• 11 Feb 2021
• 3 Min read

Google starts displaying ‘years in business’ in local listings

• by Marc Swann

Google My Business has launched a new ‘years in business’ label for eligible Business Profiles. This allows searchers to see how long certain companies have been operating via local listings on Google Search and Google Maps.

This could help well-established businesses to build trust with searchers, increasing their chances of securing those all-important clicks and visits.

Here’s an example of the label being used.

How can you add years in business to your GMB listing?

While it’s currently unclear which businesses are eligible for the ‘years in business’ label and when they will appear, you will at least need to add an opening date to your Google My Business profile:

1. Log in to Google My Business and select the business/location you want to manage
2. Click the ‘Info’ option on the menu
3. Click ‘Add opening date’
4. Enter your opening date and click ‘Apply’

How long has Google been testing this?

Google My Business introduced the ‘opening date’ feature in 2018 so that it could let searchers know when new local businesses or business locations would be opening.

Search Engine Roundtable spotted the feature seemingly being tested to provide ‘years in business’ information in September 2020 and reported that the label was being rolled out in November. But Google has only confirmed the launch this week.

Why should you care?

People tend to feel more confident spending their money with well-established businesses. After all, if your company has stood the test of time, it must be doing something right.

So, if you’ve been around for a while, it’s well worth communicating this information to potential customers — especially those discovering you via search, who may not have heard of you before.

The ‘Years in business’ label is one way to do so and could give your local listings a competitive edge.

If you would like to learn more about making your Business Profile work harder for you, we have a guide to optimising your Google My Business listing as well as how to make the most of it during the Covid-19 crisis.

We can help you improve your local SEO results. For a free and friendly consultation, get in touch with an organic search expert.

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