Google + Local™ Has Changed to Google™ My Business - What's New?

Yesterday Google announced that Google + Local pages would now be called Google My Business. The Google + Local pages were kind of a hybrid between a Yellow Pages listing and a Facebook business page. If Google knew your business existed, you got a free Google + Local page. This is what people would see when you were found searching on Google for something locally. In that way it was like a super one line ad in the Yellow Pages. There was the map of your location, phone number, address, and possibly website link and hours of operation. That's about it. If customers reviewed you or posted photos of your business, this is where they would show up. When I create the Google Maps Business View virtual tour and POI (Point of Interest) still images, this is one of the places they would show up. Business owners can claim their page. After a verification process the owner can then edit business information (address, phone number, website, hours, etc), make social media posts, add videos, and photos. 

So what's new about the Google My Business?

• The look of the page is pretty much the same. It's behind the scenes that matter here.
• Once you have claimed ownership of your page, it's now easier to change addresses, phone numbers, categories, hours etc. The best part about this is that it also updates your info on Google Maps, Search, and the local listing all from one place.
• More photos with more data can now be uploaded. This is big. The more photos you have the more content Google has to index. It's CRITICAL that you change the file name to relevant search terms, write a descriptive caption, and embed keywords into the meta data.
• New way of staying on top of reviews. Other review sits can be added and you can directly respond to reviews on Google.

• Way more information about how people are finding and interacting with your My Business page. From one place you can add posts, see reviews from across the web, view analytics, view data on your YouTube channel, and Insights. Insights go beyond the raw analytic data. You can see what genders in what areas are looking at your site. What posts are they looking at. How visible your business is. What kind of engagement are you having. This kinda of data has been difficult and often expensive to obtain in the past.
• A new feature that I love is the add a virtual tour button. If your business doesn't have a virtual tour, click that button and get the process going to get one!

Shaping U Fitness - Pelham, AL - Commercial Photography

These days there are so many challenges for those wanting to live a more healthy lifestyle. The increase in sugar, processed foods, and salt, combined with busier schedules, increased stress, and the many distractions, can make it difficult to be healthy. That’s why I like the approach Brad Pugh, owner of Shaping U Fitness in Pelham, take when it comes to shaping up his clients. It’s a holistic approach. From mental training, meals, as well as the one on one consulting and training he provides each person. It’s different in so many ways from a traditional gym or even crossfit. 

I was proud to be able to create a Google Maps Business View tour of his gym. The location is off the beaten path. It’s unlikely that you would just happen upon it. That’s one of the great things about the Google tour. Prospective clients can get a feel for the surrounding area. They can recognize when in the right place.

If you are looking for something different from the normal gym or crossfit, I recommend checking out Shaping U in Pelham! You can learn more about them on their website. They also did a great job of embedding the tour on their Facebook page.

Click on the thumbnail below to view the conventional still images.

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GradePower Learning Centers - Birmingham & Pelham Google Maps Business View

Educational child tutoring outside of school is not a new thing. Learning centers have been around as long as I can remember. In the past it was viewed as a way to help struggling or failing students up in grades. Now there’s just as much emphasis on taking good students and making them great. The pressure to attend college, especially a good one, has never been greater. The competitive nature of today’s job market make every grade on every test that much more important. 

So a new breed of tutoring center has come onto the scene. The Grade Power Learning Centers are one of those. Created in England, the Birmingham area now has two locations. In Birmingham off of Hwy 280 and Pelham, close to I-65. These brand new centers are amongst the very first in the United States. Rather than teach memorization, Grade Power teaches how to learn. They give the students a foundation that will help them not only now, but throughout their academic careers.

“Confidence is a big part of helping children get better grades,” says Tony Mauro, Owner and Executive Director of GradePower Birmingham. “When children start to feel better about their learning abilities, they can accomplish anything. We’re really happy to be bringing these learning opportunities to the Birmingham community.”

I’m excited to work with Tony and his team to help promote Grade Power. I created Google Maps Business View 360º virtual tours of each location, as well as conventional commercial still images. These will help the Grade Power Learning Centers stand out from their competition and give both parents and their children an opportunity to tour the centers before coming in.

So if you want to give your child an academic boost, I highly recommend giving Grade Power a look! Learn more about them on their websites: Birmingham Hwy 280  and Pelham.

Click to see conventional commercial still images below and view the virtual tour for the Birmingham location.

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Click to see conventional commercial still images below and view the virtual tour for the Pelham location.

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Do you have a business in the greater Birmingham Alabama metro area that you’d like to have a Google Maps virtual tour created? Call or email me to set up a free no obligation consultation and quote.

Moses & Moses Law Firm - Birmingham, AL - Google Maps Business View Commercial Photography

Most people think restaurant, retail shopping, or attraction when it comes to the Google Maps Business View virtual tours. That does make sense. People will often choose businesses like those based solely on how the look. However, any business with a brick and mortar location, that wants people to come to it, can benefit from the program. Think of your businesses Google + Local page as its Yellow Pages listing for the modern era. In the past the larger your ad, the more your phone rang because it was more eye catching. In the same way the Google photos and tour bring more visitors to your site because the added visuals make it more eye catching. Being able to virtually tour a business will separate it out from competitors that don’t have it. Once customers do come in there’s a greater feeling of familiarity because it’s like they've been there before.

Then there’s the SEO (search engine optimization) boost. Because the businesses information and location are verified in the Google Maps Business View process, this is weighed in the search result algorithm. The more validating sources Google has, the higher you move up in the rankings relative to your competition.

Take a look at the conventional commercial still images and the virtual tour of Moses and Moses Law Firm below. You can learn more about them on their website.

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A few other businesses that can benefit from a Google Maps Tour:

Doctors Offices Clinics Dentists Orthodontists Lawyers Real Estate Offices Office Buildings Apartment Complexes Tutoring Services Car Dealerships Schools Chiropractor Hospitals Spas Urgent Care

Non Google Commercial 360º Virtual Tours

Most people know that I am a Google Maps Business View Photographer. That means that I create 360º virtual tours of businesses and embed them on Google Maps, StreetView, Google + Local, etc. These Google Maps tours are a great way to show off your business and stand out on Google. Unfortunately not all business are eligible for a Google tour. If you are a home based business, service business without a retail location, commercial real estate, residential real estate, or apartment complex, I cannot do a Google tour. If this fits your business or need fear not! I also create high quality, virtual tours independent of Google. I use the same equipment and the same basic techniques. The software I use to create the tours is different so there is a slight interface difference. The tours are still mobile friendly. This is so important since  it's estimated that 40% of all web traffic is mobile now (I think it's higher than that). I'm always striving to be the very best commercial photographer serving the greater Birmingham metro area and beyond. 

Check out the Reserves at North River in Tuscaloosa. I created a virtual tour of each of their different floor plans. They have embedded the tours on their website. Unlike some other options, you can host your own tour on your own hosting provider.

Pricing is very reasonable but each job is unique. Contact me to discuss the details.