Why Google Removed Call Tracking From My GMB & How to Track Calls?

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a Digital Arabia Team 09/08/2024

Google officially announced that call history and chat history features on Google Business Profile will be discontinued and will no longer be available starting July 31, 2024.

Google Business Profile (GMB) also called as local SEO is one of the primary and free tools Google provides for every business owner to increase their business revenue directly from customers. According to research 86% of customers use local SEO to find local businesses. This means millions of users regularly use Google My Business to find contact details, read reviews, view directions, website click and interact with businesses.

One of the useful features was call tracking, which allows business owners to track and analyze business phone calls. This data is majorly helpful to know about whether your business performed well or not compared from the previous month.

However, Google has recently removed call history data from their business profile, and many businesses are searching for an alternative solution to track the calls effectively.

When Google Announced This Officially?

On May 29th Google updated the timeline, starting July 15, 2024 Google will no longer allow customers to send new messages or conversations through your Google Business Profile. Additionally, call history performance will be officially removed from the platform as of July 31, 2024.

Why Did Google Decide to Remove Call Tracking Features?

1. Privacy Concerns and Data Protection Regulations

One primary reason for the removal of call tracking from GMB is privacy and data protection. With increasing scrutiny on how companies collect and handle personal data, Google is aligning with global regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). By removing call tracking, Google reduces the risk of mishandling or unauthorized access to user data.

2. Changes in Google’s Data Collection Policies

Google frequently updates its policies and tools to better align with its business goals and regulatory requirements. The decision to remove call tracking from GMB could be part of a broader strategy to refine how it handles user data and to avoid potential legal issues related to data collection and storage.

3. Technical or Policy Issues

There might have been technical challenges or policy issues associated with integrating call tracking into GMB. These could include difficulties in ensuring accurate data collection, maintaining call quality, or addressing user concerns about how their calls are monitored.

What is the Alternative Method for Track My Local SEO (GBP) Call History?

Call Tracking via Google Ads
Phone Number Analytics
CRM Integration
Website Analytics Tools
Third-Party Call Tracking Software

Method	Setting Up	Description
Call Tracking via Google Ads	Go to Google Ads > Tools & Settings > Conversions. Set up call tracking as a new conversion action.	Track calls generated from Google Ads campaigns using Google Ads’ call reporting features.
Phone Number Analytics	Assign unique phone numbers to different marketing efforts. Use a call tracking service to manage and analyze these numbers.	Use unique phone numbers for different marketing channels to identify call sources and effectiveness.
CRM Integration	Choose a CRM that supports call tracking. Set it up to sync call data with your CRM system.	Integrate call tracking with your CRM system to manage and analyze call data and customer interactions.
Website Analytics Tools	Integrate call tracking with tools like Google Analytics. Set up call tracking within the analytics settings.	Utilize tools like Google Analytics with call tracking integrations to monitor calls from your website.

Conclusion

The removal of call history from GMB is sad news for every business owner. A better way to use alternative call-tracking methods is to continue to track your calls effectively. Whether you choose alternative solutions call tracking software or Google ads is the smart idea for every business owner. Hope this blog gives you a clear understanding of everyone. If you want to read more interesting facts about SEO and digital marketing check out our blog section.

Author

Digital Arabia Team

The Digital Arabia Team is a group of marketing experts and content developers that are passionate about helping businesses flourish. With years of marketing and content marketing experience, we develop compelling content for websites, blogs, and social media.