Google Maps: What Your Business Can't Post on Its Listing

Google has expanded the advertising section of its content policy for Google Maps and Business Profile. It now spells out what a business cannot put in its listing or in its posts. Google did not announce or date the change: Search Engine Roundtable reported it on October 6, 2026. It affects any business with a listing.

What we know

Where it is: on the "Prohibited & restricted content" page of Business Profile Help, under "Advertising & solicitation". It was read on October 6, 2026 in English and Spanish: the text matches in both languages.
The principle: according to Google, contributions to Maps should reflect genuine experiences or define a business's permanent identity. The stated aim is a platform that stays reliable "rather than a marketplace".
In the listing: the policy bars merchants from promotional or commercial content that contains time-bound promotions, pricing or direct calls-to-action.
In posts: it bars email addresses, phone numbers, social media links or links to other websites that are not related to the business.
What is still allowed: offers and updates in posts, even if they may be seen as promotional.
For users: no promotional content, and no email addresses, phone numbers or links in reviews.
Who spotted it: Hiroko Imai, who posted before-and-after screenshots on LinkedIn, according to Search Engine Roundtable. That outlet says Google added the section aimed at merchants.
What is not known: when the text changed. The page carries no date. It also does not define which fields count as "the listing", what a direct call-to-action is, or what happens to listings that already break the rule.

The previous wording of the policy could not be read for this article. That the merchant section is new comes from Search Engine Roundtable.

What changes and what doesn't

The idea is not entirely new. Google's guidelines for representing your business already say the description should not focus on special promotions, prices and sales offers, and that it cannot contain links. And the posts policy already warns that Google may remove posts with unverified contact information: phone numbers, email addresses or social media handles.

What changes is where it is written and how. The rule now sits in the general prohibited-content policy for Maps, separates the listing from posts and names direct calls-to-action.

The line it draws is simple. What is permanent goes in the listing: what you do, where and when you are open. What is temporary goes in posts: this month's offer or this week's update. That summary is this article's; Google does not word it that way.

What to review in your listing today

The name. It must be the real name of the business. Google's guidelines do not accept taglines, phone numbers or website URLs in it.
The description. Remove prices, dated promotions and phrases like "book now" or "call today". Say what you offer, to whom and since when.
Offers. Don't delete them: move them. The policy allows them in posts.
Phone numbers in posts. Don't type the number into the text. The posts policy offers a "Call now" button that uses the verified number on your profile.
Email and social handles. Keep them out of post text too. Check the posts you have already published.
Links. In a post, link only to pages of your own business: your site, your menu or your booking page.
Reviews. Don't ask customers to include your phone number or a link in what they write. The policy bars that in reviews as well.
Whoever manages the listing. If someone else runs it, send them the policy. An old template with "50% off until Friday" in the description is exactly what the text points at.

Sources

Updates: if Google dates the change, announces it or clarifies what it considers a direct call-to-action, it will be added here with a link.