Side by side
| Knowledge panel | Search profile | |
|---|---|---|
| Who creates it | Google, automatically | Google generates it or you create it |
| Can you ask for one | No. Google decides | Yes, if you meet the requirements |
| What you control | You can claim it and suggest changes | Photo, cover, bio, links, pinned posts, linked accounts |
| Where it shows | Beside results for your name | Its own page, linked from the panel and from Discover |
| Who is eligible | Anyone Google considers notable enough | 10,000+ followers, 18+, US, Canada or India |
How they connect
- Google automatically generates Search profiles for creators, publishers and brands that already have a knowledge panel.
- The panel gets a "View Search Profile" link at the bottom.
- Changes you make to the profile, such as your name, bio and social links, may appear in the panel.
- Claiming the panel and claiming the profile are separate. Having done one doesn't do the other, though Google verifies your identity automatically for the profile if you've already claimed the panel.
If you don't have a knowledge panel
You don't need one. If you meet the follower requirement you can create a Search profile from scratch at profile.google.com/claim. For most creators this is the first piece of Google's results they can directly shape.
Creating a profile doesn't promise a panel. Google still decides when a panel appears, and people with common names may not see one for their name alone.
Which should you care about?
Start with the profile, because it's the one you can act on today. If a panel exists, claim both, and check that the name, photo and description agree with your social accounts.