Business.site Google
Business Site Google was Google's free, auto-generated one-page website for a business profile, built from Google Business Profile data and retired in early 2024.
Start here
- Business Site Google was a free, auto-generated one-page site from your Google Business Profile.
- It was retired in March 2024; all
business.siteURLs now redirect to the corresponding GBP. - For local SEO, a complete and optimized Google Business Profile is more important than the legacy site.
- The feature never replaced a full website – you still need an owned site for full control.
This legacy feature helped local businesses get online quickly, but today your Google Business Profile is the central hub.
Example
- A local plumber with a verified Google Business Profile could enable the Business Site feature.
- The system automatically created a single-page site at
plumbername.business.site. - The site displayed the plumber's name, phone number, address, hours, photos, and recent posts—all pulled from the profile.
- No editing or design was needed; the site updated whenever the profile changed.
When should I use this?
- Historical reference: Understand the evolution of Google's local offerings.
- Legacy redirect handling: If you still have a
business.siteURL, know it now leads to your GBP. - Local SEO education: The feature highlights why profile completeness matters—GBP is the foundation.
- Present-day: Focus on optimizing your Google Business Profile instead; it serves the same visibility purpose without a separate site.
What it is not
- Not a CMS: You could not customize design, add pages, or control SEO elements like meta tags.
- Not an active feature: Retired in 2024 – do not attempt to set up a new Business Site.
- Not a replacement for an owned website: Lacks the flexibility, branding, and content control of a proper site.
- Not a hosting platform: The content lived inside Google's ecosystem with no exported control.
Quick start (for legacy understanding)
- Verify your Google Business Profile – it was the prerequisite for the old Business Site.
- Check if you have an old
business.siteURL – it now redirects to your GBP. - Review your GBP completeness – ensure name, address, phone, categories, and hours are accurate.
- Create a real website if you lack one – use a modern builder (e.g., WordPress, Squarespace) for full control.
- Update your GBP link – point your website field to your new site, not the defunct Business Site.
Common mistakes
- Treating Business Site Google as an active website platform today, when the feature was retired and legacy URLs redirect.
- Confusing the Business Site with a full business website or CMS that can replace a proper owned website.
- Using outdated setup instructions from older tutorials that assume the feature still exists.
- Ignoring the underlying Google Business Profile, which is now the main source of local business information.
Next step
Quick answers
How do I access my old Business Site content?
The content is still visible on your Google Business Profile. Visit your profile dashboard to update or view the same information that was previously on the site.
Will old backlinks to my business.site page still work?
Yes, they will redirect to your Google Business Profile. However, backlinks to a redirection page have limited SEO value. It's better to build links to your owned website.
Sources
Primary documentation is linked directly. Anything commercial is marked nofollow.
- Google Business Profile guidelines — Official Google guidance on how businesses should be represented in Search and Maps.
- Search Engine Journal — Useful industry explanation of creating a website from a Google Business Profile and the feature's context.
- Google Business Profile Help — Primary support hub for current Google Business Profile features and policy changes.
Notes from Callum Bennett.