What are Google Posts and should you use them?

Google Posts are free updates on your Google Business Profile shown in Search and Maps. Here's what they are and why most local businesses should use them.

A1 Digital · written & reviewed by the team 5 June 2026 4 min read Updated 8 June 2026

Quick answer

Google Posts are free, social-media-style updates you publish on your Google Business Profile that appear in Google Search and Maps. They let you share offers, events, news and products with a clickable button, and most local businesses should use them because they're free, quick, and shown to people already searching for you.

£0

Google Posts are completely free to create and publish

1-2 / month

a sensible minimum posting frequency to keep a profile looking active

4 types

post formats available: Update, Offer, Event and Product

Most local businesses have a Google Business Profile and have never once posted to it, which is a bit like having a noticeboard on your shop window and leaving it blank. Google Posts are free, take a couple of minutes, and put a fresh, clickable message exactly where customers already find you. Ignoring them is leaving an easy win on the table.

Google Posts are free, social-media-style updates you publish directly on your Google Business Profile, and they appear in Google Search and Maps when people look up your business. For most local businesses, the answer to “should you use them?” is yes, because they’re free, take minutes, and put fresh, clickable content right where customers already find you.

What a Google Post actually is

A Google Post is a short update you create inside your Google Business Profile. Each post can include text, a photo or video, and a button that links somewhere useful. Posts appear in two main places:

On your Business Profile in Google Search (when someone searches your name)
On your listing in Google Maps

The one-line version

A Google Post is a free mini-advert on your own Google listing, text, an image and a clickable button, shown to people who are already searching for you.

There are a few post types, and the type changes how long it stays visible:

Post type	Best for	How long it shows
Update / What's new	General news, tips, announcements	Stays until you add newer posts
Offer	Discounts and promotions	Until the end date you set
Event	Classes, sales, open days	Until the event date passes
Product	Items you sell	Stays in the Products area

Why they’re worth using

Google Posts are one of the few genuinely free marketing tools that put your message in front of people at the exact moment they’re deciding whether to call, visit or buy. The main benefits:

They fill empty space on your profile, a listing with recent posts looks active and trustworthy.
They add fresh content, Google likes signs that a business is open and engaged.
They carry a call to action, buttons like “Book”, “Order”, “Call now” or “Learn more” turn a viewer into an enquiry.
They’re zero cost, unlike ads, you only spend a few minutes.

Key takeaway

Google Posts don’t directly change your ranking, but they make an active, complete profile that earns more clicks and calls, and an engaged profile tends to perform better over time.

What to post (and how often)

The biggest mistake is posting once, then never again. A profile with a six-month-old “Merry Christmas” post looks neglected. Aim for a fresh post at least once or twice a month. Good ideas for a service business:

A current offer or seasonal promotion
A recently completed job or before/after photo
An upcoming event, class or open day
A new product or service you now offer
A quick tip your customers actually ask about

Keep the text short. The first sentence is what most people read, so lead with the useful part. Add one good photo, posts with images get far more attention than text alone.

Always set a button

A post that says “We now take online bookings” with no link is a missed enquiry. Add a “Book” button that goes straight to your booking page.

When Google Posts aren’t enough

Posts are a great front door, but they’re not a website and not a replacement for the rest of your online presence. They disappear, they’re limited in length, and you don’t fully control how they look. They work best as part of a bigger picture:

A fast, clear website the buttons can link to
A steady flow of Google reviews that build trust
Accurate name, address and phone details across the web
Content that AI tools and search engines can quote

This is the kind of joined-up work that often falls down the to-do list for busy owners. We keep Google Business Profiles posted, fresh and linked to a working website as part of a done-for-you plan, so the listing never goes stale.

A simple posting routine

You don’t need a content calendar. A light, repeatable habit beats a burst of activity followed by silence:

Pick a day

Choose one day a fortnight to post, for example the first and third Monday.

Reuse what you have

Turn a recent job photo, customer question or offer into a short post.

Add a button

Link to your booking page, contact form or the relevant page on your site.

Check the insights

Google shows views and clicks per post, repeat what works, drop what doesn't.

Google Posts won’t transform your business on their own, but they’re free, fast, and shown to people who are already looking for you, which makes ignoring them hard to justify. Start with one post this week, add a button, and build the habit from there.

Frequently asked questions

Do Google Posts help you rank higher?

They're not a direct ranking factor, so they won't push you up the results on their own. However, regular posts make your profile look active and complete, which tends to earn more clicks, calls and engagement, and an engaged, well-maintained profile generally performs better over time. Treat them as a trust and engagement tool, not a ranking trick.

How long do Google Posts stay visible?

It depends on the type. Standard Update posts stay until you add newer ones, while Offer and Event posts disappear once the end date or event date you set has passed. Product posts remain in the Products section of your profile. Because most posts fade, it's worth posting regularly rather than once.

How often should I publish?

Aim for at least once or twice a month so your profile always shows recent activity. The most common mistake is posting once and then leaving a stale, months-old update on display, which makes a business look neglected. A light, repeatable routine, say one post a fortnight, works far better than an occasional burst.

What should I put in a Google Post?

Share a current offer, a recently completed job with a photo, an upcoming event, a new product, or a quick tip customers often ask about. Keep the text short and lead with the useful part, add one strong image, and always include a button such as Book, Call or Learn more so viewers can act immediately.

google business profile google posts local seo small business marketing

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Written by the A1 Digital team

We handle the entire online presence for small businesses, website, branded email, Google, AI search, content and reviews, for one simple monthly plan. No tech headaches, no lock-in.

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