Google has added a new feature to help businesses automated some of the responses to questions submitted through their Google Maps and Google Search business listings. This new feature is part of your Google Business Profile and can be managed under the FAQs section of the messaging section.
Automated messaging. Google added a feature where you, as the business, can suggest questions people can ask your business when they start a chat and then set up automated responses to those questions. This is called frequently asked questions.
Where to find it. You can find this in Google Search by searching for “my business” or your business name. Then click on the “Customers” button and click on “Messages.” In that section then click on the three vertical dots and then click on “Message settings” and then “Manage frequently asked questions.”
What it looks like. Here is a screenshot of the FAQs section:
Here is the FAQ entry form:
More details. Stefan Somborac, who first spotted this and posted about it on Twitter, explained you can create up to ten FAQs, each question has a 40-character limit and each answer has a 500-character limit. Plus, you can include links in your answers.
Why we care. Messaging in Google Maps and Google Search can be great for customers but many businesses do not have the resources to respond to such questions in a timely manner. FAQs and automated responses can help these businesses respond to customers in a much more timely fashion, improving customer satisfaction and business resources.
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About The Author
Barry Schwartz a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land and a member of the programming team for SMX events. He owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry can be followed on Twitter here.