DYNAMIC! Google Business View: Get your Creative Juices AND Your Traffic Flowing!

[Linda Buquet]

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.​

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>​

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?

​

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%" />​

Your clients will ask! I hope this post will arm you with the creative ammunition you need.

What do you think???

<meta property="og:type" content="article"><meta property="og:title" content=""><meta property="og:description" content="TONs of exciting new Google Business View resources resources added. Live interactive examples inside...">
<meta property="og:image" content="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/BusinessView.gif">

 

[Adam Zahler]

It's a cool feature. We know a Google trusted photographer and had him do shoots for a few of our clients. Looks great

 

[Linda Buquet]

Here's a really cool one for Bertrand's Music in San Diego.

<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JamesPommerening/about?cfem=1">James Pommerening</a> Did the shoot and just shared with me on Google+

<iframe width="562" height="314" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bertrand's+Music+San+Diego&cbll=32.957086,-117.1256&layer=c&panoid=Q5KzFhRs_CgAAAAGOnIiqg&cbp=13,2,,0,0&cid=5233087016602465928&t=m&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=&ll=32.9051,-117.125931&spn=0.181017,0.385895&z=11&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bertrand's+Music+San+Diego&cbll=32.957086,-117.1256&layer=c&panoid=Q5KzFhRs_CgAAAAGOnIiqg&cbp=13,2,,0,0&cid=5233087016602465928&t=m&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=&ll=32.9051,-117.125931&spn=0.181017,0.385895&z=11&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>​

Weird, the embed does not work right on that one. It will only embed the map even though I've tried 6 times and I'm embedding Business View. So need to click over to see it.

KNOW OF ANY OTHER GREAT EXAMPLES?
Please share below!

 

[Louis Nava]

I guess it didn't work for me either.

This is a great write up Linda. Thanks for putting those statements together. It's tough trying to tell businesses those kinds of things and getting a deer in the headlights reaction. For the past two years it's been up to the photographers to sell this concept. Glad it's finally gaining traction.

Personally I am working on some resources to help in this arena. Just can't get it together fast enough. LOL

 

[Louis Nava]

It's not very common that I get to work with a business who doesn't have a listing. A couple of weeks ago I helped a business in the medical category setup a brand new listing. I let it sit for a week and nothing was coming up for keyword + city in the SERPS. Even after pigeon came along.

Tonight I uploaded their Business View did a search to see if the tour went live and low and behold #2 in a highly competitive 7 pack.

I over the next few days I have a few more businesses to upload tours for. I'll monitor these before and afters just to make sure it's not a fluke.

 

[Linda Buquet]

That's awesome Louis!

New listings in the past typically take up to 6 weeks to work into the local database. Maybe uploading the tour somehow pushed things along?

 

[Louis Nava]

That's awesome Louis!

New listings in the past typically take up to 6 weeks to work into the local database. Maybe uploading the tour somehow pushed things along?

I wasn't looking at it in that way... but great point! I was just so excited that it showed up there after the publishing of the tour. LOL

 

[steven]

Awesome post, Linda.

So many times I see business view with empty locations. Heck, even photos with empty locations. Don't businesses want to give the impression there's some kind of life going on at their place? Those examples are really creative and fun. Love it.

Always thought they gave some SEO juice, but it seems hard to quantify. That said, I'm going to try to talk my 2 clients into it. We'll see how it goes...

 

[James Pommerening]

<iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?cbll=32.957059,-117.125609&layer=c&panoid=DKffP_1RDf8AAAAGOnHUoA&cbp=12,5.87,,0,0&ie=UTF8&ll=32.922249,-117.084732&spn=0.529687,1.106873&t=m&z=11&source=embed&output=svembed"></iframe>
<small>View Larger Map</small>

See if this works.

 

[Louis Nava]

Hey James, Welcome Sir! Nice to see you here.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Thanks for joining and posting James!

I'm planning to share your other one tomorrow.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Just added the one James showed me yesterday as a new post.

Check it out here: <a href="http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-local/21372-create-viral-marketing-treasure-hunt-google-business.html">Create a Viral Marketing Treasure Hunt with Google Business View</a>

 

[Linda Buquet]

Just found another good post to add to the list:

<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>

 

[Lloyd Silver]

Thanks for the share, Linda.

The original post inspired me to create our own creative (as possible) Business View. We finally got the shoot done last week and now just fingers crossed we get through Google quality control (they can be incredibly difficult at times). It would be a major pain for us to re-shoot as we actually brought in props.

 

[Linda Buquet]

Very cool Lloyd. Bet it was fun to do!

 

[Linda Buquet]

Adding More Resources

Adding More Great Resources Below.

<img src="http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/BusinessView.gif" alt="Google Business View" width="65%" />​

This is SOOOO cool! Just discovered a site that features a collection of BV tours from all over the world!
I made the gif above with a few examples I found there.

But click over and you can search by INDUSTRY and city. So if you want to get some ideas for your car dealer client of what other dealers have done, this is an easy way to browse and gather ideas.

Great resource if you are a Trusted Photographer OR a consultant recommending BV to clients and even working as the creative director on the project.

RED HOT! SeeInside.It

If you are thinking about doing Business View for clients OR are a Google Trusted Photographer here is really good post from SparkFactor. They offer some great tips about what to be sure to do AND to avoid when doing Business View photo shoots.

<a href="http://connect.sparkfactor.com/blog/lessons-from-our-first-30-google-business-view-photo-shoots">Lessons From Our First 30 Google Business View Photo Shoots</a>

In honor of our 30th Google Business View tour, master photographer David Hanus and digital engagement manager Andrea Garcia share insights for local business owners using search as a key marketing tool. We give you the tips and tricks that make the biggest impact in taking tours from informative to truly inspiring. Keep reading to learn how to get the most from your Google My Business listing with a Business View tour.

And if you need MORE inspiration...
Here are a few more great new Business View posts I wanted to add to this resource.

<a href="https://econsultancy.com/blog/64227-the-10-coolest-google-business-views/">The 10 coolest Google Business Views | Econsultancy</a>

<a href="http://www.location3.com/blog/4-fascinating-google-business-view-tours/">4 Fascinating Google Business View Tours | Location3 Media</a>

And here's a great one from Phil back in November that I missed adding to this post:
<a href="http://www.localvisibilitysystem.com/2014/11/10/10-reasons-to-get-a-google-business-view-photo-shoot/">10 Reasons to Get a Google Business View Photo Shoot | LocalVisibilitySystem.com</a>

Did you know that we have a new Business View Forum
where you can get even more ideas?​

And if you are looking for other ways to make your clients stand out, be sure to check out:

<a href="http://www.localsearchforum.com/local-content/24798-red-hat-local-search-optimization.html">Red Hat Local Search Optimization</a>

----------------------------------------------------

EDITED TO ADD: Another hot resource. <a href="http://tourdash.com/">TourDash</a>. A service to spice up your Business View tour to make it more interactive. Trusted Photographers can sign up to be resellers and offer the service too.
H/t to Nick Rink for reminding me about this service over at the Pro Community.