Promote Your Campaign on Google Maps with an Offer Post

Images are AI-generated.

Running a discount, seasonal deal or limited-time bundle in your store? Besides your window and social media, you can post it where customers look for you: your profile on Google. A Google offer post is a post type that shows your campaign, with its title, date range and conditions, on your profile in Google Search and Maps.

This article explains step by step how to prepare an offer post, which fields need attention and what to do after the campaign ends.

What is an offer post?

Google Business Profile has three post types: update, event and offer. For a discount announcement on Google Maps, the right type is an offer; it's for a discount or deal you're actually running. According to Google's create and manage posts page:

• An offer requires a title and a start and end date.
• A description, photo or video, coupon code, link to redeem the offer and terms and conditions are optional.
• Offer posts automatically get a "View offer" button.
• On mobile, posts can appear in the profile's "Updates" or "Overview" tab; on desktop, in the "From the owner" section.
• Posts may be reviewed before they go live; only live posts are publicly visible.

A Google Business campaign post differs from a regular update in its dates and button: customers see at a glance how long the offer runs and how to use it.

There's one exception: under Google's content policy, hotels can't create offer posts, and hotel posts that mention deals, promotions or discounts also break the rules. Details are on Google's content policy for photos, videos and posts page.

To share an offer on Google Business: while managing your profile, open the add-post option, choose offer, enter the title and dates, fill in the optional fields, check the preview and publish. Menu names can change as the interface is updated.

Title, date range and conditions

The title should explain the offer at a glance. A good title says what, how much and to what extent. Examples:

• "20% off winter servicing"
• "Free dessert with the weekday lunch menu"
• "Back-to-school notebook and pen bundle"

Don't use all caps, strings of exclamation marks or pressuring phrases like "don't miss out" in the title. Write what your campaign is.

The date range should match the campaign's real duration. Check the start and end times too: if the campaign ends at evening closing, set the end time to match. If you extend the campaign, update the post's dates as well, so an expired offer won't linger and an ongoing one won't vanish early.

Use the description to make the offer's scope clear:

• Which products or services does it apply to?
• Is it valid at all locations or only at this address?
• Is it limited by stock or by quantity per person?
• Can it be combined with other campaigns?

Don't put a phone number or email address in the description. Google can remove posts with unverified contact information; your verified phone number already appears on your profile.

If you show a discounted price, use real prices. Consumer protection rules set out how the previous price must be shown in discount announcements; don't show a discount based on an "old price" that was never actually charged.

Coupon code and terms of use

The coupon code is optional. Add one if a code is actually asked for at the register or on your site; if not, leave the field blank. Choose a short, readable code with characters that can't be confused; for example, don't use the letter "O" and the number zero in the same code.

The link to redeem the offer is useful if the offer can be used online. Point it directly to the product or order page where the offer applies, not your homepage.

Keep the terms and conditions short and clear:

• Valid dates and times
• Excluded products or services
• Limits per person or per order
• Return and exchange conditions

Leave no hidden conditions to surprise customers at the register. Brief your team before publishing the offer: if the cashier doesn't know the code and conditions, a good campaign can become a bad experience.

Example: an offer post from start to finish

An offer for a sample stationery store could look like this:

• Title: Back-to-school notebook and pen bundle
• Dates: The first and last day the bundle is on sale, with the store's opening and closing times
• Description: The bundle combines the basic notebooks and pens needed for the term. Valid at this location only, while stocks last.
• Coupon code: SCHOOLPACK
• Conditions: Up to two bundles per person; can't be combined with other campaigns.
• Image: A real photo of the bundle on the counter in the store.

In this example, customers see at a glance what is valid, where and until when; the cashier also knows the code and the limit.

One more rule: the offer shouldn't depend on a review, follow or share. Don't combine the campaign with a review request; Google prohibits offering discounts for posting or changing a review. Send review requests separately from the campaign, the same way to every customer.

Choosing an image

An offer post's image is where the eye stops first when scrolling a profile. When choosing it:

• Show the real product or place. A photo of the actual product in the campaign is clearer than a flyer image.
• Don't cram text into the image. The dates, conditions and code already sit in the post's own fields. Text-heavy posters are hard to read on a phone screen.
• Keep the main subject centered. The image may be cropped in the preview, so don't put important parts near the edges.
• Shoot it clean and bright. A photo taken in daylight against a plain background is often enough.

If you use a stock or AI-generated image, don't present it as a photo of your actual product. If customers find a different product at the register, the campaign turns into lost trust.

After the campaign ends

Once the end date passes, the offer expires, but your work isn't over:

• Review your profile. If the campaign ended early or stock ran out, edit or delete the post; don't leave an invalid offer on your profile.
• Measure results from your own records. Use your register or order records to count how often the coupon code was used. You can track visits from the offer link in your website's analytics.
• Take notes. Which title, image and duration worked? These notes make the next campaign easier to prepare.
• Don't let the profile go quiet. Between campaigns, post updates: a new product, changed opening hours or a photo from your premises. Using offers only for real campaigns keeps your posts valuable.

Our article Google Business Profile posts: what to share and how often explains in detail how to fit offers into your weekly posting routine. On BadePlus's post scheduling screen, you can also prepare and schedule an offer post with its title and date range, plus an optional coupon code and conditions.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an offer post stay visible?

The offer is shown according to the date range you enter. So match the date range to the campaign's real duration; Google decides how it's displayed.

Should I post an offer every week?

No. An offer only makes sense when there's a real campaign. In the weeks in between, update and event posts keep your profile active.

What should I do if my offer post wasn't published?

Check the post's status. If it shows as not approved, look for contact information, wording that breaks the rules or an unsuitable image; fix it and try again. Approval is Google's decision.

Summary

• An offer post is for a real, time-limited campaign; a title and date range are required.
• Make the scope, locations and limits clear in the description; don't include a phone number or email.
• Keep the coupon code and conditions short and clear, and make sure your team knows them.
• Show the real product in the image and don't cram in text.
• When the campaign ends, review your profile and measure results from your own records.