The Call button is the most valuable button on your listing.
When someone finds you on Google Maps and taps Call, they're not browsing. They have a leak, a flat tire or a free afternoon, and they want it sorted. AlloPlace makes sure that call gets picked up.
Why these calls matter
A call from your Google listing usually comes from someone close by, searching right now, who has already looked at your reviews. They picked you. If you don't answer, the next business is one tap away on the same screen.
What AlloPlace does with them
Picks up every time. Day, night, or when you're with another customer.
Answers what the listing doesn't. Your profile shows your hours. It doesn't explain whether you do heat pumps, how far you travel or what a service call costs. AlloPlace does, from what you've told it.
Books on the spot. It offers open times from your Google Calendar while the caller is still on the line.
Keeps the record Google stopped keeping. Google Business Profile used to show a call history. It doesn't anymore. Every call AlloPlace answers is in your inbox with the number, the time, a transcript and a summary.
Setting it up
You have two options.
- Forward the number already on your profile. Nothing changes on Google. Calls to your usual number go to AlloPlace when you choose: all the time, after hours, or when you don't pick up. This is the simplest option and keeps your listing consistent everywhere.
- Use a separate AlloPlace number. Some businesses want calls from Google kept apart from everything else. That can work, but changing the number on your listing has side effects, so read Google's current guidelines first and keep your main number consistent across the web. TBD: write a short guide once Google's rules are confirmed.
Keep your hours in sync
Your Google hours and AlloPlace's hours should match. If a caller sees "Open" on Maps and then hears "we're closed", that's a bad start. When you change your hours for a holiday, change both.
Good to know
- AlloPlace doesn't connect to Google Business Profile directly. It answers the calls your listing sends.
- Messages and booking buttons on Google are separate from phone calls. AlloPlace doesn't answer those.
- The same goes for Apple Maps, Bing and other directories. See Online listings and directories.