If you’re doing it right, local SEO is a major player in the success of your overall digital marketing strategy. While it has a lot of parts, it all boils down to making connections with customers. Two of Google’s recently announced features could be a big help for your car dealership storefronts: an “Ask For Me” feature that allows AI to call businesses and obtain answers to key questions for users, and the return of Chat feature for Google Business Profiles.
Learn more about both of these and how they can impact your establishment below.
GBP “Ask For Me” AI Assistant
Let’s be real, when you’re searching for services online, the thought of calling multiple shops for information on topics like availability and pricing can take a lot of time and focus. The latest feature from Google called “Ask For Me” looks to streamline the process, saving time and getting answers for users who don’t want to, or can’t, talk to businesses themselves.
According to feature testers, the “Ask For Me” option appeared for them when searching queries related to participating business types within the test. For example, “tire rotation near me.” After a list of local businesses, there is an option to use the new feature. Google then guides testers through a series of prompts to figure out what details they’re looking for related to the original search term, such as availability and pricing.
Once it has the details, AI technology will call businesses and relay the results/answers back to the possible customer. Not only can users see results from several companies at once, but the AI can handle nuances like waiting to contact businesses until their operating hours.
As of now, the new AI call feature focuses exclusively on auto repair shops. This still means that depending on how you present your dealership and its service department to Google, your dealership’s staff may soon be fielding calls from AI bots. That’s not a bad thing — the easier it is for possible customers to learn more about your business, the easier it will be for them to come in for service. The system that makes the calls, named Google Duplex, was created to conduct conversations over the phone, so staff should just answer its questions honestly and clearly.
How will this feature affect local SEO strategy? It will make the proper optimization of your dealership and/or auto repair shop’s local SEO more important than ever because you could land on the original query’s business list. If you don’t rank for local fixed operations search terms, Google won’t think you’re a relevant business to call for its users.
Chat Feature Is Back
Another piece of good SEO news is that Google is bringing back its Chat feature after discontinuing it earlier last year. It gives your customers another way to contact your dealership for information if they are uncomfortable on the phone or don’t have time to speak to you.
If you’re unfamiliar with the chat feature, it works similar to chat functions likely built into your website. Your business can choose to receive messages via WhatsApp or SMS text messages from users through Google search results. It’s available now, and you can opt-in by adding the preferred chat number through your Google Business Profile.
While a chat option is more traditional than AI assistants making calls, it’s another useful tool that can pave the way for customers to contact you and build a connection.
If you are struggling to rank for key local search terms, especially for fixed operations, Reunion Marketing would love to help! Schedule a keyword audit to begin your journey towards increased organic traffic and leads.
Resources:
Search Engine Journal: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-ask-for-me-is-this-bad-for-local-businesses/539882/