New Features of Google Maps
Google Maps is one of the most trusted navigation apps. It allows users to be able to travel to their destinations using the best route possible while being able to discover new places along the way. Recently, Google has announced a new set of upcoming updates to the popular navigation app to make it more community-driven. From a navigation app to a search and response system that targets businesses and customers, this is all part of evolution. Learn more about the latest updates to Google Maps.
Community Feed in the App
With the new functionality, users will be able to access the latest reviews, photos, and messages added to Maps by people they follow and local experts. It's similar to Yelp (YELP), but it will be available right in the app. If you regularly post or add other types of content to your profile, you'll be featured more often in the community feed.
Messaging From Maps & Search
The update was created to facilitate easier communication. Businesses can now message with customers directly from the Google Maps app, allowing search engines to interact with other businesses and ask questions. Messages from customers will appear in the business messages section in the updates tab. Messaging can be turned on or off from the settings panel of the Google Maps and Google My Business apps. Having entered the business’s profile, customers can now start a conversation from any message.
Performance Insights for Businesses
This feature is business-focused. It allows businesses to track how well the search engine optimization of the website is performing, as well as to check the company's performance by measuring the number of customer engagements initiated from Maps and Search. This system will provide news insight for businesses' performance and engagement with customers on Google:
- The total number of searches that triggered your business profile
- The search terms users are inputting to find your business profile
- The number of occasions any of these search terms triggered your business profile
At the beginning of 2021, it is also planned on adding functionality that displays the relevant data if customers came across your business through Maps or Search on a mobile device.
User Contributions to Street View
Google is pilot testing a new feature that will allow people to post images on street views using their smartphones. Google Maps users can now submit their own street view images from their phones. Users can record a series of connected images while they move down a street or path. After the footage is recorded and published, Google will automatically rotate, position, and put the sequence of images together.
This feature could prove to be useful for businesses in areas without the best street view coverage. It could also be used to submit updated images to a street view of the outside of your business. The Street View connected photos beta feature is now available for people using the app with an ARCore-compatible Android device in Toronto, Canada, New York, NY, Austin, TX, along with Nigeria, Indonesia, Costa Rica. More regions on the way soon.
It has been a big year for updates for the app released in 2005. In September, Google Maps introduced a feature that shows traffic lights in a number of US cities. The competition between Yelp and Google Maps is stronger than ever with new social features coming this month.
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