GULF SHORES, AL — The Coastal Alabama Business Chamber now brings Google Maps “Street View” virtual tour technology inside for member businesses.

The initial program was slated for the week of April 7 through April 11, but Chamber President and CEO Ed Rodriguez said with the response from local businesses, the contractor will have to come back to service all interested businesses.

“We sent an email blast out on April 9 and the response doubled from what we had had before that,” Rodriguez said. “Though Saturday was his last day in town this time, this will continue.”

Rodriguez said the deal with Google is a deal for chamber members.

“We are so excited to announce a new Affiliate Partnership program with the Google Maps photographers and the amazing new benefits and opportunities this brings for our business community,” Chamber President and CEO Ed Rodriguez said in an email. “This is the only Google Street Map photography program authorized by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber.

“Please note that our price to have your photography on the Google Map Street Views is a one-time $360, and this represents very special pricing for Chamber members only. In addition, your business will be included on a special portal on the Chamber website — something most other Google Map programs do not even offer. And, your first year on this portal is included with your $360.”

What Is It?

Most everyone is very familiar with and uses Google Maps and the popular “Street View” function where you can get familiar with a place by seeing it from street level 360 degree images.

Well now your Chamber brings that 360-degree camera technology to your business to create a virtual walk around the inside and outside of your business establishment which get published live into Google Maps, displayed on our new Virtual Business and Area Guide, and you can embed a copy of your establishment’s Google Virtual Tour right on your own website and Facebook page!

Benefits to businesses

The first deciding factor can be a visual glance.

People looking for your types of product or service make their decisions first by what a place looks like.

So when you choose to be included in this program people using Google Maps to navigate the region for your products or service will find and be able to take a “Street View” style virtual tour to get a look at the outside and inside of your business establishment.

Now you got that edge over your competition that does not have it.

The second deciding factor is what you have.

After spend-ready people have seen a place they like the looks of, now they want to know what you have. So you captured their attention with the Google virtual tour and now they head to your website to learn what you have and why choose you.

The third deciding factor is what your customers say.

Like it or not, people read customer reviews and it does impact many spending decisions toward your business.

Our partner Google Maps photographer is also a certified “Google Local Guide”, which is what used to be called a “Zagat Reviewer”. So along with getting the Google Virtual Tour of your establishment you’ll also get a write-up in Google Local about your business.

Google Virtual

Business & Area Guide

We’re also very excited about another product outcome of this program. Our Google photographer is creating a special collection of the Google Virtual Tours of all participating business, as well as special inclusion of unique places in the region, and several 360-degree images taken from 200 feet above ground.

This collection is assembled into new interactive “Virtual Business and Area Guide” that will be a part of the Chamber’s website.

For more information on the program call Vicki Stillings at 251-968-7200.