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Google’s New “What’s Happening” Feature Makes Social Profiles Even More Important

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 22:23:38 GMT

If you needed another reason to connect your social media profiles to your Google Business Profile (GBP), here it is—and it’s a big one.

Google is now pulling content directly from businesses’ social media posts and surfacing it inside Google Search through a new feature called “What’s Happening.” This marks a clear shift in how Google understands, evaluates, and promotes local businesses.

What Is “What’s Happening” on Google Business Profiles?

“What’s Happening” is a new section that appears prominently at the top of a Google Business Profile in search results.

It allows businesses to highlight timely, real-world updates such as:

Today’s special
Live music on Saturday
Happy hour deals
Limited-time events or promotions

Instead of being buried in updates or posts, these messages are placed front and center—designed to drive immediate engagement.
How Google Is Using Social Media Content in Local Search

What makes this feature especially important is how the content gets there.

Businesses can populate the “What’s Happening” section in two ways:

Posting updates directly through Google Posts
Connecting Facebook, Instagram, and/or X (Twitter) profiles to their Google Business Profile for automatic syncing
Automatic syncing from Facebook, Instagram, and X

When social profiles are connected, Google can pull qualifying posts directly from those platforms and display them inside search results. This confirms that Google is actively crawling social media content to understand what a business is doing right now.

Google Posts vs. social media updates

Google Posts still work—but social syncing removes friction. Businesses that are already posting on social media can now extend that activity into Google Search automatically, without duplicating effort.

Google Confirms the Feature (Straight From the Source)

Lisa Landsman from Google announced the feature on LinkedIn, stating:

“We’re excited to announce a new way for restaurants and bars to highlight events, deals, and specials prominently at the top of your Google Business Profile. ‘What’s Happening’ puts your timely updates front and center, driving immediate engagement.”

She also clarified eligibility requirements:

“To be eligible to appear in this new space, share What’s Happening at your business via Google Posts or connect your Facebook, Instagram and/or X profiles to your GBP for automatic syncing.”

Who Is Eligible for the “What’s Happening” Feature Right Now

At launch, the feature is available to:

Single-location food and drink businesses
In the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand
Mobile search only

Why This Matters for Local Businesses

Even if your business isn’t a restaurant or bar, this feature signals a broader shift in local search.

Real-time activity is becoming a visibility signal

Google is moving beyond static listings and categories. It is increasingly prioritizing real-time business activity—events, promotions, and updates that show a business is active and relevant today.

Inactive social profiles send weak signals

If Google is pulling content from social platforms, inactive or unlinked profiles contribute nothing. Outdated feeds or inconsistent posting reduce a business’s ability to participate in these new visibility surfaces.

What Local Businesses Should Do Next

Connect your social profiles to your Google Business Profile
Post timely updates about events, offers, or promotions
Treat social media activity as part of your local search strategy

Google is no longer just indexing listings—it’s indexing activity .

At Glyph Design Studio, we help local businesses align their Google Business Profiles, social presence, and on-site content so Google clearly understands who they are and what’s happening right now.

Why Google Business Profiles Matter More Than Ever in the Age of AI Assistants

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:36:43 GMT

How AI assistants like Siri and Alexa use Google Business Profile data to recommend local businesses

If you’ve been hearing more about AI assistants like Siri and Alexa , you might assume this is mostly about phones or smart speakers.

In reality, something much more important is happening behind the scenes.

The shift most local businesses are missing

Apple has confirmed a deeper partnership with Google , allowing Google’s Gemini AI models to power key intelligence behind Siri. Alexa already relies heavily on Google’s local data ecosystem for business information.

What does that mean in practical terms?

When someone asks:

“What’s the best [service] near me?”

AI assistants increasingly rely on Google Business Profile data to determine:

Which businesses exist
What services they offer
Where they’re located
How reputable they appear

This is true no matter what device someone uses —iPhone, Android, smart speaker, or in-car system.

Google Business Profile is now AI infrastructure

For years, Google Business Profiles were seen as:

A local SEO tool
A way to show up in Google Maps
A place to collect reviews

That’s no longer the full picture.

Your Google Business Profile has become foundational data for AI-driven discovery .

If your profile is incomplete, inconsistent, or poorly optimized:

AI assistants may skip your business entirely
Competitors with clearer profiles may be recommended instead
Voice-based searches may never surface your brand

This isn’t speculation—it’s how modern AI systems work. They rely on structured, trusted data sources , and Google’s local index is one of the strongest.

