Introduction

Google Business Messaging is an essential tool for businesses looking to establish their online presence and connect with customers. It allows businesses to manage their information across Google's various platforms, including Google Search and Google Maps. One of the key features of GMB is the messaging functionality, which enables customers to directly communicate with businesses through various entry points.

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In this article, we'll provide an overview of the different entry points that customers can use to send messages to businesses on GMB. We'll also discuss how businesses can leverage these entry points to improve their customer engagement and overall online presence. The entry points can be divided into two categories:

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Local Entry Points

Place Sheets

Place Sheets is a feature of Google Maps that provides more detailed information about a business, including its website, photos, and reviews. Customers can send a message directly to the business from the Place Sheet by clicking on the "Message" button.

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Google Maps

Maps Local Finder is a feature of Google Maps that allows customers to search for businesses in a specific location. When customers click on a business listing in Maps Local Finder, they can send a message directly to the business from the listing page.

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​Local Pack

When you search for nearby locations on Google and there are multiple options available, you will see a messaging button called Local Pack. It appears below the list of locations. This button allows you to send messages to those businesses directly. It's especially helpful when a business is closed and cannot answer phone calls, as you can still reach out to them through messaging.

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Non Local Entry Points

Sitelinks

Sitelinks are additional links that appear below the main search result on Google. These links can direct customers to specific pages on a website, including a page that initiates a conversation with the business through Google Business Messaging.

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Featured Snippets

Featured snippets are brief summaries of the content on a webpage that appear at the top of Google search results. Businesses can add a "Message Us" button to their featured snippets, which can direct customers to initiate a conversation through Google Business Messaging.

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There are several entry points through which customers can send messages to businesses on GMB. These entry points include Phone App, Brand managed articles. Customers can also initiate a conversation with a business through the Google My Business app on their phone. Some businesses have access to a feature called "brand managed articles," which allows them to publish content directly on Google.

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Brand-managed Entry Points

URL

The URL entry point enables conversations from URLs in messages, links, or websites. Users can start conversations with your agent from nearly anywhere they can click a URL. The URL entry point enables URL access to your agent, which you can include in emails, websites, or other messages.

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Widget

To broaden the reach of your Business Messages agents, you can add conversation entry points on your websites with the Business Messages widget.

The Business Messages widget only supports mobile devices with Android 5+. Other mobile operating systems and desktop environments aren't supported.

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Overall, there are many ways for customers to initiate a conversation with a business through Google Business Messaging. By making it easy for customers to reach out, businesses can provide better customer service and build stronger relationships with their customers.