Google Sticks Decals on Favorite Retailers
The gap between online and offline – offline and online retailing is closing and no one proves this like Google. Recently, Google launched their newest effort to connect both worlds by sending window decals to the most searched upon local retailers.
Behold Google Favorite Places.
“Businesses unlock their free business listing with Google’s Local Business Center, allowing them to enhance the content of their listings with photos, correct hours, coupons and more. This also tells Google that the business’ location is correct, so we can send a window decal if the business is popular enough.” – Google
So how it works is Google has identified more then 100,000 local business in more then 9,000 towns and cities nationwide that are searched on the most. And they sent these businesses , which include everything from restaurants, stores and more, a window decal from Google featuring a scannable QR code.
That code could be scanned into mobile phones —including iPhone, Android phones, BlackBerry and more—and be taken directly to that business’s Place Page on their mobile phone where they can find reviews and coupons or “star” the business as one they want to remember for later.
Sound cool? Yeah, because it is. And here’s more from Google on the QR code.
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Looks like this could become a really big part of Google. They’re in the best position for something like this (i.e. like Yellow Pages of old, here in the UK) for digital media in general.
I would agree. It’s fascinating to see them meld the online and offline experience. Goggles is another amazing product. Thanks for the reply.