I have been working with businesses all over the UK for 6 years now, and in that time I have come across a HUGE amount of Google Business profiles that let’s say… need a little bit of “TLC”. We as human beings are generally very visual people, so if we are searching for a place to visit, whether it be a restaurant, hotel, beauty salon or anything for that matter, the first impression that we take from an online search will be based around what the business looks like by looking at photos, videos, and of course their reviews. As of January 2022, 85.5% of people use Google to search, so it is CRUCIAL that your Google Business profile stands out from the crowd.
As a professional photographer, this post is predominantly going to be based around photos, but I will also touch on some other areas to make sure your profile is up to scratch.
The most effective way to showcase your business visually is with professional photos and video. Far too often I have seen Google profiles with photos that have quite obviously been taken with a phone camera, and while phone cameras nowadays are very high quality, it is important to remember rules of composition, as well as lighting and post-processing.
There are three main areas of photography that your can add to your Google Business page, and they are…
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
First impressions count, so it is very important to make sure that the images you upload to your Google Business page look professional, as it is these images that people will form their impressions on.
360° PHOTOGRAPHY
This is an area that many businesses overlook, however it is arguably the most important! Google now favours 360 content over still photography, as it enables people to take a look around as if they were there.
VIDEO TESTIMONIALS
Having a video on your Google page can work wonders!! The best content to add is one about yourself and your business, and also customer testimonial reviews, and this will instill trust in others.
Here are a couple of examples of good and not so good Google Business profiles. I have taken the liberty of blurring out the not so good one, as I don’t want to upset anyone, but you can see that it is missing a website, business hours, services and reviews (even though they have been in business for 10 years), but you will also notice that there are no images at all to show the quality of their work, which must be good if they’ve been open for so long!
Which one would you click on?
One of the main things I have noticed from speaking with so many businesses over the past few years, is how little people are aware of 360 photography. Virtual tours have been around for a long time, but many people either don’t know how they work and how effective they can be, or assume that they are going to be incredibly expensive. Yes, they do cost a bit of money, but the amount of business they can bring in for businesses is absolutely incredible. Here is a dropdown menu which will show you some of the advantages of 360 virtual tours for different businesses.
Imagine being able to offer your potential guests the opportunity of looking around each of your room types, as if they were standing in the room themselves. Or taking a virtual walk around the restaurant, spa or wedding and conference facilities? This will greatly increase the chance of them booking with you, as opposed to the place down the road. Click here to see an example!
Getting married is one of the most exciting times in our lives, but organising the wedding can be quite the opposite! With SO much choice out there, it can be hard to make a decision on a venue, and sometimes the venue may be quite far away from where the bride and groom live. If the they are able to take a look around a wedding venue online, then they can see what the interior and grounds look like, view potential seating plans, sample menus, photo galleries, entertainment, and MUCH more!! After seeing all of this on your virtual tour, they are almost guaranteed to call you! Click here to take a look at an example tour that we shot for a beautiful venue in Sussex.
Restaurants & Bars spend thousands of pounds making their interiors look inviting, and because we live in such a digital age nowadays… First impressions count! A bespoke 360° virtual tour will give people a chance to take a look around your restaurant as if they were there. You can even add a pop up sample menu into your tour, so they can see what you have to offer, or they could book their favourite table from right within the tour!
The potential of 360° photography within retail stores is endless. Imagine giving your customers the opportunity of walking round your shop and buying items, even when you are closed!!! By creating links to items on your website within the virtual tour, all it takes is a couple of clicks and you have made a sale! Also, imagine how many people will be wowed by this, and then share it with their friends and family? Click here to see an example!
Beauty salons are places that people want to visit to feel pampered and relaxed, and salon owners invest heavily in interior design, to make sure that their business looks like a sanctuary! If someone is able to take a look around your salon, and see what treatment rooms you have available from their phones when they find you online, then you just need to wait for the bookings to come flying in. Click here to see an example!
Choosing a place for our loved ones to retire to is a very difficult decision, and it is important to put as many things in place to make this experience as easy as possible for them. Investing in a bespoke 360° Virtual Tour for your care home will enable people to take a look around the home, and find out what facilities you have to offer, as well as viewing sample food & activity menus. Click here to find out more.
When parents are looking for a nursery or school to send their little ones to, they are faced with a huge choice, and generally don’t have the time to visit as many as they would like. Giving them a way to take a look around your school or nursery, enables them to get a feel for the layout, and also see what facilities you have to offer. Click here to see an example of a nursery tour!
There is nothing better than taking a walk around a fantastic gallery, and admiring the artwork that they have on show. But what if the gallery is closed… What if you want to view their work, but live far away? A Bespoke 360° Virtual Tour will give people the chance to take a virtual walk around your gallery, and if you are a retail gallery, they could even purchase artwork directly from the tour!! Click here for an example.
Buying a car is one of the most expensive investments that we make, and there is A LOT of choice on offer out there! 360° photography will give customers a chance to look around a car showroom, and even take a virtual look around the interior of the cars. You can highlight different features of each vehicle, and even add a button for someone to book in a test drive!!
360° GOOGLE BUSINESS TOUR EXAMPLE
So in conclusion, if you are able to show potential customers high quality images as well as a 360 tour which enables them to take a step inside your business, then you are going to be onto a winner.
If you would like to get in touch with me to discuss how you can add a virtual tour or updated photos to your Google Business profile, then please do get in touch with me for an informal chat by clicking the button below
