With Google Maps’ Popular Times Live you can check whether a store, a restaurant or a bar is busy in real-time. Also, you can look at an estimate of how busy such place is at any given hour during the week, so you can plan ahead.
Until today, this feature was only available on Web and Android versions of Google Maps. Now it is also available on Google Maps for iOS devices.
Handyweb.ie think that this data could help you increase sales in your Retail store and increase conversions in your Online Business.
Two ideas on how to use Google Maps Popular Times Live data for your business
With the data provided by Google Maps, you could think about strategies to attract people to your business.
Wouldn’t it be better to have a constant, easily manageable flow of people coming to your store or restaurant, rather than having them packing the place all at the same time?
1. Invite your customers to visit your store when it is less busy
Whether it is through Facebook, a Mailing List, or anything else, you should always try to create Customer Engagement.
Plan ahead: think of something that could attract your customers and deploy it at the right time through Social Media. Invite people right away to your coffee shop through Social Media, right when you know your place is less busy. Discuss this with your Marketing department, if you have one!
2. Promote your Online store when your Retail one is busy
We have already worked with businesses that have both an Online and a Retail store and it seems that their amount is increasing.
Some shops may get very busy, for instance, during the weekends. Unless it is part of your Marketing Strategy to have people over at your Retail store, it is both in yours and your customers’ interest not to get frustrated because of waiting lines.
When times get too busy for anybody’s good, you could issue, for instance, a temporary discount voucher to some of your customers to use on your Online store. Then, you can go back when things get quieter.
There are many tools available to help you better understand your audience and also help you reach higher goals for your Business.
What do you think? Is Google Maps’ “Popular Times” feature one of these?
Brought to you by Handyweb.ie