The information that Google is shuttering Google Enterprise Profile web sites has made many customers ask us how one can migrate their web site to WordPress earlier than the service shuts down for good.
In March 2024, Google will probably be shutting down greater than 21.7 million web sites created with Google Enterprise Profiles. That is the most recent in a historical past of Google eradicating services and products.
Should you’re one of many customers who will probably be affected by this modification, then now’s the proper time to relocate your web site.
On this article, we are going to present you how one can migrate a Google Enterprise Profile web site to WordPress.
Right here’s an outline of what we are going to cowl on this information. You may click on the hyperlinks under to leap forward to your most popular part:
Why Migrate a Google Enterprise Profile Web site to WordPress?
If you create a Google Enterprise Profile, you get an choice so as to add a web site. Beforehand, if you happen to didn’t have a web site, Google would help you create a free single-page web site immediately.
This manner, customers wanting up your model on a neighborhood search will see an in depth enterprise profile, together with a enterprise web site, working hours, retailer places, instructions, telephone numbers, and extra.
Nonetheless, Google is shutting down Enterprise Profile websites in March 2024. As soon as the service closes, customers will probably be robotically redirected to your Enterprise Profile web page.
Sadly, that redirection will solely work till June 10, 2024. Individuals visiting your web site after this date will see a ‘web page not discovered’ error.
This may have a adverse impact on your small business, as it’s going to look much less skilled. To not point out, prospects received’t be capable of view detailed details about your organization, merchandise, and companies.
Because of this, your conversions could drop, and you possibly can find yourself dropping prospects to your opponents.
That’s why it’s essential emigrate your Google Enterprise Profile web site to WordPress.
Observe: Google is barely shutting down the service that hosts websites by means of Google Enterprise Profiles. The profile for your small business itself will nonetheless be out there in search outcomes. Later on this submit, we are going to present you how one can hyperlink your new WordPress web site with your small business profile.
Why Select WordPress as a Platform for Your Web site?
WordPress is the most well-liked web site builder on the planet, because it powers greater than 43% of internet sites on the web.
The most effective half is that WordPress is free to make use of and open-source. By migrating your Google Enterprise Profile web site to WordPress, you get extra management and suppleness.
For example, you get to personal all of your content material and don’t must depend on a third-party platform. All you want is a webhosting service and a site title to get began.
With WordPress, you get a number of themes. This makes it very versatile, as you possibly can create a easy 1-page WordPress web site or a whole on-line retailer. It additionally gives hundreds of plugins which assist add extra options and performance.
Apart from that, WordPress is Website positioning-friendly. What this implies is that you would be able to simply optimize it for engines like google like Google. This helps entice customers to your web site and enhance conversion.
Observe: Keep in mind that WordPress.com and WordPress.org are totally different platforms. WordPress.com is a hosted resolution that provides restricted options, whereas WordPress.org is the well-known platform that everybody has come to like and use. You may see our full comparability of WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org.
That mentioned, let’s have a look at how one can simply migrate your Enterprise Profile web site to WordPress.
Step 1: Create a Backup of Google Enterprise Profile Web site
Earlier than you possibly can migrate your web site to WordPress, step one is to backup knowledge out of your Google My Enterprise web site.
Observe that Google Enterprise Profile doesn’t supply an export choice, so that you’ll have to obtain all the pictures, movies, and different media information manually.
To do this, merely open your Google Enterprise Profile web site after which right-click on the picture you wish to save.
After that, merely click on the ‘Save as’ choice and save the picture anyplace in your pc.
Equally, you possibly can merely copy the textual content in your web site and paste it right into a doc.
To start out, first spotlight the textual content in your web site after which hit the right-click button in your mouse. From right here, choose the ‘Copy’ button.
You too can use keyboard shortcuts to repeat the textual content. For example, you’ll have to hit ‘Ctrl + C’ on Home windows and ‘Command + C’ on Mac.
Subsequent, open a Notepad file, Google Docs, or a Microsoft Phrase doc and easily paste the content material out of your web site. When you have hyperlinks within the textual content, it’s a good suggestion to make use of Google Docs or Microsoft Phrase as a result of they are going to hold these within the pasted textual content.
You may right-click anyplace on the doc and choose the ‘Paste’ choice. Or use the ‘Ctrl + V’ keyboard shortcut on Home windows and ‘Command + V’ on Mac to stick the textual content.
Since Enterprise Profile websites are small and single-page, downloading and copying your knowledge must be a fast course of.
Step 2: Selecting a Net Internet hosting Platform for Your Web site
Subsequent, you’ll need a webhosting service to run a web site utilizing WordPress. Hosting is the place all of your web site information are saved. You may consider it as a home the place your web site’s content material lives.
Whereas WordPress is free to obtain, you’ll have to subscribe to a platform like Bluehost to host the location
Often, webhosting prices round $7.99 per 30 days (paid yearly), and area title costs begin from $16.99 per 12 months, relying on the area extension. The fee to construct a WordPress web site can go even greater if you’d like a customized theme and extra options.
