Google Maps Releases Update
Image courtesy of Google Maps
Last week, Google quietly a new feature for Google Maps, a distance measuring feature. It allows you to draw points directly on maps to see how far in distance one point is from the next, according to a Search Engine Land article by Barry Schwartz. But, this feature is not entirely new, as it was available in an older version of Google Maps.
The measuring capability is actually part of a larger update and an attempt by Google to create a new types of Google Maps. A Mashable article by Karissa Bell talks about Google’s massive new update that also included better Uber integration, offline map capabilities and improved navigation in Google Maps.
The measure update is good news for businesses, because now customers will know exactly how to get to you. As the post on Google Plus explains, “Click and drag to measure your next road trip, bike ride or run—even if you’re taking a few sharp turns.” Measure the distance between two cities, between two coffee shops and more. This feature is also great for planning out public transportation routes.
“Google Maps is a mainstay for many who rely on public transportation to get around. Google has now made transit directions even better by adding new ways for users to plan their route,” Bell says.
Directions For Measuring Distance
Image courtesy of Robert S. Donovan
Something important to note-this capability is not yet available on mobile devices, just desktop computers. Here’s how to get started with some .
- Make sure you have the new opened.
- Right-click on your starting point on the map.
- Click Measure distance.
- Click anywhere on the map to create a path you want to measure. Click to add additional measuring points.
- [Optional] Drag a point to move it, or click a point to remove it.
- Look on the map and under the search box for the total distance.
- When done, click the “X” in the card under the search box or right-click on the map and select Clear measurement.
If you have Classic Google Maps, you can still use the distance measurement tool, you just need to enable it.
- Click the Maps Labs link at the bottom of the left-hand panel.
- Click the Enable button next to “Distance Measurement Tool.”
- Click Save changes.
- To measure the distance between points, click the ruler icon at the lower left-hand corner of the map.
- Click your starting point on the map. Click to add additional measuring points.
- A red path will appear on the map between the two points, and the distance will be shown in the left panel.
Map Accuracy Helps Customers Find Your Door
Image courtesy of Colin Mutchler
As we have found in local SEO research, people are using the yellow pages and phone directories less and less. More people are turning to online map services like Google Maps and Mapquest to find what they need. No matter what avenue for finding listing information, map data needs to be kept up to date and correct. In fact, 73 percent of customers lose trust in a local business when online local listings are incorrect. In addition, 67 percent of people lose trust in a brand after walking or driving around lost looking for an incorrect address. Jessica Lee talks about these statistics in an April 2014 Search Engine Watch article. She cites a Placeable survey that gathered data on customer and marketer behavior. And it’s true, customers lose trust in brands when listing information is incorrect, NOT the directory or map services that post this information in the first place.
Don’t think having the right address and phone number is so important? It can actually cause customers to walk away, and the study also found that71 percent of first-time visitors research and confirm location information before leaving the house. 22 percent of people look on their smartphone for directions and info on the go and 7 percent drive where they think the location of a business is and hope for the best. Here’s hoping that this Google Maps feature will help customers gather more accurate directions before even leaving the house. Bell says that Google’s big update is a step in the right direction in improving the search process.
“Search results have also been fine-tuned in Maps to give users more control over the results, and to make it easier for them to find what they’re looking for. When searching for restaurants, bars and hotels, users can now filter search results by price, rating and whether or not an establishment is currently open,” Bell explains.
Let us know if you use this distance measuring feature and you think it is helping your search experience. Do you think it will help customers find business listings easier and help with the listing accuracy?