If you want potential customers to get a 360-degree, panoramic view of your brick-and-mortar business when they click on any of your listings in Google, its new Business Photos campaign makes its listings for business more interactive. To that end, the search giant is pairing its own certified “Trusted Photographers” with businesses that want to show off their interiors to the public.
While including these photos in your Google Maps listing and Google Places page is extremely helpful for someone wanting to find out more about your business, it will really matter in your search engine results. When someone does a search and your listing comes up first, Google pinpoints the business on a map, offers its existing street view photo, and gives the option to look inside the business if interior pictures exist.
Hiring a Trusted Photographer
To get started, select a Trusted Photographer. Google certifies photographers but lets them set their own prices. The photographer will get you to fill out a service agreement, which spells out that while you own the images, you are licensing them to Google for its use. You can apply to have your business photographed anywhere in the world. For those of us here in Helena and the surrounding area, the choice should be a simple one: HBA member Tommy Daspit. Tommy will be speaking to us at our general meeting on Tuesday, September 2nd at 8 a.m. at Frankie’s Market Café.
Here is a preview of his presentation.
“As a Google Trusted Photographer, I’ve gone through rigorous training and use specialized equipment to create 360º virtual walk through panoramas. I also take Point of Interest photos that highlight the details of your location. Once the photos are complete I will link them to your Google + Business listing and to Google Maps. When someone searches for your goods or services, your listing will stand out from the others. From there customers can use Google Street View to see the surrounding area, get directions, and virtually walk into your store. Not only does it enhance your Google presence, you can also integrate the images and tour with Facebook, and your own website. The images are free for you to use as you see fit!”
Interior photos appear next to a company’s Google listing:
