Google Business has recently added a feature that allows you to give users a 360° virtual tour of your business on your Google My Business Page. It seems like a good thing to have, and there’s plenty of ambassadors out there who pour praise on its effectiveness.
What is Google Business View?
Based on Google Street View, Google’s Business View gives searchers an inside view of your business. The idea is that, instead of just seeing a shop front or generic office facade, you can now do a virtual walk in and see what the business you’re interested in looks like on the inside.
The difference from Google Street View is that there is no special car doing the photographs. Instead, to get all those cool looking 360° images, you must hire a trusted photographer or agency – it’s not something you can just do yourself.
The Google Business Photos program has been around for quite some time now, and there are plenty of articles from businesses who offer a virtual tour, extolling its virtues and benefits.
It’s interesting to note, though, that it hasn’t been embraced with unending enthusiasm by all the business community. In some quarters, there has been a fear that it is a bit of a gimmick and that there are factors more important for ranking than a collection of professionally taken images.
Despite this, when searching through the web for opinions, most people seem to think that Google doesn’t offer something like this without there being some benefit or reward for Search Engine Optimization.
What benefits?
The web seems to be unanimous in saying that there are definite benefits to having your business included in Google Business View. And, in theory, who wouldn’t agree? Having images of your business displayed right next to search page results should give customers a better sense who you are, and whether you are a real, trusted company.
So, it would be fair to assume it will help your click through rate. But will it help your search ranking?
To date, it there doesn’t seem to be much research on this, and Google are remarkably quiet about it. An article that appeared in Moz.com in 2013 did show that sites that ranked high in local searches and have also adopted Google Business View managed to retain their dominance. Which suggests a correlation between having Google Business View and maintaining a Google ranking.
Is this a wholly convincing reason to go for Google Business View? It certainly doesn’t mark against it. But as for definitive results for Search Engine optimization, the jury is still out.
One thing we are sure about, is that Google usually looks after those who use a Google feature. Having a virtual tour may not directly boost rankings, it can increase trust, which does play a part in the local algorithm.
Contact Dynasty Marketing Group if you would like to have the 360° virtual tour implemented on your Google My Business Page.