3+1 Google changes you need to know about because they will affect your business

In the last month Google has been mainly negative as in a short period of time its services “fell” twice with the results being visible mainly to the users of Gmail and YouTube but to a lesser extent of the other services it provides.

Google itself stated after the two consecutive instances that disappointed us : “Rest assured that system reliability is a top priority at Google and we make continuous improvements to improve our systems.”

Was the reason behind the collapse the changes coming to Google and those already underway? We cannot be sure except to hope that this will not happen again and that we and our business will adapt to the new environment that Google is creating.

Read about the 3+1 changes Google is making and see how they will affect your business.

1.    Google Maps

The app will change radically and it will no longer be just a search app that gives directions to a business, but there will be interaction between users and businesses.

Different feed and interaction within the application:

With this new feature, Google Maps users will have access to the latest reviews, photos and posts added to Maps by people they follow as well as local experts.

Messages to and from businesses:

Companies that have verified their registration will be able to send messages to customers directly from the app, allowing “researchers” to interact with the business and ask questions. Similarly, messages from customers will appear in the “Business messages” section in the newly updated tab of the app.

Performance information for businesses:

This update focuses exclusively on businesses and will track a company’s performance by measuring the number of customers who started looking for information about the business from Maps and Search, how the business interacted with them and how many ultimately found the information they were looking for.
Now the loyalty and service of businesses towards Google users will be measurable, so if for some reason you have not given so much weight to Google My Business as a means of communication, it’s time to change it!You need to regularly update the locations of your stores as well as information such as opening hours and photos.

Street View images from users:

Google Maps users will be able to submit their own “Street View” images from their mobile phones. Specifically, anyone will be able to capture a series of linked images while moving down the street and then post them. Google will in turn rotate, position and combine the images automatically to achieve the best results.

Regarding the quality of images and colour rendering, there will be changes in Google Maps in this area as well. The feature is based on the current colour coding of the app and introduces more detail to the terrain type. The colours allow users to distinguish places such as “beaches or deserts, blue lakes, rivers, oceans and ravines”. Changes can also identify snow on mountains and the density of greenery on the map; this helps users explore an area in detail before planning to visit it. In sectors such as tourism it will be very important that the content is fully updated by businesses so that the user gets all the necessary information. Finally, this new and more detailed view of the maps will help users to identify exactly where the “pavements, crossings and other access points” are located, which the company believes will be of particular help to disabled users.

2.    Google Photos.

Google has redesigned the Google Photos app, allowing users to more easily find what they are looking for.

It is now divided into three main tabs, “Photos – Search – Library”, which make the user experience easier and fun, whether he is looking for something in his photos or just arranging them. As part of the new search tab, there is an interactive map view of your photos and videos. You can pinch and zoom around the world to explore photos of your travels, see where you’ve taken the most photos, or find a photo from a trip.
One important service that Google Photos offers that we may not have given the necessary attention to is Google print. With a few clicks and no special photo editing knowledge, you can order printed albums, which will be sent to you wherever you choose! Beyond family photos and your favourite moments from holidays, you can take advantage of the Premium service to create a corporate product catalogue or even present a product with a different style and personal character.

3.    Google Docs, Sheets και Slides

Google Docs, Sheets and Slides will now be able to open Microsoft Office files for editing.
This change that has become part of our everyday life since 15 December has delighted a lot of people who use Google Docs for professional and educational use. Until now, Office files were opened in preview mode and users had to either switch to edit mode or download the file. When they attempted to open a Word file, an Excel spreadsheet, or a PowerPoint presentation they ended up in a preview version of the application. But the preview could not be edited, so an extra step was necessary, either going into edit mode or downloading the file.Now Office’s edit mode will default to all Office-compatible file types (.docx, .doc, .ppt, .pptx, .xls, .xlsx, .xlsm). The only exception is password-protected documents, which will continue to open in preview mode. Removing this extra step makes things easier and Google is promoting this new feature as another benefit, especially for business customers.

4.    Tik Tok and Instagram Stories on Google?

Instead of having to open individual apps to watch short videos, Google is testing a new feature that will allow you to watch videos directly from search results. For Google, leveraging the massive popularity of these videos without having to create its own content will help it retain users looking for entertainment content by giving them options in its own app. “Instagram videos and TikTok are the newest additions in this direction,” a Google spokesperson told TechCrunch, though the company declined to comment officially on the plans. Obviously it’s too early to know details as Google itself isn’t revealing much, but it’s certainly a change that could turn things upside down since you won’t need a subscription to other apps to view their content.

In conclusion, we should mention that there are many changes coming to other Google services such as Google Drive, but also to the policies regarding users’ accounts as accounts that are inactive will be deleted after a certain period of time.

Finally, try saying “Hey Google, sing the New Year’s song.” to your Google Assistant to get the most digital and melodic wishes!