Google Removed Questions and Answers in 2025

What Happened?

Remember when you could see questions and answers on a business’s Google page? Maybe you checked them out when looking for a restaurant or store. Well, Google shut that down in 2025.

This matters because millions of people used those questions to get quick info about local businesses. Now that option is gone, and everyone—from shoppers to business owners—needs to figure out new ways to share and find information, especially for local businesses and Local SEO.

Let’s break down what really happened and why Google Removed Questions and Answers from GBP, which could totally change the game for finding info on the and for your Google Business Profile.

Key Takeaways

• Answer real questions in your content. Write articles and website pages that actually help people find what they’re looking for. This keeps visitors on your site longer and helps you show up in searches.
• Use free tools to see what’s working. Google Analytics shows you which pages people visit most and how they find you. Check these numbers regularly and create more of what people respond to.
• Be active where your customers hang out online. Social media, community forums, and review sites are where people now ask their questions. Share helpful tips and respond quickly to build trust.
• Learn to use new technology to save time. AI tools can help you write faster, schedule posts automatically, and organize your content. The sooner you get comfortable with these tools, the easier managing your online presence becomes.
• Get professional help to stand out from competitors. The Digital Malik offers expert digital marketing and local SEO services. Dominate Google and Bing Maps rankings, boost your visibility, attract more customers, and manage reviews professionally. Use proven blogging strategies and essential tools to build a profitable business.

Why Google Removed Questions & Answers?

Why Did Google Do This?

Google didn’t give one clear reason, but we can connect the dots:

Better Technology

Google is investing heavily in artificial intelligence. Their AI can now answer questions directly in search results. The old-fashioned Q&A box might have seemed outdated compared to these new AI features.

Keeping Things Simple

Google removes features all the time. They want their platform clean and easy to use. If something doesn’t get used much or creates problems, they cut it.

Changing User Habits

People search differently now than they did five years ago. More people use voice search or expect instant answers. The Q&A section may not have matched how people actually look for information anymore.

What This Means for Customers People?

If you used to check those Q&A sections before visiting a business, you’ll need new strategies:

• Check Multiple Sources: Look at business websites, social media pages, and other review sites
• Call or Message Business Directly: When you have specific questions, contact the business through their listed phone number or messaging options
• Read Recent Reviews: People often mention important details in their reviews, like parking availability or whether a restaurant takes reservations

What This Means for Business Owners?

What is its impact? Meaning your local SEO and Digital Marketing strategy must evolve.

Create Better Website Content

Your website needs to answer common questions. Think about what customers always ask:

• What are your hours?
• Do you offer delivery?
• What payment methods do you accept?
• Is parking available?

Put these answers where people can easily find them.

Use Social Media More

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok let customers ask questions and see your responses. Stay active on these platforms and reply quickly.

Write Helpful Blog Posts

Turn common questions into short articles. For example, if you run a bakery, write “5 Things to Know Before Ordering a Custom Cake.” This helps people find you through search and gives them valuable information.

Where People Are Going Instead: Alt Platforms and Tools

Platforms such as Quora and Reddit gained more popularity as alternative spaces for engaging with users and answering their inquiries directly.

Community Forums

Sites like Reddit have active communities where people ask and answer questions about local businesses. Some cities have their own subreddits where residents share recommendations.

Question-and-Answer Sites

Quora remains popular for detailed questions and answers. People trust responses from real users who have experience with a topic.

Social Media Groups

Facebook groups for neighborhoods or cities often have members asking for recommendations and sharing experiences with local businesses.

SEO and Analytics Tools

Tools like Moz and SEMrush became crucial for businesses adapting their SEO strategies post-Google Q&A. These tools help in optimizing content and understanding user intents which are vital for maintaining visibility online.

How to Adapt Your Online Strategy?

Focus on Creating Useful Content

Write content that actually helps people. Don’t just list your services—explain why someone might need them and how you solve their problems.

Make Your Information Easy to Find

When someone lands on your website or social media page, they should find what they need within seconds. Clear menus, contact buttons, and organized information make a huge difference.

Encourage and Respond to Reviews

Since the Q&A is gone, reviews become even more important. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews, and always respond—especially to negative ones. This shows you care and helps potential customers see you’re responsive.

Stay Mobile-Friendly

Most people search on their phones. Your website must look good and work well on small screens. Test it yourself by pulling it up on your phone and trying to find basic information.

Building Your New FAQ Page: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Q&A feature is gone, but you can create something even better on your own website.

Here’s how to build a FAQ page that actually helps customers and improves your search rankings.