This is usually a important funding, contemplating it was free to create a web site utilizing Google Enterprise Profile.
Fortunately, Bluehost is providing an unique low cost for WPBeginner customers. You will get began for as little as $1.99 per 30 days and get a free area + SSL certificates.
Bluehost is without doubt one of the greatest internet hosting corporations within the business. It’s an formally really helpful WordPress internet hosting supplier.
WPBeginner customers can take pleasure in as much as 61% off and get a 1-click WordPress set up. To start out, merely go to the Bluehost web site and click on the ‘Get Began Now’ button.
After that, you’ll need to pick out a internet hosting plan.
Merely click on the ‘Choose’ button to decide on a pricing plan. You may choose the Fundamental or Alternative Plus plans to get began, as they need to be appropriate for small enterprise web sites.
On the subsequent display, you’ll need to choose a site title in your web site. A website title is your web site’s title that customers will enter of their browsers (like wpbeginner.com or google.com).
Bluehost allows you to create a brand new area title, or you need to use an present area that you simply personal.
Professional Tip: Should you need assistance choosing the right title, then strive our free enterprise title generator software. Merely enter phrases associated to your small business, and the software will generate a lot of concepts in your area title.
After selecting a reputation in your web site, you’ll have to fill in your account particulars and finalize the Bluehost bundle.
Bluehost will add further choices to your bundle. We advocate unchecking all the extra choices as you’ll get monetary savings. Plus, you possibly can all the time add them afterward if wanted.
Subsequent, you possibly can add your fee particulars and full the acquisition.
As soon as that’s performed, Bluehost will create your internet hosting account and e-mail you the login particulars.
Step 3: Set up and Set Up WordPress
Subsequent, you possibly can log in to the Bluehost account to view the dashboard. From right here, you’ll be capable of handle your web site, get help, and set up WordPress.
The most effective half about utilizing Bluehost is that it robotically installs WordPress for you.
You simply want to go to the ‘Web sites’ tab from the menu on the left. After that, merely click on the ‘Edit Web site’ button.
This may open the WordPress dashboard, the place you possibly can log in and begin including content material, customizing the design, and creating new pages.
Bluehost gives an AI-powered setup wizard that may information you thru the preliminary configuration. You may merely comply with the on-screen directions to create a WordPress web site. You too can opt-out of the AI assistant.
You may be taught extra by following our full information on how one can set up WordPress.
Step 4: Add Content material From Enterprise Profile Web site to WordPress
Now that your WordPress web site is prepared, the subsequent step is to import content material from the Google Enterprise Profile web site.
Since there isn’t any option to immediately import knowledge out of your Google My Enterprise web site into WordPress, you’ll want so as to add content material manually.
You can begin by creating totally different pages in your web site, like an about us web page, a contact web page, and extra. Merely head to Pages within the WordPress dashboard and click on the ‘Add New Web page’ button.
Subsequent, you’ll need to enter content material that you simply copied from the Google Enterprise Profile web site within the content material editor.
To start out, enter a title in your web page on the prime. After that, you possibly can sort the textual content or just copy it from the file you created earlier and paste it into the content material editor.
Merely use the keyboard shortcut keys to repeat and paste the textual content. For Home windows, you’ll have to press ‘Ctrl + C’ to repeat and ‘Ctrl + V’ to stick. Should you’re utilizing Mac, then merely press ‘Command + V’ to repeat and ‘Command + V’ to stick.
WordPress additionally allows you to add pictures, movies, and different media information to your content material.
So as to add an image, you possibly can click on the ‘+’ signal and add an Picture block in your content material. From right here, you’ll have to click on the ‘Media Library’ button.
A brand new popup window will open with the WordPress Media Library.
Subsequent, you possibly can swap to the ‘Add information’ tab after which click on the ‘Choose Recordsdata’ button.
Now, navaigate to the Google Enterprise Profile web site pictures you saved earlier and choose them.
As soon as they’re uploaded, you will notice them within the Media Library. Go forward and choose the picture you wish to add to your content material.
To be taught extra, please see our information on how one can correctly add pictures in WordPress.
When you’re performed, go forward and click on ‘Publish’ on the prime of the web page. Merely repeat this step to create as many pages as you need in your web site.
Subsequent, you possibly can add the content material to every of those pages that you simply saved and copied out of your Google Enterprise Profile web site.
We advocate that you simply create a customized touchdown web page in your web site utilizing the block editor or a plugin like SeedProd.
SeedProd is one of the best WordPress theme and touchdown web page builder. It gives a drag-and-drop builder, pre-built templates, and plenty of customization choices.
You may simply edit and management the looks of your web site utilizing the plugin. Plus, there are totally different blocks so as to add to the design.
After creating pages, you can even add new weblog posts to your small business web site. For extra particulars, please see our information on how one can add a brand new submit in WordPress.
There are numerous matters you possibly can write about associated to your small business. These will be useful guides, record articles, how-to tutorials that assist clarify how one can use totally different options of your services and products, and extra.
