Google is launch Search for profiles, giving creators a page to bring together their content from different platforms.
Profiles display articles, videos, and social posts in one place. People can follow their favorite websites and creators to see more of their content in Google Discovery.
What search profiles include
Creators can personalize their profile with an avatar, bio, website link, and linked social and video accounts.
René Ritchie, YouTube creator liaison, explain the feature in a video:
Ritchie added that creators can pin their latest work and add links to merch stores.
The profile also includes a “Follow on Google” button, Google blog post Remarks:
“People can easily follow sources from their profile, so they are more likely to see that content on Discover, found on the Google app home screen.”
Where search profiles appear
On mobile, profiles appear in three places. You can tap “Show Search Profile” at the bottom of a knowledge panel in search results. You can also tap a publisher or creator’s name above a Discover card, and each profile gets a direct URL that can be shared anywhere.
Eligibility requirements
Not everyone can create a profile at launch. Google help documentation lists the minimum number of followers you need on at least one platform.
- YouTube: 100,000
- Instagram: 100,000
- X: 100,000
- Tik Tok: 300,000
Ritchie confirmed these thresholds in his video:
“To be eligible, we must have a public account with at least 100,000 followers on a single supported platform, Instagram, YouTube or X. If we only have a public account on TikTok, we must have at least 300,000 followers.”
Creators must also be at least 18 years old. Google allows a person 18 years or older to create and manage a profile on behalf of a minor.
How to create a profile
If you reach the subscriber thresholds, you can start profile.google.com/claim.
Profile IDs are automatically set to match the most followed associated account. If this handle is already taken, Google assigns the next most followed option.
After linking at least one eligible social account, click “Create Profile”.
Any changes to a profile name, social links, or bio require Google approval. Suggested changes remain in “Pending” status until reviewed.
New content from linked platforms usually goes live within 24 hours, according to Google help page.
Knowledge Panel Login
Claiming a research profile could also give you access to a knowledge panel. Google blog article declared:
“Claiming a profile can trigger the creation of a Knowledge Panel for eligible publishers and creators. If you already have a Knowledge Panel, it will be enhanced with your updated avatar, the latest content, and a direct profile link.”
This is a new way for creators to get a Knowledge Panel without going through Google’s existing claims process.
Does a profile affect search ranking?
No. Google Help Documentation said Creating a search profile does not affect rankings.
Any visibility advantage is in Discover, not search. When someone follows a publisher, they can see more of that publisher’s content in their Discover feed.
Broader context
Google has added publisher tools to Discover over the past year.
In September, Google spear the Follow button for websites and creators on Discover. This update also introduced posts from X, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts to the Discover feed alongside traditional articles.
Google later extended its Favorite Sources feature in all languages in April. This feature allows users to choose which websites they want to see more often in Top Stories and Discover.
Google’s February Discover Core Update Also amended which websites appeared in the feed. Google said the update prioritized locally relevant content and cut down on sensational material.
Search profiles offer something creators didn’t have before. They now have a Google-hosted page linked to Discover’s Follow button that they can customize themselves.
Why it matters
Those who qualify can now set their appearance in searches and discoveries from a single page.
The Follow button is the most important feature of the entire update, in terms of visibility. When someone follows your profile, they are more likely to see your content in Discover.
Looking to the future
Search profiles are launched only in the United States. Google said it plans to expand to more publishers and creators around the world and add more features.
Featured image: Google
