Google recently launched a business photos program to help businesses attract customers. Specially trained “Google Trusted Photographers” provide 360-degree interactive panoramas of the interiors of businesses. The panoramas are seen on Google Maps and Google Places. Businesses get higher visibility when consumers search on Google maps for a particular type of business in a geographic area, since the Google Places listings are found at the top of the results page.
Potential customers get a virtual tour of the business, so that they can imagine themselves being at the location to determine if they want to visit in person. This new program can be found in selected cities and countries. Currently, photographers are documenting businesses in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, New Zealand, France, Japan and the UK. In Canada, some cities included are: London, Kitchener, Ottawa, Windsor, & Toronto, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; Edmonton & Calgary, Alberta; Winnipeg, Manitoba and Vancouver & Victoria, British Columbia.
To be eligible, a business must have a Google Place page listing which is free. Most businesses can participate in this program, some that have include: restaurants, retail stores, beauty salons, auto dealerships, small dental and medical practices and health clubs such as a yoga facility. Any interested business should ask its local Google Trusted Independent Photographer if it is eligible to be photographed. This is a paid service provided by the photographers.