Step 5: Optimizing Your Enterprise Web site for Native Website positioning
After including content material out of your Google My Enterprise web site to WordPress, you’ll need to optimize your web site for native search outcomes. This manner, folks trying to find your small business can simply discover it on engines like google like Google.
A easy approach of doing that’s by utilizing All in One Website positioning (AIOSEO). It’s the greatest WordPress Website positioning plugin that helps optimize your web site for engines like google. It robotically provides schema markup and helps configure native Website positioning settings with none technical data.
Schema markup is a particular code format that’s used in your web site, and it tells engines like google further details about your small business. For example, schema markup helps you present particulars like tackle, opening hours, map location, and extra on Google search outcomes.
Observe: To make use of the Native Website positioning function in AIOSEO, you’ll need a minimum of the Plus plan.
First, you’ll need to put in and activate the All in One Website positioning (AIOSEO) plugin. Should you need assistance, then please see our information on how one can set up a WordPress plugin.
Upon activation, you will notice the AIOSEO setup wizard. Merely click on the ‘Let’s Get Began’ button and comply with the on-screen directions.
To be taught extra, please see our information on how one can correctly arrange All in One Website positioning in WordPress.
Subsequent, you possibly can go to All in One Website positioning » Native Website positioning from the WordPress dashboard and click on the ‘Activate Native Website positioning’ button.
Add Location and Enterprise Info
As soon as the Native Website positioning addon is lively, you possibly can head to the ‘Location’ tab.
Right here, AIOSEO will ask when you’ve got a number of enterprise places. If that’s the case, then merely click on the ‘A number of Location’ toggle to Sure.
To be taught extra, please see our information on how one can add a number of places schema for native enterprise in WordPress.
Subsequent, you possibly can scroll down and enter your small business data. For example, you possibly can present a reputation, brand, picture, tackle, choose sort of enterprise, telephone quantity, and extra.
Add Opening Hours for Your Enterprise
After that, head to the ‘Opening Hours’ tab and allow the choice.
Merely click on the ‘Present Opening Hours’ toggle to Sure.
Subsequent, you possibly can scroll down and add your small business hours.
There’s additionally an choice the place you possibly can present your small business is open 24/7.
Present Enterprise Location on Google Maps
AIOSEO additionally allows you to combine Google Maps and assist customers discover the place your small business is positioned.
You are able to do that by going to the ‘Maps’ tab and getting into the Google Maps API key.
For extra particulars, please see our information on how one can add Google Maps in WordPress.
Step 6: Replace Web site URL in Google Enterprise Profile
Now that your new WordPress web site is prepared, the subsequent step is to replace the hyperlink in Google Enterprise Profile.
You are able to do that by visiting your Enterprise Profile on Google. From right here, merely click on the ‘Edit Profile’ choice.
It’s best to now see a brand new popup window open with your small business data.
Subsequent, you possibly can navigate to the ‘Web site’ part and exchange the URL along with your new WordPress web site.
That’s it! You’ve efficiently migrated your Google Enterprise Profile web site to WordPress.
Now, customers who click on the ‘Web site’ hyperlink in your Enterprise Profile will land in your new WordPress web site.
Bonus: Set up WordPress Plugins to Get the Most of Your Web site
The most effective half about utilizing WordPress is the plugins. You may consider them as apps, and so they assist add extra options and performance to your web site.
For example, there are plugins for creating backups, enhancing safety, boosting pace and efficiency, beginning a web based retailer, and extra.
That mentioned, there are over 59,000 free and paid plugins that you need to use. This may get overwhelming for brand spanking new customers who don’t know which plugin to choose and set up.
That will help you out, listed here are a number of the prime plugins we advocate utilizing in your WordPress web site:
WPForms – It’s the greatest kind builder for WordPress. You may simply create several types of varieties and add them to your web site. For instance, it allows you to create easy contact varieties, fee varieties, surveys, registration varieties, and extra.
MonsterInsights – It’s the greatest Analytics plugin for WordPress. You may join Google Analytics to WordPress with out enhancing code utilizing MonsterInsights. Plus, it helps you learn the way folks behave in your web site, the place they arrive from, which hyperlinks they click on, and uncover different helpful insights.
OptinMonster – A robust conversion optimization and lead era toolkit for WordPress. You may create totally different campaigns to develop your e-mail record, get extra leads, and enhance gross sales.
Duplicator – It’s the greatest WordPress backup plugin. You may create backups of your WordPress web site and retailer them on the cloud. This manner, you’ll have a recent copy to revive your web site in case there’s a safety breach, or one thing goes mistaken.
For extra plugin suggestions, please see our full record of must-have WordPress plugins for enterprise websites.
We hope this text helped you learn to migrate a Google Enterprise Profile web site to WordPress. You might also wish to see our information on how one can create a free enterprise e-mail tackle and simple methods to extend your weblog site visitors.
Should you appreciated this text, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You too can discover us on Twitter and Fb.
