How is Google Street View linked to SEO?
If you type the name of your business into Google, you should see a listing for your business on the right hand side of the results page. If you haven’t verified your listing, or there isn’t one there, you really need to get on that (link). This is a major booster for your SEO on the Google platform. Being properly listed will help a lot when it comes to being found on Google. This is the information Google uses when someone does a search on your type of business. A search for accountants in Leeds will list the top 10 businesses in that area. If you’re not in the top 3, then you’re not getting a fraction of the hits you could be. Not having this may also mean your Google Street View image may get associated with the wrong business.
This listing will contain your business details, such as opening hours and address but also, optionally it allows you to add photos and points at your street view tour if you have one. Google rewards this content with a significant boost in your SEO. A photo is easy, if nothing else upload your company logo. Even that improves your listing.
Street view is a little more complex. If you work from a home office, or you don’t have a physical premises, then you can’t add a street view image. Even if all you have is a workshop, it’s worth doing for the SEO points it gives you. Google wants it’s services to be used and promoted. So when you use one, it rewards you. This used to be an add on service to Street View called ”See inside”. This has now been phased out in favour of all 360 photos being directly on the Street View map.
So how do you get a 360 photo?
There are a couple of options. You can do it yourself using a compatible mobile phone. So long as it has a camera and a tilt sensor then it will do it. You’ll also need the Street View App and a chunk of patience, but it can be done. The other option is to hire a company like us who are experts at this and can make sure the photos are all up to Google’s Standards. As a minimum, hire a Google Trusted Professional (link), as they will know how to get your street view tour online.
Do a little due diligence and check their website and see if they do good work. Despite how grand some people might try and make it sound. Being a Google Trusted Professional just means you’ve demonstrated you know the basics and can upload a photo to Google. A bit like passing your driving test does not make you a top F1 driver. We set our personal benchmark considerably higher than Google requires from us. Google is guarded about exactly how it scores your SEO, but it seems to favour Street View content provided by Trusted Professionals and scores higher for more content.
So who is it best for?
Anyone with a business who wants to be found online can benefit from improved SEO, but not everyone has much to show on Google Street View, or doesn’t have a public facing business. We offer a budget pack for that, 1 x 360 photo and 1 x Standard photo which ticks the basic boxes and gets the SEO love from Google. For a public facing business, this is where street view comes into its own. Google claim that almost half of all business searches with a street view tour will result in people using street view to get a better look. Restaurants, gyms, venues, hotels. If what you have is worth showing off, then Google Street view gives you a permanent advert for a one off payment. We offer a range of packages to suit in this situation and shoot on DSLR in RAW format for maximum
quality.
If you would like to get further information or discuss a quote for a street view listing call us on 01926 754026 or email us on hello@sanctuary9media.com (link)