Step 1: Collect Your Most Common Questions

Start by making a list. Think about:

• Questions customers ask on the phone
• Emails you answer repeatedly
• Comments on your social media
• What competitors’ Q&A sections used to show

Write down at least 15-20 questions. Don’t filter yourself yet—just brainstorm.

Step 2: Organize by Topic

Group similar questions together. For a restaurant, you might have:

Ordering & Delivery

• Do you deliver?
• What’s your delivery area?
• Can I order online?
• What’s the minimum order for delivery?

Menu & Dietary Options

• Do you have vegetarian options?
• Can you accommodate food allergies?
• Do you have a kids menu?

Reservations & Hours

• Do I need a reservation?
• What are your hours?
• Are you open on holidays?

Location & Parking

• Where exactly are you located?
• Is there parking available?
• Are you wheelchair accessible?

Step 3: Write Clear, Helpful Answers

Keep answers short but complete. Here’s a good example versus a bad one:

Bad Answer: “Yes, we have parking.”

Good Answer: “Yes! We have a free parking lot behind our building with 25 spaces. Enter from Oak Street. If our lot is full, there’s also street parking on Main Street and a public garage two blocks away at 123 Center Avenue.”

See the difference? The good answer anticipates follow-up questions and gives specific details.

Step 4: Make It Easy to Find

Put a link to your FAQ page in your website’s main menu. Also add it to your footer. Some businesses even put their top 3-5 questions right on their homepage.

Real Example: How Sarah’s Salon Did It

Sarah runs a hair salon and used to get the same questions every day. After Google removed the Q&A feature, she created a FAQ page. Here’s what happened:

• Phone calls asking about hours dropped by 60%
• Her website showed up for searches like “salons that do balayage near me”
• Customers came in better prepared and knew what services she offered
• She spent less time answering basic questions and more time doing hair

Her secret? She answered questions in plain language and updated her page every few months when new questions came up.

The 5 Best Platforms to Replace Google Q&A

Let’s look at where your customers are actually asking questions now, and how you can show up there.

Platform	Best For	Time Investment	Key Tip
Facebook Groups	Local businesses (restaurants, salons, retail)	15–20 min daily	Provide helpful answers, not sales pitches.
Reddit	Niche topics & expert advice	30 min, 2–3x/week	Participate genuinely before mentioning your business.
Instagram Stories Q&A	Visual businesses (salons, boutiques, food)	20 min/week	Save good Q&As to Highlights for new followers.
Google Reviews	All business types (trust building)	10 min daily	Answer review questions thoroughly for future readers.
Nextdoor	Local service businesses (contractors, veterinarians)	15 min, 3–4x/week	Share helpful tips, not just promotions.

1. Facebook Groups (Best for Local Businesses)

What It Is: Community groups where neighbors ask for recommendations and share experiences.

How to Use It:

• Search for groups in your city or neighborhood (try “Your City Name Recommendations” or “Your City Name Community”)
• Join 3-5 active groups where people ask about businesses like yours
• Don’t spam—jump in when someone asks a relevant question
• Provide helpful answers, not sales pitches

Example: When someone posts “Where can I get a good birthday cake?” and you run a bakery, respond with: “I run Sweet Treats Bakery on Main Street. We specialize in custom birthday cakes—chocolate is our most popular! Happy to show you our portfolio if you want to message me. Hope you find the perfect cake!”

Time Investment: 15-20 minutes daily to check and respond

Best For: Restaurants, salons, home services, retail shops

2. Reddit (Best for Niche Topics and Advice)

What It Is: Discussion forums organized by topic, with many city-specific communities.

How to Use It:

• Find your city’s subreddit (r/YourCityName)
• Read the rules carefully—each subreddit has different guidelines about self-promotion
• Build trust by participating in discussions before mentioning your business
• Answer questions genuinely, sharing your expertise

Important Rules:

• Don’t just advertise—Reddit users hate obvious marketing
• Add to the conversation in multiple threads before promoting yourself
• When you do mention your business, be transparent: “Full disclosure: I own XYZ Shop, but even setting that aside…”

Time Investment: 30 minutes, 2-3 times per week

Best For: Specialized services, tech businesses, unique products

3. Instagram Stories Q&A Feature (Best for Visual Businesses)

What It Is: An interactive sticker that lets followers ask you questions directly.

