If your business allows potential customers to SMS message you via text messages or Google Allo there is a neat new feature you may want to take advantage of: messaging.

Once configured, customers and potential clients who find your business listing on Google using a mobile device can click a new “message” button to message you instead of calling.

Setting up Messaging in Google My Business:

This is what the feature looks like in the Google My Business dashboard:

If you opt to turn on messaging, you are greeted with this new screen:

Enter a cell phone # here; users will not be able to see it..

The directions are simple and read:

To activate chat, confirm that your phone number can receive SMS messages. Enter the phone number you want to use for chat. You’ll get a code via SMS.

This number won’t be shared publicly and you can opt out at any time. Note that Google may monitor the messaging conversations to help improve our products.

Once configured, the new message feature shows up immediately on your Google My Business listing.

Thoughts on Google My Business Messaging

It is not yet clear how the messaging feature will work with businesses with multiple locations, however an upcoming update to Allo may allow for this to work.

Google has also configured a help page which you can locate here. This page covers answers to frequently asked questions such as:

  • How to edit your SMS phone number
  • How to turn off the Messaging feature
  • How to start using Allo

Metrics are available in the GMB dashboard showing people how many chats were initiated, how many clients have used the feature and how many messages that were sent.

After Google measures your typical response time, it may be shown to users as seen in the image at the top of this article.

Have you used Google My Business Messaging?

There is no telling if this feature will work out well or not. There are millions of business owners out there who have no idea what a “Google My Business” page is.

If you are using it, please comment below; I would love to know how it worked out for you and if your customers use the feature or not.

Len
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On July 18, 2017   /   Google My Business   /   1 Comment
1 Comment
  1. Greg
    2:23 pm on July 30, 2017

    Thanks for the update Len. As usual Google features can be really helpful to both end users and businesses – but quite confusing to set up and learn how they work. Though I have to admit this one looks like a good one.

    Cheers mate.

    Greg

    Reply

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