Google Places

Google Places was Google's early product for managing local business listings, prominent around 2010, that let owners publish their storefront details and appear in local search and on Maps. It has since been retired and replaced, but its lineage runs straight to the tools businesses use for local visibility today.

The Evolution of Google's Local Listings

Google's local product has been renamed several times, which is why old guides still mention "Places." The path looks like this:

• 2004 to 2010: Local Business Center, the first owner dashboard
• 2010: rebranded to Google Places, with Place Pages for each listing
• 2012: merged into Google+ Local, tying listings to the social network
• 2014: relaunched as Google My Business, consolidating the tools
• 2021: renamed Google Business Profile, with management moved into Search and Maps

Each step consolidated features rather than replacing the core idea: a verified, free listing that controls how you appear when people search for what you offer nearby.

What to Use Instead Today

If documentation or an old plugin still references Google Places, treat it as outdated. The current equivalent is Google Business Profile, managed directly through Google Search and Maps. A business that never migrated from the old Places dashboard, for example, may find its hours and category data stale; claiming and updating the modern profile fixes it and restores map-pack eligibility. Managing that listing well is a foundation of any local SEO program.