Support Local Businesses with Google Maps
As unlock started, many businesses are going to reopen, and people are also looking to support their favorite stores. Google has announced new features to help business owners get support and adjust operations and find customers.
Below are six ways you can show support for businesses in your locality:
Report as re-opened and edit other information
It may be possible that businesses don’t have time or resources to update the information on their google maps listing. You can update a business as re-opened if you know a store has re-opened to the public, but it’s still marked as closed. You just have to click on the “Temporarily Closed” and select “Suggest an edit” to report the business. You can also update open hours information.
Provide reviews, ratings and photos
You can share your experience of a restaurant by adding photos of the menu or food you ordered in your Maps review, this can help businesses to attract more customers as well.
Online class
You can now see local businesses providing online classes and appointments on Google Search and Maps. You can search using keywords like “dance classes near me,” or “guitar lessons” to see the businesses near you offering these services. Also, you can even book directly on Google Search or Maps via a number of our Reserve with Google partners.
Buy a Gift Card or Donate
You can also purchase a gift card or donate to help businesses. If you’re in the U.S., the U.K., or Canada, you can enter “support local businesses” in Google Search to see the companies in your area accepting donations or providing gift cards. Businesses in United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, Sweden, Poland, Romania, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Luxembourg, Greece, and Japan can now set up gift card or donation campaigns through Google My Business.
Reservation for a future appointment
You can reschedule services and appointments for a future date to assure local merchants that they still have your business. Many businesses take appointments and reservations directly from Search or Maps.
Order delivery or takeout
Because of COVID-19, many restaurants are closed for dine-in service; hence they have started to takeout and delivery. You can support these restaurants by using Google Maps to find restaurants in your locality that are offering takeout, curbside pickup, delivery, or no-contact delivery.