How to Use It:

• Post a Story with the Q&A sticker saying “Ask me anything about [your service]!”
• Answer questions in follow-up Stories
• Save the best Q&As to your Highlights so new followers can see them

Pro Tips:

• Do this weekly to stay on customers’ minds
• Screenshot great questions and turn them into regular posts
• Use relevant hashtags so non-followers can find you

Time Investment: 20 minutes per week

Best For: Salons, boutiques, gyms, food businesses, creative services

4. Google Reviews (Best for Trust Building)

What It Is: Customer reviews on your Google Business Profile.

How to Use Reviews as Q&A:

• Respond to every review, especially ones that mention specific details
• In your responses, add helpful information others might want to know
• When someone asks a question in a review, answer it thoroughly

Example: Customer Review: “Great pizza, but I couldn’t figure out if they had gluten-free options.”

Your Response: “Thanks for the 5 stars! Yes, we do offer gluten-free crust for all our pizzas—just let us know when ordering. We also have gluten-free garlic knots. Our gluten-free options are prepared in a separate area to avoid cross-contamination. Hope to see you again soon!”

Now everyone reading reviews learns you have gluten-free options.

Time Investment: 10 minutes daily

Best For: Every business type

5. Nextdoor (Best for Local Service Businesses)

What It Is: A private social network for neighborhoods.

How to Use It:

• Claim your business page (it’s free)
• Join your local Nextdoor and nearby neighborhoods
• Respond when people ask for recommendations
• Share helpful tips related to your expertise (not just promotions)

Example Posts That Work:

• A plumber sharing “5 Things to Check Before Calling for Emergency Service”
• A landscaper posting “Best Time to Plant Spring Bulbs in [Your City]”
• A restaurant announcing “We’re donating 10% of sales this week to the local food bank”

Time Investment: 15 minutes, 3-4 times per week

Best For: Home services, contractors, local restaurants, veterinarians

Creating Content That Answers Questions

Now that you know where people are asking questions, let’s talk about creating content that actually helps them.

The Blog Post Strategy

Turn a common question into a comprehensive post.

• Example:
• Question: “How much does it cost to paint a two-bedroom apartment?”
• Post Title: “Apartment Painting Costs: What to Expect in [Your City] (2025 Guide)”

What to Include:

• Average price ranges
• What affects the cost (wall condition, paint quality, number of coats)
• What’s included in a professional paint job
• DIY vs. professional comparison
• How to get an accurate quote

This post serves multiple purposes:

• Helps people find you through search engines
• Builds trust by being transparent about pricing
• Shows your expertise
• Can be shared on social media

The Video Answer Approach

Create short videos (60–90 seconds) answering visual or demonstration-friendly questions. Share on Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook.

Good Questions for Video:

• “How do you know if your brakes need replacing?” (auto repair shop)
• “What’s the difference between highlights and balayage?” (hair salon)
• “How should I care for my new tattoo?” (tattoo parlor)

The Infographic Method

Turn complex information into simple visuals.

Examples:

• A flowchart: “Which massage type is right for you?”
• A comparison chart: “Different types of car detailing explained”
• A checklist: “What to bring to your first appointment”

These get shared frequently and help people understand your services quickly.

Your 30-Day Action Plan

Feeling overwhelmed? Here’s a simple month-by-month plan to get everything set up.Week 1: Foundation
List common questions → Organize by topic → Build/update FAQ page.

Week 2: Expand Your Presence
Join relevant Facebook Groups, Reddit communities, and Nextdoor.

Week 3: Start Engaging
Answer questions in groups, post an Instagram Q&A Story, respond to recent Google reviews.

Week 4: Create Content
Publish one blog post, create one video, and design one infographic.

After 30 Days: Maintenance
15–20 min daily for engagement; one new blog post every 2–3 weeks; quarterly FAQ updates.

Recommended Tools (Free & Paid)

You don’t need to spend a fortune. Here’s what’s worth using:

Free Tools

• Google Analytics: Understand website traffic and user behavior.
• Canva: Design graphics, infographics, and social media posts.
• Facebook Business Suite: Schedule posts and manage messages.

Paid Tools Worth Considering

• Hootsuite/Buffer ($15–30/month): Schedule posts across multiple platforms.
• Review Management Tools ($50–100/month): Monitor and respond to reviews from one dashboard.
• SEO Tools ($99–200/month): Research keywords and track rankings (e.g., Ubersuggest, SEMrush).

Facebook Business Suite

• Schedule posts to Facebook and Instagram from one place
• See all your messages in one inbox
• Check basic statistics about your posts

My Honest Recommendation

Start with free tools. Once you’re consistent and seeing results, add one paid tool at a time. Most small businesses do fine with just:

• Google Analytics (free)
• Canva (free)
• Facebook Business Suite (free)
• One paid social media scheduler ($20/month)

That’s under approximately $250 per year.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

I’ve seen businesses make these errors when adapting to the Q&A removal:

Mistake 1: Answering Questions with “Call Us”

People search online because they don’t want to call. If your website says “Call for pricing” or “Contact us for hours,” you’re sending customers to your competitors who list this information clearly.

