Google Business Profile. Return to your Google Business Profile and select the business you want to update. Hit the “Info” section and click on the pencil icon to enter your new WordPress website’s URL. Once ready, “Save” the changes to update your profile with your new site link.
Just like that, you’ve streamlined your digital footprint, making sure customers and search engines know exactly where to find your updated business site.
SEO Tips for Your New WordPress Site
Launched your brand new WordPress business site? Kick things off with some smart SEO moves to help search engines and customers find you:
- Set Permalinks from your WordPress Dashboard > Settings > Permalinks and choose a URL structure that includes post names, making your links readable and SEO-friendly.
- Install an SEO Plugin like Yoast SEO to guide you through optimizing your content and setting up key metadata.
- Create Quality Content. Craft informative, valuable content with relevant keywords that answer your audience’s questions and showcase your expertise.
- Optimize Your Images with the SiteGround Speed Optimizer plugin for faster loading times and add descriptive alt tags to boost accessibility and SEO.
- Generate a Sitemap. Use your SEO plugin to create a sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console, helping search engines index your site effectively.
With these foundational SEO strategies in place, your new WordPress site is poised to climb the search rankings and draw in your target audience. Embrace these tactics, and watch as your site’s visibility and traffic begin to flourish.
Conclusion
Wrapping things up, the shutdown of Google Business Profile websites has nudged you towards a golden opportunity with WordPress. You’re building a resilient and dynamic online presence by carefully relocating your content, choosing an impactful domain, setting up the ideal SiteGround plan, and applying key SEO tactics right from the start.
Ensure you update your Google Business Profile with your new WordPress site’s URL to maintain your search engine relevance. This move isn’t just about adapting to change; it’s about embracing a platform that can elevate your business to new heights. Welcome to a brighter, more versatile chapter of your online story with WordPress.