Google has been sending around a survey to gauge interest in paid premium features for Google My Business (GMB).
According to Search Engine Journal the price for premium GMB services range from $25 – $70 per month.
Below is the proposed list of services.
Proposed Premium Features on Google My Business:
- Google customer support
- “Book” button on your business profile
- Promote your “Book” button
- Verified reviews
- Promoted map pin
- Call reports and recordings
- Verified bookings
- Automated message responses
- Automated response for reviews
- Google search results placement
- Get leads from competitor profiles
- Background check
- Instant quote
- Request quote
- Offers
- Featured review
- Google Guarantee
- Remove ads from your business profile
- Verified licenses
- Video on your business profile
Here’s what has struck my attention in regard to my own customer base. On a positive note, from the list above, it would be nice to get quicker and more knowledgeable customer support, call reports and recordings, automated responses for reviews and video on the business profile.
Of concern, however are features such as the promoted map pin, Google search results placement, getting leads from competitor profiles and removing ads from the business profile.
I won’t go over the pros and cons and feelings of fellow SEO’s in regards to the new paid GMB features as Search Engine Land (see link below) has already covered this very well and at length.
What I will say is that some small and medium businesses will find value in some of these new, paid features while others will be irritated at having to pay extra. I will let you be the judge, however, on how the new GMB features may fit into your overall internet marketing plans.
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