Google has released version 4.1 of the Google My Business API which includes five new features. Among the new API features are merchant provided description, offer type posts, and customer provided media. Google has also announced that agencies can now sign up for a Google My Business account which features a brand new agency dashboard.
The Google My Business API allows businesses and agencies to create, edit, and manage multiple locations for the purposes of showcasing their physical locations. Businesses can also gain insights into how people are finding business locations and interacting with listings.
The latest release of the API includes merchant provided description, a feature that allows users to describe their business in their own words. Another new feature is a new type of post on Google called “offer type posts.” Offer type posts provide information about deals at business locations and help users find those deals. The API now includes a customer provided media feature that allows My Business API account holders to gain insights from user-generated photos and video of their business locations.
At the beginning of last year, Google added location insights to the Google My Business API. Location insights allow third-party applications to access location insights about a specified company.
Google also announced a new agency dashboard designed for partners. Among the dashboard features are improved search functionality, user groups, and improved workflows for sending and receiving invitations to manage listings.
To see the complete list of new features added to the Google My Business API, visit the official changelog.