Apologies if this isn’t the correct place to ask a question, but I’ve looked and can’t find an alternative (please direct me to the correct place if I’m wrong here)
I noticed today that there’s a new section in the Google Maps app for “followers” and “following” and there’s a suggestion that I can follow local businesses.
I couldn’t see anything obvious, so I Googled it and the answer was that there should be a “follow” button (or a plus) in the business listing for me to click to follow them.
I’ve looked at several local businesses and can’t see any way to follow them.
My first thought was to say: "of course you can follow a business" but …
Before to answer, I’m used to check, and with my surprise I found a big discrepancy between the Help pages, the profile settings and Google Maps. For this reason I am tagging a Google Moderator, @DeniGu , on your post. In fact I can’t find the button to follow the business, even if…
But again, like you, I can’t find the big (+) button on the business listing
Regarding the possibility to be followed in Google Maps, the option is actually available only on selected areas, for a small group of Local Guides. Please read Discover even more places on Google Maps to know more about this pilot program. You are one of the ones who can be followed, and you have just got a follower: me
@ErmesT Thanks for the response. I can see you following me and I did follow you back, so that seems to work.
In my settings I have “Restricted profile” turned off and “Share profile with businesses” turned on, so there shouldn’t be a problem there.
I think DeniGu may be able to shed some light on the problem. I’m having a few other issues with Google guides pages too (not being able to browse other guides photographs) so maybe there’s an update coming that will fix both problems.
From my experience, I have found that if I search for a business in the Google app on my iPhone, there is a follow button in the listing right at the top. Give it a try and see if this works for you. These are screenshots of my phone.
I tried both Disney and Nike and although I get a similar screen to you, I just don’t get a follow button.
Unfortunately I can’t get a normal screenshot as it’s “not permitted” for some reason… but.I have an older phone and can take a photo of the screen and with a little fiddling you can see screenshot below.
Apologies for the quality, but it’s obvious there’s no Follow button.
I think it’s a bug for the UK or maybe Europe, hopefully Google will sort it out.
