Google’s Location Sharing for Businesses
Since the introduction of Google, we have seen some fantastic features for both customers of businesses as well as the businesses themselves. Most recently, we have heard of the Location Sharing feature which will allow all users to share their location as they move from one location to the next. Of course, this isn’t exactly a new idea since Uber users will recognize it straight away. However, it does open a few doors for businesses especially for those looking to target this market in their marketing strategy in 2017.
Whenever a group of friends or family members arrange a get-together, the same questions arise time after time; ‘where are you?’ and ‘how long are you going to be?’ are two prime examples. Soon enough, Google Maps will allow users to show their real-time location without leaving the app. In January, we saw the redesign of Google Maps and they are constantly trying to find ways to keep users engaged and this is thought to be the latest idea along with Uber help and the tracking of nearby cars. For many years, it has also been a useful tool for those planning trips to restaurants, themes parks, and more as we can see reviews, opening times, menus, and more.
For local restaurants, these new features have been huge through the years because potential customers can quite literally view a menu from their mobile device. If they take an interest, they are one click away from seeing the restaurant’s location or opening hours. Known a micro-moment experiences, brands can now target those out-and-about looking for somewhere to eat and the opportunities are only expanding every year.
Additionally, smartphones and laptops also seem to synchronize one’s calendar with Google which means that we know when birthdays are upcoming. Once again, restaurants are shown as Google help to provide gift ideas and Google Ads are huge for this. All things considered, the site is getting smarter each and every year and this is only bringing benefits to businesses all around the country. In terms of ads, this is becoming even more important because let’s not forget that Google also has a hand in many other platforms including YouTube.
Just recently, we spoke to somebody who was on a journey and he decided to open Youtube to kill some time. As he clicked on a video, an ad for a local restaurant popped up because they had shared their location previously. Ultimately, the guy ended up stopping off at the restaurant on the way home so you can see just how powerful this tool and many others like it can be.
On the flip side, we should mention a big concern for this technology and this is the fact that some people don’t like the fact that Google knows where they are at every moment. However, the ‘opt-in’ feature of Location Sharing takes this concern away somewhat.
For businesses, this new way of targeting potential customers could well be a huge step forward. Considering a significant percentage of people decide where to eat on a whim, an ad at the perfect time could be great for restaurants. If Google is tracking the movements of somebody and they see an ad pop-up for your restaurant, the results could be fantastic and this is why an online presence will be pivotal for success this year!