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Now that there is a call to action to "Add a Virtual Tour" front and center at the
top of the Google My Business dashboard, you'll have more clients asking about it.
top of the Google My Business dashboard, you'll have more clients asking about it.
Many SMBs lack imagination and just think of doing plain old photos of their store/office. They don't realize with a little creativity Business View could be turned into a viral marketing campaign that could bring in new business, increase click through and stick rate as well as attract natural links and citations for months to come. And as for local word of mouth... done right, it's a no-brainer.
UPDATE 3/31: More exciting new resources added to post #16 below.
Below are a couple examples of creative fun business tours, then RANKING and other marketing benefits, then lots of links if you want to learn more.
Here's a tour of 6S Marketing's office - (Those marketing peeps are animals!)
LIVE INTERACTIVE EXAMPLE - PLAY AROUND - SEE INSIDE!
<iframe width="562" height="314" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://maps.google.ca/maps?cbll=49.275531,-123.121328&layer=c&panoid=CcLx-6pwIZ_xkRuyvwXLNw&cbp=13,344.94,,0,0&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=49.235198,-123.121033&spn=0.140782,0.385895&z=11&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="https://maps.google.ca/maps?cbll=49.275531,-123.121328&layer=c&panoid=CcLx-6pwIZ_xkRuyvwXLNw&cbp=13,344.94,,0,0&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=49.235198,-123.121033&spn=0.140782,0.385895&z=11&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>
<iframe width="562" height="314" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://maps.google.ca/maps?cbll=49.275531,-123.121328&layer=c&panoid=CcLx-6pwIZ_xkRuyvwXLNw&cbp=13,344.94,,0,0&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=49.235198,-123.121033&spn=0.140782,0.385895&z=11&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="https://maps.google.ca/maps?cbll=49.275531,-123.121328&layer=c&panoid=CcLx-6pwIZ_xkRuyvwXLNw&cbp=13,344.94,,0,0&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=49.235198,-123.121033&spn=0.140782,0.385895&z=11&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>
Here is the back story on that one. <a href="http://www.6smarketing.com/blog/google-street-view-vancouver/">Google Street View Tour of the 6S Marketing Office</a> I think it's a good example of how you can take a plain old boring office and make it more engaging.
Below is a creative agency that made a game out of their tour. They give $100 to winners.
<a href="http://www.adviceinteractivegroup.com/the-google-maps-game/">The Google Maps Game: Advice Adventure</a>
"Two of our SEO team members... placed several hidden treasures, puzzles, and games throughout our office that we’re now asking YOU to solve. Our weekly quests require you to call on all of your wit, stamina, and mental prowess to solve the puzzle. Only the strongest will prevail!"
This one looks crazy fun!
LIVE INTERACTIVE EXAMPLE - PLAY AROUND - SEE INSIDE!
<iframe width="562" height="314" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=west+of+pecos+sf&sll=37.764289999999995,-122.42196899999999&layer=c&cid=-5357593747310394746&panoid=TTR6oQjESq-jXP4f8PKKsQ&cbp=13,253.45,,0,0&hq=&t=m&cbll=37.764075,-122.421987&ie=UTF8&hnear=&ll=37.761237,-122.420032&spn=0.005327,0.012059&z=16&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=west+of+pecos+sf&sll=37.764289999999995,-122.42196899999999&layer=c&cid=-5357593747310394746&panoid=TTR6oQjESq-jXP4f8PKKsQ&cbp=13,253.45,,0,0&hq=&t=m&cbll=37.764075,-122.421987&ie=UTF8&hnear=&ll=37.761237,-122.420032&spn=0.005327,0.012059&z=16&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>
Do you think THIS Business View Photo would get people talking and clicking?
