#Google #organic #reach - do businesses need this?

OK... it's the part of the year where we rest from all the celebrations (corporate and domestic) and prepare for the challenges in the following year.

One of those challenges is deciding our next traveling destination, so we take our phones in hand, go to #Google #maps and start searching for places. 

Well, that's easy. #Beach, #sand, #sun, #snow or the mountains... Done. Now, where to stay? Sure, we have the booking platforms, but then, what about other details not available on these platforms, and what about other places (restaurants, and other venues in local searches)? Here we go again, with the phone or PC, and again #Google #maps. 

At least, this is what Google says - Google Maps being the no.1 search app, used in 90% of the cases when people plan their #journey to their #destination. It came to me as a surprise as well, but then I found some case studies which blew my mind (dating from 2014-15).

I'm sharing only one screenshot of the case study, and leave you to decide if you would like to view it all...

If you will, click on the photo to view the case study. (it's a PDF doc./ case study by Ipsos).

We also encountered with the Study Details of "The power of media-rich map listings" saying:

Quote: "Quantitative market research was conducted in July 2015 by an independent market research firm to understand the impact of virtual tours on increasing consumers’ interest in local businesses (specifically in booking a reservation at a hotel or restaurant)."

Quote:

• An online survey was conducted with consumers who had searched online for a restaurant or hotel within the previous 30 days (using any device).
• A total sample of 1201 respondents was collected between July 21st and August 2nd, 2015.
• Different versions of a local business listing (one for a hotel, the other for a restaurant) were created to include basic info, photos and/or a virtual tour (the same media were used to create each version).
• Respondents were asked to view one of the following different versions for each business (in a randomized order). Each respondent viewed: ? 1 hotel listing + 1 restaurant listing; and ? 1 listing with a virtual tour + 1 listing without a virtual tour. Note: Presentation of alternate listings were randomized evenly and consistently throughout field.
• After viewing each listing, respondents were instructed to rate their interest in booking a reservation.
• Ratings for alternate listings (with a tour versus without) were aggregated to understand impact of virtual tours on interest in the featured business.

And here are the results:

So, more than 4 years have passed, since we read this case study and started providing the #Google #business #services for small, medium and large businesses. Doing so, our #knowledge grew together with these services (previously provided trough Google+ or G+) and today know as Google My Business.

Let me share with you some screenshots from the Google My Business page from a local #restaurant we manage in Skopje:

The restaurant was discovered 5.136 unique times during the passed 28 days (last 3 days are not included)

The restaurant was found directly (entering the name or a part of the name) 7.359 unique times in the passed 28 days (last 3 days are not included)

The numbers you see in the above photos are unique Google Users (meaning if one IP address has searched this place 10 times, Google counts only 1 search).

The above screenshot shows the most popular unique queries (phrases and words) typed in the search fields.

The following screenshot is what amuses us and our customers the most:

• 261 unique website clicks,
• 729 unique direction requests,
• 192 unique direct calls... . If I take the "worst case scenario" I would say 90 out of 192 unique calls were made for a table reservations. (on average this restaurant has 100 eu turnover per "table" or people sitting down, enjoying, paying an average of 100 eu bill and leaving). Basic math would go like 90 calls x 100 eu = 9000 eu turnover only in the past 28 days thanks to Google My Business).
• FYI - Messages are the latest feature of Google, allowing your customers to contact you directly trough live messaging)

Nice ha?

Yup, a successful story for this restaurant... And many more (Hotels, Travel Agencies, Cafes, Dental Clinics, Banks, Telecoms, etc...) but only the ones who understand the necessity of being present on Google Maps & Google Search organically an properly.

So, at the end, I just want to say that our experience and services are not country or regionally limited. We are at your disposal to help you gain more engagements, visitors, calls, clicks and most important - CUSTOMERS!

Feel free to contact me for more details!

Thank you for your time!