📣 Google released new updates—is your profile ready? - January 2025
Don’t fall behind, check out 3 major updates Google just made to your business profile!
Hey there! 👋
Every January, we all make promises we swear we’ll keep. More gym time, healthier eating, less doomscrolling… sound familiar? But here’s one resolution you can’t afford to skip: keep your Google Business Profile (GBP) updated.
Why? Because Google is leveling up how diners find, compare and book restaurants—and you don’t want to be left behind.
We spoke with Ashley Do from Google Partnerships, who shared a few big GBP updates and tips to help you stay competitive.
1. *Real-time reservations: Less clicking, more booking
If you offer bookings through Reserve with Google, diners can now see open reservation times directly on your GBP—no need to click “Reserve a Table” and navigate to another page. So, if someone’s searching for “Friday at 7 PM,” they’ll instantly see which restaurants have availability. If your reservation inventory isn’t visible, chances are they’ll move on to someone else. This is currently available on mobile and coming soon for desktop.
The takeaway: Ashley recommends keeping your Google reservation inventory synced and accurate. If you’re not set up with Reserve with Google, now’s the time to get started.
2. *Reservation deposits and prepayments now supported
Let ALL of your reservation inventory shine! Google now supports deposits and prepayments, giving you control over high-value bookings like prix fixe menus and upgrades. FYI, SevenRooms supports this across all Payments Processors.
The takeaway: If you’ve been leaving these timeslots off your Google inventory because deposits weren’t supported, you can now list them.
3. *Social posts are now a key player on Google
Ashley tells us that social media posts from restaurants will be increasingly featured on restaurant GBPs, helping diners compare and evaluate your offerings against competitors.
That brunch special or happy hour deal? It’s not just on Instagram—it’s front and center when diners search for options. These updates also now appear in Google’s “Nearby events and deals” module, meaning diners searching for “restaurants near me” or “patio dining tonight” see the most relevant social posts first.
The takeaway: Ensure your social handles are added to your GBP. Stay consistent with posting. Google favors fresh content, so regular social updates can help boost visibility and get diners clicking that reservation button.
It’s not enough anymore to just show up on Google, you need to stand out. Make 2025 the year diners pick you over the competition. Get more details on Google’s latest updates and tips on how to optimize your GBP below.
*The Google updates above will be supported in most regions and are expanding globally over the coming months.
Dive Deeper
- The Restaurant Owner’s Guide to Google My Business
- 4 Quick Win Restaurant SEO Tips
The word on the street👂
A small seafood restaurant becomes a sanctuary
The devastating fires that have swept across Los Angeles over the last two weeks have left countless lives upended, with homes and businesses, including many restaurants, reduced to ash. But in the middle of the chaos, a small seafood restaurant in Huntington Beach, Calico Fish House, is proving that hospitality extends far beyond F&B.
Owners Lauren and Andrew Gruel turned their restaurant into a national relief hub, housing donations and coordinating transport to affected areas. They've also offered free meals to those impacted and opened their parking lot as a refuge for people to camp out.
Lauren Gruel, pictured at right, celebrates having filled another truck bed with community-donated supplies on Thursday. Photo credit: whro.org
We’re reminded yet again, that in the face of tragedy, hospitality can truly become a lifeline.
Food for thought
Grab a cup of coffee and dive into some thought-provoking articles we came across this month.
Thanks so much for reading!
See you next month!
Katelyn