<iframe width="562" height="314" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=west+of+pecos+sf&sll=37.764289999999995,-122.42196899999999&layer=c&cid=-5357593747310394746&panoid=TTR6oQjESq-jXP4f8PKKsQ&cbp=13,253.45,,0,0&hq=&t=m&cbll=37.764075,-122.421987&ie=UTF8&hnear=&ll=37.761237,-122.420032&spn=0.005327,0.012059&z=16&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=west+of+pecos+sf&sll=37.764289999999995,-122.42196899999999&layer=c&cid=-5357593747310394746&panoid=TTR6oQjESq-jXP4f8PKKsQ&cbp=13,253.45,,0,0&hq=&t=m&cbll=37.764075,-122.421987&ie=UTF8&hnear=&ll=37.761237,-122.420032&spn=0.005327,0.012059&z=16&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>
Do you think THIS Business View Photo would get people talking and clicking?
![lead_large.jpg lead_large.jpg](https://localsearchforum.com/data/attachments/1/1294-83e085de12d379f22811a8d4a327efd0.jpg)
Embed Business View on your website (just like I embedded above). Share it via social!
Business View Marketing Advantages
You guys are all involved in SEO, so let's address the elephant in the room. I've talked about the potential SEO benefits here in the forum and other places as well.
We know for a fact that 2 important ranking factors are click-through rates (from SERP to site) and stick rate. How many click through and how long they stay are 2 indicators of popularity to Google and helps the algo see that, that particular site was a great match to the query.
Well do you think an entertaining, engaging, fun or creative tour like one of the ones above would get more clicks and make people stay longer? Sure it would!
Additionally Google wants us to EARN links, not build links. Don't you think once folks in the local market saw these they would share a link socially? In some cases I'm sure local media even picks it up and does a story and these can sort of go viral.
Last but not least - what is the best small business marketing on the planet? Plain old word of mouth: your friends and neighbors telling you about a business. This fosters that too!
Some marketing stats from Google
• Just Food For Dogexperienced a 50% increase in the click-through rate from search results to the site.
• On average, restaurant listings that included Business View had a 30% higher click through to reservations
• 84% of 1,300 surveyed customers said Business View played a factor in their restaurant choice
More Google Business View Inspiration
Here are some resources and ideas to stimulate YOUR creativity so you can help give clients a vision for what's possible. You can't beat some of the creative ideas below. Prepared to get lost for hours...
<a href="http://www.searchenginejournal.com/earn-links-googles-new-business-photos/66978/">How to Earn Links with Google’s New Business Photos | Search Engine Journal</a>
<a href="http://www.citylab.com/tech/2013/04/google-maps-inside-business-photos-sure-are-getting-surreal/5439/">Google's Inside-Business Photos Sure Are Getting Surreal - CityLab</a>
<a href="http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2013/04/inside-street-view-ideas.html">Google Maps Mania: Inside Street View Ideas</a>
<a href="http://designtaxi.com/news/357338/Ad-Agencies-Get-Creative-With-Google-Business-Photos/">Ad Agencies Get Creative With ‘Google Business Photos’ - DesignTAXI.com</a>
<a href="http://www.plusyourbusiness.com/guide-google-maps-business-view/">A Guide to Google Maps Business View - Plus Your Business</a>
<a href="http://www.harringtoncreative.com/google-business-photos-examples/">View my Google Maps Business View examples</a>
Related Posts:
<a href="http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-local/16460-ultimate-guide-google-business-view-previously-google.html">Ultimate Guide to Google Business View (Previously Google Business Photos)</a>
Are Google Business Photos a Trust Factor for Your Local Rankings? | LocalVisibilitySystem.com
Google Business Photos May Correlate With Higher Local Search Ranking
Killer, High End, Out-of-the-Box Ideas for Local Business Listings
Hot: <a href="http://www.localsearchforum.com/google-business-view/21372-create-viral-marketing-treasure-hunt-google-business-view.html">Create a Viral Marketing Treasure Hunt with Google Business View</a>
In Case you Missed it, here is the Call to Action Right at top of the Google My Business Dashboard
<img src="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/DashTour.jpg" alt="DashTour" width="65%" />
<img src="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/DashTour.jpg" alt="DashTour" width="65%" />
Your clients will ask! I hope this post will arm you with the creative ammunition you need.
What do you think???
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