What matters most inside your Google Business Profile

Not all profile elements carry equal weight. AI systems tend to prioritize:

Accurate primary and secondary categories
Clearly defined services
Consistent business name, address, and phone
High-quality reviews with descriptive language
Regular updates and signals of activity

In other words, a “set it and forget it” profile is no longer enough.

What local businesses should do now

You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight—but you do need to treat your Google Business Profile as a living asset, not a static listing.

At a minimum:

Review categories and services for accuracy
Ensure descriptions match what you actually want to be found for
Address outdated or incomplete information
Build a steady, authentic review presence

These steps help not just Google Search—but Siri, Alexa, and the next generation of AI assistants that customers increasingly rely on.

The bottom line

AI didn’t replace local search.
It amplified the importance of clean, authoritative local data .

Google Business Profiles are no longer just about rankings—they’re about being understood by AI .

If you’re unsure how your business currently appears to AI-driven systems, now is the right time to take a closer look.

At Glyph Design Studio, we help businesses align their digital presence with how modern search and AI tools actually work—not how they used to work.

City of Havre de Grace Announces Logo Design by Glyph Design Studio for "The Tide" Electric Trolleys.

glyph1@devobal.com (Team Devobal) — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 07:29:13 GMT

The Tide is an electric trolley service that will be operated by the City of Havre de Grace beginning in May 2022.

From the City of Havre de Grace Facebook Page...

The City of Havre de Grace is pleased to announce it has released a logo for The Tide, the City’s new electric trolley service.

The logo was designed by local artist Don Starr who, along with his husband Joseph C. Smith, owns and operates Glyph Design Studio located in downtown Havre de Grace.

The logo features colors from the City’s flag and an illustration of the moon and sun, symbolizing the symbiotic relationship between those celestial objects and tidal waterways.

The Tide is an electric trolley service that will be operated by the City of Havre de Grace beginning in May 2022. The Tide will allow the City to transport visitors safely around Havre de Grace in an environmentally responsible manner while enhancing the visitor experience and reducing parking and other pedestrian issues.

The Tide is a first-of-its-kind service in the State of Maryland resulting from the City of Havre de Grace working with Maryland lawmakers and officials to establish a regulatory framework that allows low-speed electric vehicles over a certain weight to operate on public roadways.

“The City of Havre de Grace is a tourist and arts and entertainment destination inundated frequently with a high volume of visitors,” said Mayor William T. Martin. “We recognized that we needed a method of safely mobilizing visitors around our City, and we knew our citizens would expect us to find an ecologically sound solution. I believe that The Tide will do just that while also complementing the wide range of tourism and environmental stewardship policies we have put into place.”

Social Media Marketing Costs

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 06:55:30 GMT

Expense or Investment in Your Business?

Social media marketing is a valuable tool for businesses looking to reach new customers and engage with their target audience. With the proliferation of social media platforms, it has become easier for businesses to connect with consumers and promote their products or services. However, as with any marketing effort, there are costs associated with social media marketing. In this article, we will explore the various costs of social media marketing and how businesses can maximize their return on investment (ROI).

One of the primary costs of social media marketing is the time and effort required to create and manage a social media presence. This includes developing a content strategy, creating and scheduling posts, engaging with followers, and tracking and analyzing performance. For businesses with limited internal resources, outsourcing social media management to a marketing agency or freelancer can be an effective way to manage these costs.

Another cost to consider is advertising on social media platforms. Many businesses choose to use paid advertising on social media to reach a wider audience or to target specific demographics. The cost of social media advertising varies based on the platform, the type of ad, and the target audience. For example, Facebook and Instagram offer a variety of ad formats, including sponsored posts, sponsored stories, and carousel ads, which can be targeted to specific users based on their interests and demographics. LinkedIn and Twitter also offer paid advertising options, including sponsored posts and promoted tweets.

In addition to advertising costs, businesses may also incur expenses related to the creation of assets such as images, videos, and graphics for use in social media marketing efforts. This could include the cost of hiring a graphic designer or videographer, or purchasing stock images or video footage.

One way for businesses to maximize their ROI on social media marketing is to focus on the platforms that are most relevant to their target audience. For example, if a business is targeting young professionals, LinkedIn may be a more effective platform than TikTok. It's also important to regularly track and analyze the performance of social media marketing efforts to ensure that they are delivering a positive ROI. This can be done through the use of tools such as social media analytics platforms or by conducting surveys and focus groups.

In conclusion, social media marketing can be a valuable tool for businesses looking to reach new customers and engage with their target audience. However, it's important to carefully consider the costs involved and to focus on the platforms that are most relevant to the target audience in order to maximize ROI. By regularly tracking and analyzing performance, businesses can ensure that their social media marketing efforts are delivering a positive return on investment.