With the launch of Google My Business, small business owners, social media managers, and marketers alike are benefiting from Google’s integration of all of their business tools into one platform. While the functionality of the applications for businesses using Google hasn’t changed, the added value comes from easy, one-step access to analytics, profiles, listings, and reviews. In addition to giving you access to all the relevant information you want to know about how your business is performing online, My Business also brings with it the launch of Google Business View – a brand new tool for every marketer’s social media repository.
By now, most of us are familiar with Google’s Street View. Giving users the ability to “stand” in the streets with a 360° photographic view of the area, Street View made it possible for you to literally visualize the location you’re getting directions for. Taking cue from Street View’s success, Google developed Business View.
At it’s most simplistic Business View is Street View for the inside your business. With Business View you can invite your customers to take a Google Virtual Tour of your business on Google Search, Google Maps, and even Google+.
Humans process visual communication significantly faster than they do written; which means your customers buy products and services with their eyes first. Using Google Business View gives you a competitive advantage when it comes to getting your business in from 80% of consumers who begin their search for local services on Google. These stunning photographs turn your listing into an eye-catching invitation to your customers and prospects to explore and interact with your company. As Google Business View is still relatively new, by investing in the service you’re local listing will standout among your competitors’ listings during a search.
This is also a great way to show your prospects that you are in fact a real live business!
To ensure that the quality of Business View remains elite, Google has reserved the usage of Business View to business that hire a Google-Trusted Photographer to capture the images.
In order to become a GTP, there are criteria that each photographer must meet. They must also be able to demonstrate their knowledge of Google Business View and how it relates to your business.
Now. No, seriously. Right now.
With a minimal one-time cost to hire the photographer, a few hours to actually take the photos, and the added benefit that YOU keep the copyrights to all the photos, the added SEO benefits, and advantage you’ll have over competitors’ listings there is no reason you shouldn’t find your local photographer and get an appointment set up.
This awesome guest blog is from Mark Riehle, Owner and Photographer of Vision Images Photography, is an Architecture/Commercial Photographer. Mark is the Certified GoogleTrusted Photographer for Southwest Florida. He specializes in Google Business View - Virtual Tours and Real Estate Photography. His style and approach is colorful, detailed, and clean. Mark is focused on his clients expectations and producing the best imagery of a business with a lasting impression.