Received this email from Google this morning.
We are reaching out to share that we will be winding down Google’s chat feature in Google Business Profile on 31 July 2024. We acknowledge that this may be difficult news – as we continually improve our tools, we occasionally have to make difficult decisions which may impact the businesses and partners with which we work. It’s important to us that Google remains a helpful partner as you manage your business and we remain committed to this mission.
Google will stop creating new conversations after 15 July and chat functionality will fully end on 31 July. Please note, customers will still be able to find and contact your business via Google Search and Maps – and learn more information about you from your website links, business description, photos and anything else that you share on your Business Profile.
There is a link to download all chats to date.
Hope this doesn’t affect too many Folksy businesses.
I received it as well, i didnt know there was a chat feature, i’m not very up on Google analytics, dont really understand it but when I remember I do add products to it
I’m like you too. No idea, but no doubt we’ll find out once it’s been canned if we did use it. I still do not like technology and as for Google, well don’t start me off
Had a look, mine is dire…55 visits only, none at all from Google and 45 are from Folksy, 2 direct, only 4 from all my social media…
I use SM for everything, put products into Google and have the info updated but don’t understand anything else on it, use pinterest and basically I have become invisible. There isn’t much more I can do, if I spend anymore time on SM or anything else online I won’t actually have time to make anything.
I think most of my items have tags that would be used as search terms for them, they all have full descriptions as I often run out of space… I do sell on here but it is clear that my products are not getting seen in Google. I find that a very complicated area and other than posting new products I don’t know what else we need to do with it. If anyone has any ideas I will give them a try
Where did you look to find that. When i typed your shop name i found the Folksy shop link.
I really don’t understand your objection to Google. As far as i am concerned it is the best IT tool we have and have ever had.
I searched on Google engine. I did reactive the account when I saw that. Problem that I have with Google is that I haven’t had the experience you have had. My shop can be way behind their sponsored sites and of course, if no knows about my Folksy Shop then just searching for Rustic Country Style Crafts shows up all the ‘rustic style’ ‘country style’ web links. I am now on Ecosia (not for profit site and plant trees every time you search on their platform) and if you search for Rustic Country Style Crafts on their platform, I’m number three.
My problem with Ecosia is that i had never heard of it so would never find you there as i would never go on there to search. Everyone has heard of Google.
I’ve also driven for two days past the totally boring pine forests of Sweden and never want to plant a tree again after that experience
All shops which do not pay for ads will be behind the sponsored platforms and as Folksy don’t pay for Google ads they will never appear in the sponsored section at the top.
I have a Google registered business account so if i type my joysofglass name into google my business account appears and as i also have my own website then that appears too. I also appear with all the shopping platforms i sell on and with all my social media links too.
Not done anything to affect that except I do have several platforms and SM accounts.
Thank you Joy, that’s great, I might do some searches again and see whether other items come up, I watched the web thingy about Folksy searches and listings and have started tweaking some listings, good to see I am showing up anyway.
Ah, I didnt realise that was why Folksy doesn’t come up at the top, a little tech knowledge goes a long way
If I type Bearlescent in it’s all my stuff, fb, ig, etc and it brings my Google acc up first, luckily there is only one other site with the same name and it’s a gaming site in the US, it does help us having unique names, hence the reason I pay for the domain name for the Uk.
Yes I bought mine many years ago as well.
I cant get into my account at the minute, it says I have a strange set up or something like that and to clear cache which I have done, I can’t remember the password and can’t get on to change it. It automatically renewed a few days ago and I was going to look at the free web page that i still havn’t done after 10 years …
What was the ‘Salt’ part of your business name Joy ?no…forget that as it is obviously your surname
