Google launches new Google My Business App for SMBs

New app enables SMBs to manage profile on-the-go and boost customer engagement.

With increased internet penetration, smartphones have become an important storefront for brands and businesses of all sizes. To help businesses be present where customers are, Google India on Wednesday, launched a completely new, redesigned, Google My Business App. The app is a simple and free tool for SMBs to start their digital journey through listings on Google and keep their business presence up-to-date on Google Search and Google Maps.

The new app allows businesses to update their profile, converse with customers, and attract new ones in real-time, on-the-go. New features such as the new post button, a customer tab and the bottom navigation bar, allow businesses to follow and message customers directly from the app, enhancing engagement between both the parties.

The new post button is a simple and free way to stand out on Google with a business profile. Businesses can upload a photo, create an offer or an event, and add it right to their profile on Google for the world to see. Businesses can also manage their information seamlessly on Google from the profile tab and watch edits appear real-time across Search and Maps.

Businesses can connect with customers, reply to reviews and receive messages, all in one place, through the updated customer tab. The new tab also enables businesses to see all their followers on Google Maps and using the new post button, engage them with attractive content to encourage repeat visits. Through the new customer tab, businesses can even respond to customer reviews and get notifications on new customer connections as well. With the new bottom navigation bar, businesses can track results that matter, as it provides a ‘one-tap access’ to the home tab, new customers tab, and profile tab.

Excited to launch this new updated version of Google My Business App, Shalini Girish, Director - Marketing Solutions, Google India said; “The new Google My Business app deepens our commitment to help businesses grow online. The new app will encourage businesses to manage their presence on Google in real time, make their profiles more appealing and interact with customers. For instance, if you’re a restaurant owner and have a packed house on a Friday night, the app allows you to create a post with a picture of the restaurant to engage with prospective customers on Maps and Search. It’s this real-time presence that we hope will go a long way in helping businesses attract new customers and bring back existing ones.”

The new, free Google My Business app is available for download in Google Play or the App Store.

Over the years, Google India has enabled businesses to grow online through several products and initiatives. Digital Unlocked is designed to arm SMBs with digital skills via offline and online training module and over 360,000 small businesses have been trained in the past two years. Primer is a free mobile app designed to teach digital marketing skills has been downloaded over 6.2 million times. Also, Websites with Google My Business, enables SMBs to create a free, mobile optimised website instantly in 10 regional languages and over 800,000 Indian businesses are already using it.