Google announced that it is expanding its Google Maps Business Photos program into seven new countries: Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Russia, Singapore and Switzerland.
The program is part of Google’s quest to make every inch of the public earth available for visual perusal via computer or smartphone, and certainly fits in well with the redesigned Google Maps interface.
“The Business Photos program enables merchants to create 360-degree, interactive tours of their establishments,” says Deborah Schenker, Program Manager, Google Business Photos. “This imagery is published on Google so potential customers can look inside and explore businesses before they go.”
“If you are a business owner in any of these locations, joining the program is easy,” adds Schenker. “Simply hire a Trusted Photographer or Agency in your area to take pictures of your business. Using Street View technology, the photographer will then create panoramic images from the photo shoot and upload them into Google. These images will be available automatically to anyone who searches for your business on Google.com, Google Maps, Google Maps for Mobile and on your Google+ page or Places for Business listing.”
Don’t forget, if you get Google’s “trusted” photographers to take pictures of your business, you can get creative.
If you can’t find an available photographer, Google says it will help you.