Fix: Put actual answers on your website. Be specific.

Mistake 2: Copying Your Competitors

Just because another business does something doesn’t mean it works. I’ve seen salons copy each other’s FAQ pages word-for-word, including answers that don’t apply to them.

Fix: Answer based on YOUR business, YOUR policies, YOUR experience.

Mistake 3: Setting Up Everything and Then Disappearing

Creating accounts on five platforms and then never checking them is worse than not being there at all. Unanswered questions make you look bad.

Fix: Choose 2-3 platforms you can realistically maintain. Do those well.

Mistake 4: Being Too Formal

People want to talk to humans, not corporate robots. “We appreciate your inquiry” sounds stiff.

Fix: Write like you talk. “Great question! Here’s the deal…” works better.

Mistake 5: Never Updating Anything

Your FAQ page from 2025 with 2025 prices in 2027? That’s a problem.

Fix: Set a calendar reminder to review your online content every 3-4 months.

What’s Coming Next

Google won’t stop changing. Here’s what to watch for:

More AI in Search Results

Google is already testing AI-generated answers that appear before regular search results. This means your content needs to be clear and structured so AI can understand and use it.

What to do: Use clear headings, bullet points, and answer questions directly. Don’t bury important information in long paragraphs.

Voice Search Growth

More people are asking Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant for recommendations. These devices pull from web content to answer.

What to do: Include questions in your headings exactly as people ask them. “Do you offer same-day appointments?” as a heading is better than just “Appointments.”

Video Becoming Essential

Google is showing more video results in searches. YouTube is the second-biggest search engine.

What to do: Start creating short videos now, even if they’re simple. A video of you answering questions beats no video at all.

Tools That Can Help

Analytics Platforms

Free tools like Google Analytics show you how people find and use your website. This helps you understand what information they’re looking for.

Social Media Scheduling Tools

Apps that let you schedule posts in advance make it easier to stay active on multiple platforms without spending all day on social media.

Review Management

Some services help you monitor and respond to reviews across different platforms from one place.

Community and Expert Reactions

The reaction to Google’s decision was mixed among tech experts and the online community. While some saw it as a positive step towards better and more integrated services, others expressed concerns over the implications for content visibility.

Expert Insights

Tech experts suggested that this move might be a part of Google’s larger plan to incorporate AI deeper into its operations, optimizing how information is delivered to users.

Public Sentiment

The general public, especially those relying on the Q&A for quick answers, felt a void. However, they also expressed curiosity about how Google might fill this with new innovations.

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For more detailed analysis and opinion pieces on the impact of this feature removal, refer to sources like Search Engine Journal, Google’s Official Blog, and TechCrunch.

Also, visiting pages like Blogging in Digital Marketing, What is CTR in SEO, and Dominate Google Maps can provide additional insights and strategies related to adapting to changes in Google’s features and improving digital marketing efforts.

The Bottom Line

Yes, Google removing the Q&A feature was inconvenient. But it’s also pushing businesses to take control of their own information and build direct relationships with customers.

The businesses that will succeed are the ones that:

• Make information easy to find on their own websites
• Show up where their customers are already asking questions
• Provide genuine help instead of just trying to sell
• Stay consistent with their online presence

You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to be on every platform. You just need to be helpful, honest, and available where it matters.

Start with the 30-day plan above. Pick the platforms that make sense for your business. Answer questions thoroughly. Check in regularly.

Most importantly, remember that people still need what you offer. They’re just finding you in different ways now. Adapt to meet them where they are, and you’ll do fine.

Getting Help When You Need It

If this all feels like too much to handle on your own, that’s completely normal. Running a business is already a full-time job.

The Digital Malik specializes in helping businesses navigate exactly these kinds of changes. With expert digital marketing and local SEO services, they can help you:

• Set up a strong online presence across the right platforms
• Create content that actually brings in customers
• Manage your reviews and online reputation
• Dominate Google and Bing Maps rankings
• Use proven blogging strategies and essential tools to build a profitable business

Sometimes the smartest move is recognizing when to bring in professionals who do this every day, so you can focus on what you do best—running your business.

Let’s capitalize on smart, AI-powered content creation and utilize the best blogging strategies to grow your business.

Why wait? Let’s get started now!

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