What Does Google Maps Say About You?
by Chad Lane, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
Google maps is an incredibly powerful tool. It is one of the premier online promotions a business can use to be competitive. Web advertising for brick-and-mortar businesses should include this vital tool. And, it enhances our lives in other ways as well.
Only 25 years ago, the ability to walk the streets of Paris, block by block, and view the buildings as they exist nearly in the present while sitting on a computer several thousand miles away would have seemed impossible. Never has the human race had such an accurate idea of where we were in relationship to one another. Compare this ability with the maps available to explorers 200 years ago, and we can appreciate how far we’ve come.
A Life-Saver
Recently, a boy who had been lost for over 25 years rediscovered his family using only his childhood memories and Google maps. He was five years old when he fell asleep on a train for 14 hours, arriving in Calcutta with no knowledge of where his home was located, no family and no money. After becoming a beggar, then getting adopted and relocating to Australia, he had no way to retrace his steps to rediscover his family. Then, he used Google maps to view the countryside in a 14-hour radius around Calcutta until he recognized landmarks from childhood. From there, he was able to locate his mother and reunite with her after 25 years.
This story is an inspiring reminder of the fact that anyone can find us using Google maps. For better or worse, anyone can use “street view” and look right at our front door. They can also read the reviews which have been written about us by our past customers.
A man who grew up as an illiterate orphan on the streets of Calcutta was eventually reunited with his family through the use of Google maps. Clearly, we can acknowledge that it is now integral in our lives, just like Google itself. And, we can learn to use these tools for our own advantage and success.
Help People Find Your Business
How much control do you have right now over how people see you on Google? Google Maps allows you to have your own profile, complete with pictures and written info about your business. However, this is a web advertising tool that requires attention. The following actions must be done often:
- Update your company’s profile
- Address any negative reviews
- Ask your happy customers to write favorable reviews
Additionally, you can place ads and do social posts on your profile. So, if you add these, they must be maintained.
Remember that many people use their “Google Maps” function on their phones to navigate to your brick-and-mortar location. Better that this function is accompanied by happy, thoughtful reviews and an updated profile. This simple action only takes a few minutes, is free, and may well produce dividends in increased traffic.
Worry Free Marketing Can Help!
We’d be happy to talk to you about claiming your Google my Business profile so that customers can find you easier when they use Google Maps. Or, if you already have a profile, we can help you make it more effective. Contact us through this form. We will be in touch shortly.
Or, you can call us at (855) 821 – 1134.