Booking Using Google Embed Feature
For a time now, Google Maps and Google Search have both had the Reserve with Google option. Google now permits companies to employ the Reserve with Google function on their own websites or portals.
You can now incorporate the Reserve with Google on your website and your own maps thanks to new APIs that Google has added. This, according to Google, "enables end-to-end appointment booking flow, connects consumers to a range of services." It makes booking easier for customers who are using your shop locator by giving them the opportunity to do so directly from the locator.
Embed a store locator feature
Additionally, Google has made it possible to publish and manage your store location on the Google Maps platform. This will enable you to "easily update and roll out your store locator," according to Google, on your website. According to Google, the Locator Plus solution allows you to locate each and every store you wish to display to users' on a single map. These days, all it takes to accomplish this is a quick copy-and-paste of some embed code and very minimal coding for API development.
Locator Plus for Google
The new Locator Plus function allows businesses to quickly import business details from your Google Business Profile, just like the store locator feature does. This will enable the store locator on your website to reflect the company information you already have in your Google Business Profile. The information includes the location's hours, phone numbers, addresses, and more.
Google Analytics Store Locator
Along with all these changes, Google is introducing a brand-new analytics dashboard for its shop finder service. You should be able to gain insights from your data and a better understanding of the impact of your deployment thanks to this analytics dashboard. According to Google, it demonstrates how effectively site users are interacting with your store locator.
The dashboard makes it easier for you to track your progress over time, including the quantity of views, interactions with Google Search and Google Place Details, and overall engagement rate. The dashboard makes use of anonymised data to offer crucial comparisons between a developer's implementation and those of other developers who are using the same solution.
Why we care
Both large and small businesses can benefit from using these tools to manage their local presence, both on Google and on their own websites. Additionally, since searchers are accustomed to Google, they might recognize and be more willing to use these embed capabilities.
Meanwhile, this is placing an increasing amount of your data in Google, increasing your dependence on Google to handle and host these features and data. So bear that in mind before putting things into practice on your website.