Google Maps for Your Online Business

What is Google Maps?

Google Maps is a web mapping platform and consumer application offered by Google. It shows satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° interactive panoramic views of streets, and real-time traffic conditions. It also shows route planning for travelling by foot, car, bike, air and public transportation. Launched on 8 February 2005 and created by Jens Eilstrup Rasmussen, Google Maps is currently being evolved by Google, Bret Taylor and Lars Rasmussen. Google Maps is coded using Javascript, C++ & XML.

Do you use Google Maps?

Most people use Google Maps (or a similar tool) to help them navigate to unknown areas. The Google Maps app has caused much controversy due to lack of accuracy in the past, but when we look at the accuracy today, we see constant improvement. Ask yourself if you ever used Google Maps to help you find a location, whether a venue for a birthday party, a business for your meeting or a shop to buy groceries from. It is plain to see the relevancy of Google Maps for your online & physical business.

Adding your Business to Google Maps

There are many benefits gained from adding your business to Google Maps & they are listed below:

• Allows users to find the physical location of your business
• Links to your website
• Displays your contact number & email address
• Allowing users and customers to rate & review your business
• Users can see the opening & closing hours
• Users can add labels to their favourite lists
• Users & customers can post updates for your business
• Users can add photos & videos of your business
• Users can ask questions & have other users respond
• Accessibility options can be listed
• Ameneties can be listed
• Google Maps can calculate a route to travel to get to your business
• Google Maps gives users a estimated time of travel (based on method of travel) & distance of trip
• Google Maps provides "Fastest route now due to traffic conditions"
• Allows users to create directions from a starting destination to ending destination
• Allows users to print this out with the map & text in PDF format

Google Maps improves search engine rankings

Google Maps is a major ranking factor for local search results, meaning that having a complete & accurate Google Maps listing will help your business rank higher in search results. Adding your business to Google Maps will lead to more traffic & sales.

Embed Google Maps into your website

So now that you have added your business to Google Maps, the next step is to embed your map onto your website for your website users to see & use. Adding a Google Map on your website is especially useful for users who can easily tap or click on the map for directions to your shop or office. Allowing your website users to use Google Maps will also show the distance from their current location to the location of your business.

If you need help adding Google Maps to your website, send an e-mail to info@wevolution.co.za - We are ready to help.

Google Maps Reviews & Ratings

Remember the one restaurant where you received winderful service from? You would've enjoyed giving them a 5-star rating with a review? Google Maps allows you to do this & allows your users to review & rate your business. These ratings & reviews are important for new clients who would like to see what other clients have to say about your brand & business service levels. Google Maps allow users to rate you out of five, five stars being the highest rating & one star the lowest.

When competing with other businesses in the same market, that are located in the same area, you would ideally like your business to rate higher & have better reviews. Having good ratings & reviews on Google Maps will make your business stand out & look more professional.

Drive traffic to your website with Google Maps

Google Maps can drive traffic to your website by showing your business listing in the search results. This traffic can be even more valuable if you have a Google My Business listing, which allows you to add additional information about your business, such as photos, reviews, and hours of operation.

Google Maps usage stats

Around 14-million live websites on the internet use Google Maps, according to https://trends.builtwith.com/mapping/Google-Maps.

With so many use casses, it's wise to consider adding Google Maps to your website. This traffic can be even more valuable if you have a Google My Business listing, which allows you to add additional information about your business, such as photos, reviews, and hours of operation.

A blog by Stefan de Beer