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WE WANT<br />
YOUR<br />
STORIES!<br />
Do you have a funny<br />
story from the bay?<br />
Cwguy.com’s ‘Random Thoughts’<br />
Why would I use my cell phone as an alarm clock?<br />
Apple used to use Google maps, which as a business<br />
owner you should prefer. Apple decided to<br />
change and uses openstreetmap.com along with<br />
Yelp. Therefore, you need to make sure your information<br />
is available to customers on both Android<br />
and Apple phone platforms.<br />
Google is pretty easy if you have a Gmail account.<br />
Just find or create a location and enter in<br />
your information. Then I recommend adding pictures<br />
and adding your <strong>web</strong>site. I would get a <strong>web</strong>site<br />
even with minimum information on it. This<br />
helps customers search and get information directly<br />
from their maps app and also when you ask<br />
Google a question.<br />
Apple devices are equally as easily if you have<br />
an Apple ID. Find the location, enter the information<br />
and you can enter multiple social media links.<br />
Really, the only difference to business owners is<br />
you have to “verify” your business and you have to<br />
manage your business through Yelp. I have no issue<br />
with Yelp and honesty reviews are always great,<br />
but I just feel quicker responses from a community<br />
rather than going through a company would<br />
be preferred as a business owner. Either way you<br />
should enter your information in Yelp also.<br />
Maybe an inspiring<br />
tale from the wash?<br />
Try something<br />
new that worked well?<br />
“You won’t believe what this<br />
Darwin did at my wash…”<br />
“The best decision I ever made<br />
for my business was…”<br />
“On rainy days, I like to…”<br />
Here’s some additional information about Google<br />
maps: I am a Google Local Guide, so I am<br />
allowed to add, edit and fact check Google Map<br />
entries. This is actually better than the Better<br />
Business Bureau, Yelp, etc. Google entries are fact<br />
checked by Local Guides or users and Google does<br />
not use the extortion method other companies use<br />
to remove or add reviews. This is unfortunately a<br />
method a lot of business know about from phone<br />
calls or letters.<br />
Another reason to enter your information is<br />
for mobile browsing. These additions are important<br />
with Google Chrome (preinstall on Android<br />
phones) which has 65% of mobile browsing. When<br />
Safari (preinstall on iPhones) has 16%. Also, Google<br />
Assistant and Apple Siri are important optimizations.<br />
(Both Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari<br />
can be installed on Android or Apple devices.)<br />
So how did both map applications do? Which<br />
one scored better? Well it honestly does not matter<br />
as you should support both Android and Apple<br />
platforms. But you can tell by the list if they say<br />
the business is “Closing Soon” or “Closed” it is not<br />
a “Self Service Car Wash.” I like how the Android<br />
mapping application did find my closest self service<br />
washes and including expresses and full services<br />
like a fine cross promotion? But let’s also all<br />
be honest: We would all hope Apple could do the<br />
same. But I was looking for a small subsection. Another<br />
factor is the large amount of expresses and<br />
full services around me!<br />
Reach out to Editor Debra Gorgos<br />
debgorgos@gmail.com to share<br />
your story with our readers.<br />
34 • WINTER 2020
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