New Home for Google Street View
If you published a virtual tour for your business before April 2017, you may notice changes in how your tour appears on Google Search and Google Maps. Most of these updates actually benefit your business.
“See Inside” Is Gone – What Replaces It?
You will no longer see the words “See Inside” on your Google Knowledge Graph. Instead, Google now shows a circle-and-arrow icon on 360° photospheres. This icon clearly signals to searchers that the image is interactive and immersive.
How Your Virtual Tour Looks Now
On Google Maps, you will see a new photos tab called “360° View.” This tab neatly organises all 360° images by type. Every photosphere tied to your business’s place ID shows up here. You no longer have to use the on-screen arrows to move from one stop to the next. Now, people can browse individual photospheres straight from the photo feed.
Of course, these formats could change again. Google often updates its platforms. They treat almost everything as an ongoing experiment, so stay flexible.
Good News: View Counters Arrive
Google has introduced a new counters feature. You can now view the number of times each photosphere was seen. While Google hasn’t explained what qualifies as a “view” just yet, it’s fair to assume that more views are better. Just like keywords that appear more often boost search rank, tours with more views should stand out.
Most Google Trusted Photographers now use this data to help clients track performance. Businesses watching these stats hope increased views improve their search positions.
How to Boost Views on Your Virtual Tour
If you want more people to look at your virtual tour, start sharing it everywhere you can. Place links on your website, in your email signature, and on your Facebook page or feed. Add your virtual tour to blogs and other online profiles, too. The more you promote your tour, the more people will see it. When you’re proud of your business, it’s smart to get your virtual tour in front of as many eyes as possible.
What Should You Do Next?
Watch for changes this month if your tour launched before April 2017. Regularly check how your business appears on Google. Look at your Google My Business Insights and review your photo view counts. The more you know about how customers find your business, the better you can improve your online profile.
Stay tuned for even more changes in the months ahead. Google keeps evolving their tools so that you can build a better business online. If you have questions or want help making the most of these updates, just reach out. I can help you showcase your business and make the most of every Google feature available.