Google website shut down: how to replace your business.site page

What happened to the Google websites

Until 2024, businesses could create a simple website in their Google Business Profile. It ran under an address such as yourbusiness.business.site and was built from the profile data. In early 2024, Google announced it would discontinue this feature due to low engagement.

From 1 March 2024, visitors of these websites were redirected to the respective Business Profile. This redirect ran until 10 June 2024. Since then, the addresses only show an error page. Websites under business.site and negocio.site were affected. Google Ads pointing to such a website stopped running from 1 March 2024 until the destination URL was changed.

What this means for you today

The old website is gone and won't come back. You can no longer retrieve the content there. The old link may still be in your profile or on printed materials. It may still be in the Business Profile, on business cards, vehicle lettering, social media profiles or in business directories. Anyone who clicks it lands on an error page.

That costs trust. Anyone who finds you on Google and taps “Website” wants to see services, prices or opening hours. An error page looks as if your business no longer exists. So first check everywhere the old link still appears.

Your options

According to Google, you can point to a different website in your Business Profile or add social media links as a stopgap. The profile itself remains and continues to show your address, opening hours and reviews. But a social media page doesn't replace a website: you have no control over structure and reach, and mandatory information such as the Impressum (legal notice) can only be shown there to a limited extent.

The permanent solution is your own website on your own domain. That way you avoid a provider taking your address away again, as happened with business.site. You can register a .at domain with a registrar or directly with nic.at. According to nic.at, it runs until you cancel it.

• Your own website with your own domain: a permanent solution, and the address belongs to you.
• Website builder site: quick to create, tied to the provider.
• Only a social media link in the profile: an emergency fix until the website is ready.

What the new website needs at minimum

The old Google website was basic: name, description, photos, opening hours, contact. The new website should cover at least this content and describe your services in more detail. On top of that comes the Impressum. Under § 5 ECG (E-Commerce Act), you must keep, among other things, your name or company name, address, email address and, if you have them, Firmenbuch (company register) number and UID number (VAT ID) easily and permanently accessible.

Make sure your name, address and phone number on the website are written exactly as in your Business Profile. Differences confuse customers.

Step by step

1. Find the old link

   Open your Business Profile and check which website is entered. If it still shows a business.site address, the link leads to an error page.

2. Set a stopgap

   Until the new website is ready, according to Google you can point to a social media profile. That way interested people at least don't end up nowhere.

3. Register a domain

   Secure your own domain, for example a .at domain, and register it in your own name or your company's name.

4. Create the website

   Build a website with services, opening hours, contact details, Impressum and privacy policy. Keep your name, address and phone number the same as in the profile.

5. Add the website to your profile

   In your Business Profile, under “Edit profile”, enter the full address including https://. Google reviews the change before it becomes visible.

6. Update every other place

   Replace the old link in Google Ads, on social media, in business directories, in your email signature and on your next print run.

Common mistakes

• Leaving the business.site link in the Business Profile. Since June 2024, customers land on an error page.
• Forgetting the old link on business cards, vehicle lettering and in directories.
• Building a website on someone else's subdomain again instead of registering your own domain.
• Putting the new website online without an Impressum, even though § 5 ECG requires the information.
• Entering an address without https:// in the profile.

Frequently asked questions