The new European law: Digital Market Act has just been unveiled.
A real revolution for the Google search engine, it came into force on November 01, 2022 for an application in March 2024 at the latest.
What changes are planned for Google My Business listings?
Google My Business listings
A Google site listing allows institutions and organizations to manage their online presence on Google. It is a local referencing tool that appears in the search results.
It allows Internet users to find in a few clicks a nearby store as well as its main information: address, opening hours, phone number, website…
Google My business and its dominant positioning
The new law will change the habits of many Internet users.
Many companies using Google My Business as their only visibility on the web, will have to review their strategy.
-> Indeed, Google directly promotes its own service.
The purpose of this new DMA law is to regulate the dominant positioning in Google.
Through its “local pack”, Google places its establishment listings right in the middle of its search page.
The law is clear:
“The gatekeeper is forbidden to give preferential treatment to its own products”.
“In the event that a gatekeeper violates the rules set by the DMA, it faces a fine of up to 10 percent of its total worldwide revenue and up to 20 percent for repeat offenses.”
The goal is therefore to return as before 2011, with a display of classic results pages. Google is obliged to set up a dedicated directory, without favoring it with its algorithm and therefore treat it in the same way as all other websites!
Change expected by 2024
Google will have to create a dedicated site, with a page for each establishment.
Each of these pages must be optimized for natural referencing in order to be positioned in the list of results, like any other website.
It is estimated that the visibility of
Google My Business
will be impacted, from 90 to 95%.
An important point that no Google My Business listing owner ignores: reviews.
A minimum of one overall score from a trusted partner is required. Knowing that Google My Business will no longer have any competitive advantage, is it reasonable to still rely on their review management system, which requires authors to have a Google account and without any verification…
The year 2023 should, little by little, provide us with information on the consequences of this new law.