Google Integrates Business Profile into Gemini to Boost Restaurant Visibility
Michael Gnagy, a product manager at Google, believes that AI can help restaurant owners optimize their Google Business Profile and increase visibility on search and maps. To achieve this, Google is integrating its Business Profile into Gemini as a connected app, allowing business owners to ask questions about their profile using natural language.
Gnagy suggests two easy ways for business owners to get more traffic for free: posting directly to Google Business Profile and leveraging AI to provide tailored recommendations based on the owner's specific needs. For example, if customers have uploaded dozens of photos while the restaurant hasn't added anything recently, the AI can point out what's underrepresented and why adding that content could improve visibility.
Google has also added tools that make posting less time-consuming, allowing restaurants to schedule content, distribute updates across multiple locations, and create recurring events or offers for up to a year. This can help operators save time and create more effective marketing strategies.
Gnagy emphasizes the importance of using information already available in Google tools such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Business Profile, rather than requiring an operator to configure another complicated system. The goal is to unlock business intelligence from tools that are already being used.