Most listeners discover VoiceMap through an online search. As Google search evolves to prioritise authenticity and lived experience, we’re in the perfect position – because that’s already the essence of VoiceMap tours.
As we explored in our recent webinar, it’s your quirks, your perspective, your unique voice – the things that make you weirdly human – that set you apart in a world where Google increasingly relies on AI snippets to answer search queries. The key is making that authenticity visible in your publisher profile.
We recently made some changes to publisher profiles based on Google’s “E-E-A-T” framework – Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness – to help you showcase that authenticity. An updated profile will help your tours rank better in search results and help listeners discover who you are and connect with your story.
To edit your profile: Go to your publisher dashboard and click the pencil icon on your profile picture in the top left corner.
Three main things to update
- Your bio – Your bio reflects who you are as a storyteller and helps listeners feel like they know you before they press play.
- Credentials – Relevant credentials that support your authority in your tour topics. This is what Google looks for when ranking expertise.
- Links – Your other online profiles. These help establish authority and give potential listeners and clients ways to connect with and learn more about you.
We’ve also added some additional elements – most are optional, but can help improve your profile.
Below, we share the updates using Tom Darbyshire from TellBetter as an example. You can also find more examples and step-by-step instructions in our publisher documentation.
What’s new
Your profile now automatically displays your number of tours, total number of ratings, and average tour rating.
Below your profile picture, you can add:
- A tagline – A short descriptor (up to 100 characters) that appears directly under your name, summarising what you do or your area of expertise.
- Your location – Your current location or your connection to the destination(s) of your tours (up to 40 characters).
- Profile type – Select whether you operate as an “Individual” or “Organisation”.
We now support twelve link types, with three more coming (academia.edu profile, Substack, IMDB). Add your website, social media, or any other relevant online presence.
About section
Your tour locations now appear here automatically, based on your published tours.
Your bio
Aim for 150+ words. Shorter bios might not get indexed by Google. Make it specific about your experience and why you’re qualified to create your tours. “I’ve led walking tours of Edinburgh’s Old Town for 15 years and hold a degree in Scottish history” beats “I’m a tour guide who loves history.”
Your bio reflects who you are as a storyteller. If you use humour in your tours, bring that in. If your style is more personal, . The goal is to help listeners feel like they know you before they press play. We share some examples and tips for writing a good bio in our documentation.
Credentials
This is what Google looks for when ranking expertise. These appear as bullet points below your bio, so keep each credential to one line so listeners can scan easily.
Here are the five credential categories:
- Awards, any recognition you’ve received for your work or expertise.
e.g. Edgar Award (Best Fact Crime) | Webby Award Honoree | TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2024 - Publications and Shows, where your work has appeared or media you’ve contributed to.
e.g. Lonely Planet Contributor | Featured on BBC Radio 4 | Host of Join Us in France Travel Podcast - Education, including formal degrees or academic training.
e.g. PhD in Art History, Oxford | MA in Sociology - Certifications, such as professional qualifications, licenses, or specialised training.
e.g. Sustainable Travel Certified | Certified B-Corp Official Tourism Partner - Professional Association, including memberships in professional organizations or industry groups.
e.g. National Trust Partner | Society of Authors Member | British Guild of Travel Writers
Add all the relevant credentials that support your authority in your tour topics. Quality matters more than quantity – focus on credentials that genuinely enhance your credibility.
“Get hired to produce tours” toggle – Turn this on if you’re open to commission work. When you enable this feature, a “Commission this Publisher” option appears on your profile, opening up additional revenue opportunities. More on this in our upcoming webinar on 18 February 2026 on Selling to Businesses.
This is the first step in leveraging that competitive advantage. Take 15 minutes this week to update your profile. If you have any questions about what to include, or what not to include, share them below.