Google Maps Will Now Allow You To Chat With Local Businesses

Google Maps is an amazing platform to find hotels, restaurants, stores and other utility services in a hassle-free manner. While browsing through a business on Google Maps, you might have various queries about their services or products. 

Often, you might want to get a specific piece of information but without calling them directly. If that is the case, then there’s good news for you. 

Google is introducing a messaging feature on its navigational platform. With this feature, you can directly communicate with a business through text messages. However, the business must support the Google Maps messaging feature. 

This feature is assigned under the ‘Messages’ option on the Google Maps menu. 

How to Use This Feature?

Using the messaging feature on Google Maps is quite simple. Here’s what you need to do in order to connect to a business through text messages:

At first, launch the Google Maps application on your smartphone or tablet. Thereafter, go to the search bar and type the name of the business that you wish to interact with. Now, swipe the screen up and select the business of your choice from the search results. 

Once you are in the profile of the business, swipe the screen up to get the Overview section. Once on the Overview page, look for the Message icon located in the top toolbar. Alternatively, you can also click on the ‘Contact Us Now’ option. 

Thereafter, type your query in the messaging section and send it to the business. Now that you have sent a message, you can expect a reply from the business representative. To check and read incoming messages you need to return to the Google Map app. 

After this, click on the hamburger icon situated on the upper left side of the application. Now, choose the ‘Messages’ option and see if you have any incoming message from a particular business. If you need to clarify further, you can proceed with the conversation. 

Note: If you want you can block or report a business profile and prevent them from texting you back. For this, you need to tap on the ‘More’ option and choose the ‘Block/Report spam’ option. Alternatively, to delete a message thread, you can go the ‘Delete’ option from the ‘More’ menu. 

What to Keep in Mind While Messaging a Business?

When you use the messaging feature on Google Maps to communicate with businesses, here’s what you need to keep in mind:

• When you message a business, they can view your name and profile picture.
• A business can have more than one owner or representative. So, you must not be surprised if you get replies from different people.
• Be careful about what you share with the business. So, you need to be extra cautious while sharing crucial personal information. This data can include Credit card details, banking information, important passwords, or other government ID details.
• Make sure that the business you are messaging has the authentication feature activated for themselves.

Benefits of Google Maps Messages

This new messaging feature in Google Maps is highly beneficial, both for the customers and the businesses. Let’s have a look at how you can benefit from this useful feature as a customer and a business owner: 

For Customers

If you are a customer, you can avail of various benefits from the messaging feature. You would be free from making calls to the stores or other businesses each time you need to know about a certain service or product.

Moreover, this feature comes with an additional ‘Follow’ option like Facebook. With this, you can keep a track of the recent sales, offers, and schemes that a business would offer. This feature would allow you to interact with the business owners in a faster and more efficient way. 

For Business Owners

If you own a small business that is listed with Google Maps, you can use the messaging feature as a great marketing tool. Using this tool you can effectively stay in touch with your customers. You can make them aware of the ongoing discounts, deals, offers, and other special services. Also, it would save a lot of time for your employees to approach the consumers directly.  

To sum up, the messaging feature in Google Maps is already proving to be a big hit among customers and business owners. However, some users have complained that the addition of this feature is making Google Maps a bit cluttered. 

Moreover, many businesses still do not support this feature. So, if a business can use this feature, it is surely going to help it attract more customers and make a subsequent profit.