Google is reducing the minimum number of followers required for Search profiles to 10,000. Media companies will have the ability to use a single login for multiple brands, and articles on a profile will have an updated appearance.
Ibrahim Badr, the Product Manager for Search, revealed the updates today. Search profiles, which are pages that can be claimed and display articles and social media posts from a source, were introduced in June with a follower count that is at least ten times greater.
Eligibility is reduced to 10,000.
The number of followers is counted per account, meaning that having 10,000 followers on either YouTube, Instagram, X, or TikTok is sufficient. Badr mentioned:
More U.S. publishers and creators with at least 10,000 followers on YouTube, Instagram, X, or TikTok can now have Search profiles.
YouTube, Instagram, and X had three different follower thresholds over a span of 15 weeks, but Google recently reduced them to 35,000 followers for all four platforms.
Profiles are exclusively accessible in the United States, as stated on the website.
One account can be used to access multiple brands.
Prior to the latest update, the Google support page advised having a distinct Google Account for each profile. On September 16th, this recommendation changed.
Create an individual Search profile for each brand or identity you handle, such as personal brand, podcast, or personality. A distinct Google Account is required for each profile.
The update eliminates that regulation for companies that have multiple publications. Badr stated:
You can now easily claim and handle Search profiles for all your sub-brands using the new multi-account support, allowing you to access and update your profiles with just one login instead of managing multiple accounts.
Badr’s message discusses media companies and their subsidiary brands, without clarifying if an individual creator with multiple profiles has the same opportunity.
Article Display has been updated.
Articles on a profile now display extended titles and refreshed thumbnail images. Badr mentioned:
Image previews have been improved to enhance the appearance of your articles, and headline length has been extended to enhance readability and make your new content more noticeable.
The post does not provide information on the size of thumbnails or the length of headlines.
Why This Is Important
A U.S. publication that had 12,000 YouTube subscribers in June was unable to create a profile, but can now.
Creating a Search profile on Google does not impact the ranking of content on Google Search. The benefit of a profile lies in Discover, where followers may see more content from the source in their feed.
Having multiple brands under one company simplifies the login process by eliminating the need to set up multiple accounts for each brand.
Anticipating the future
The threshold has changed two times in a span of 15 weeks. Make sure to refer to Google’s help page to confirm the current number before determining your eligibility.
Search profiles are currently limited to the United States only, but Google plans to expand them to more countries in the future according to Robby Stein’s post on August 12th. However, today’s announcement does not specify any other countries.
Featured Image: Teodora ART/Shutterstock; Source: Google.