Popular Times, the feature in Google Search and Maps that shows how busy a place typically is at different times of the week now gives a real-time look at how crowded a place is right now, to help you decide where and when to go. Whether you’re rushing to pick up a last minute gift or seeking a quiet cafe, check Popular Times for a sneak preview of what to expect when you arrive. If you’re playing host for the day, you can also check and see how long people typically stay at a given location. That way you can plan your itinerary to the minute.
We’d love you to help us learn when we’re getting this right and when we’re wrong, so we can be as accurate as possible and expand the live information to more of the places you care about. You can help by tapping the blue “Correct?” (see image below) link that appears with the live data on Google Search, and confirm whether the live data is too busy, too quiet, or just right.
This one’s tricky. I had a client call me from his home during dinner-time because a family member showed him that his store wasn’t as busy as normal. What upset him was that the entire world could see that his store was slow.
I understand that this is a useful feature for almost everyone so long as the real-time visits stay within a certain margin above/below. However, if a business is shown as being slower than normal by a considerable amount, I can see one possible trend being that people will see it as a sign that the business is tanking.
You can take it the other way as well. Say a business is having a fantastic day and visitorship is awesome but people see that they’re busy and decide to take their money elsewhere.
This isn’t just a concern of mine, it’s the concern of the vocal few (which always represents a fraction of the actual number) of business owners that I have as clients.
Essentially, this is a HUGE win for consumers because it empowers them to make smarter decisions but it’s also a HUGE concern and possible road-block for business owners.
Hi @Corrie That features is great for all LG .Its also help for business improvement.But I know about one thing that how many time visitors see the Business Places.If I upload photos then shows how many people see the place in my contribution photos.but I want to know it will any possibility to see how many time visitor see the business place without any upload photos. But I thing it’s a Great ideas.
@Corrie It really helped me while I was applying for my Driving License. So I checked map for the time when the office is less crowded. And it worked! Nice feature
The point made above about business owners having concerns about disclosing whether they are slow or busy is a valid one.
Yet I also agree that customers being able to see traffic informatics is a valuable tool.
What if Google modified this to read “wait/no wait” or alternatively, "wait xx min " / “no wait”, rather than the detailed traffic.
That way, it’s more like a motel vacancy/no vacancy sign that lets you know if they have rooms available but not specifically how many, so there’s no capacity stats or ability to judge business health … just the desired information on whether or not there’s a wait/long line and possibly how long.
It seems that (or a similar informatic) would give both business owners and customers what they’re seeking without having to compromise one for the other.
oh heavens, I thought the customers we’re always rite… Businesses shouldn’t worry about appearing slow, unless they truly are tanking, in which case they have bigger worries, people are smart enough to understand everyone has off days, seasonal business, etc. This is helpful and should be permanent for useful info.
Walk into your nearest Home Depot or Lowe’s and you’ll find plenty of customers that are not right and you’ll find employees dutifully informing those customers of that fact.
Truth is, businesses worry, employees of those businesses worry. In turn, those employees take their worrisome money to where they deem best.
I don’t have a solution. This is an entirely new problem.
This is a great addition to google maps. Businesses can see the arrival pattern of their customers so they can easily plan or allocate the accurate headcount needed for a specific day or time.
This will be a Win-Win situation for customers and businessmen.
I hope this feature also generate a montly report for the business owners.
I actually have, and still do use this feature when planning my shopping days! It’s infinitely more useful now especially, during holidays! I haven’t used it for restaurants, but I’m sure I will!
As far as assuming a biz is ‘tanking’ because their numbers are low - that hadn’t occured to me - the #'s are relative anyway! If 500 shoppers are there - 350 may be there during “slow” times, anyway!
This feature is so helpful while trying to reach some where crowded and when it is holiday time where people gather together and in times of celebration and other events. so helpful.
