Search giant Google has officially extended Google Business Photos program to India, which carries information about businesses for consumers via photos.
Google Business Photos program, is a Google Maps project, which allows consumers to see details of business such as restaurants, retail shops, gyms and salons from their computers or smartphones.
This program gives users’ a virtual tour inside the businesses through interactive 360-degree imagery created using Street View technology. This imagery can be viewed on Google Search, Google Maps, and Google+ Local Pages.
To become visible on the program, businesses need to capture/click the interiors of their premises including pictures of layout, facilities and merchandise through one of the Google partners in cities like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Surat and Vadodara.
Businesses can also upload photos via Google+ Local. Besides above details, business owners can also capture images of displays on the storefront, like business hours, rating details, credit cards accepted, and menus.
Earlier in 2012, as part of Business Photos, Google had launched a pilot under which its trusted agencies (photographers) had started collecting photographs of businesses with their permission. Apart from Google searches, Maps, and Google+ Local, the captured images for program can be used to embed panoramic photos on merchant’s website and social media pages.
Google already provides phone numbers and other details for business listings on Google maps. Consumers will love to have details like rate card, menus and other details via photo while making a search.
Over the past few years Google has been focusing on Indian SMBs with the launch of ‘India Get Your Business Online’ programme.
