[wpcol_2third id=”” class=”” style=””]March, 1 , 2013

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jim Rector
EMAIL: Image360tours@gmail.com
PHONE:540-320-9996

Roanoke, VA and the New River Valley  March 1, 2013

GOOGLE’S STREET VIEW GOES INSIDE

Google recently launched a business photos program to help businesses attract customers.  Specially trained “Google Street View Trusted Independent Photographers” provide 360-degree interactive panoramas of the interiors of businesses. The panoramas are seen on Google Maps and Google Local+ pages.  Businesses get higher visibility when consumers search on Google maps for a particular type of business in a geographic area, since the Local+ listings are found at the top of the results page.

Potential customers get a virtual tour of the business, so that they can imagine themselves being at the location to determine if they want to visit in person.  This new program can be found in selected cities and countries.  Currently, photographers are documenting businesses in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Japan and the UK.  In the U.S., some cities included are: Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Raleigh, Denver, Salt Lake City, Washington D.C., Boston, and now Roanoke, and the New River Valley.  In Canada, some cities included are: London, Kitchener, Windsor, & Toronto, Ontario; Edmonton & Calgary, Alberta; Montreal, Quebec; and Vancouver & Victoria, British Columbia.

To be eligible, a business must have a Google Local+ page listing which is free. Most businesses can participate in this program, some that have include: restaurants, retail stores, beauty salons, auto dealerships, small dental and medical practices and health clubs such as a yoga facility. Any interested business should ask its local Google Trusted Independent Photographer if it is eligible to be photographed.  This is a paid service provided by the photographers.

Businesses in Virginia, W. Virginia, and some Eastern areas of NC who want their location photographed can contact Jim Rector at https://trustedphotographer-va.comMore information about this program is provided on the Google site http://maps.google.com/businessphotos.

Google Street  View Trusted Photographers also provide a set of “Point of Interest” images pertinent to a business such as: store hours, menus, awards, and interesting decor.  Business owners may upload their own photos in addition to the ones from Google.

Google photographers are accomplished independent professional photographers who are participating in this program.  They have been certified by Google to produce 360 degree panoramas.

Contact:  Jim Rector, Google Trusted Photographer – VA

540-320-9996  888-360-7469
Image360Tours@gmail.com
TrustedPhotographer-VA.com

 

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“I remember seeing a sign outside of a sign shop that read, ‘A business without a sign… Is a sign of no business.’ What’s your business’ sign look like on the information superhighway? Is it eye catching? Is it interactive? Is it visible? Certainly these high technology road signs provided by Google Street View Trusted are the best way to attract and move on-line shoppers to guests.”

 

Jim Rector
Google Trusted Photographer



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