Let's face it, updating your business information and hoping for all your customers to see what is new is quite difficult, and this is why Google is launching "Google My Business." It's a whole new service from the search company that is aimed at connecting business with customers, and it might just work out.
Think of Google My Business as a business directory where users can update their business info for customers and it can also be a tool where consumers could come across new businesses that they might find interesting.
The new service will integrate seamlessly with search, maps and Google+, so having folks find your business shouldn't be much of a problem. Furthermore, businesses that have been using Places on Google+ will be transitioned to the new platform without touching a button.
In addition, there's an Android app for Google My Business, which should allow users to change information and respond to customer reviews.
Here are some of the perks of Google My Business.
- Update your business info on Search, Maps and Google+ from one place to make it easy for customers to get in touch
- Add beautiful photos of your business and a virtual tour of your business interior to help customers see what makes your business unique
- Connect directly with your fans and customers by sharing news, events and other important updates from your Google+ page
- Stay on top of reviews from across the web, and respond to Google reviews
- Understand how people find and interact with your business using custom insights and integration with AdWords Express
- Manage your information on-the-go with the Google My Business Android app and the iOS app (launching soon)
While the idea sounds good enough, we are not fully onboard with this plan since several Google based services in the past have taken a long time to gain popularity, still trying to stay relevant, or have simply died. Google+ is one of those services. It is mainly popular among the tech industries, but that is not enough to make it a compelling service.
Chances are, the same might happen with Google My Business, so we recommend folks to take a wait-and-look approach before jumping inside.
