Reserve with Google: how to deploy it across all your listings

Customers want to make reservations as easily as they purchase a product online. Google has understood this need with the release of the “Reserve with Google” feature, allowing users to book via your business listing or Google Maps.

Find out how to activate “Reserve with Google” on all your business profile listings with Partoo!

How can customers book or make an appointment using your Google business listing?

There are several ways to let customers book or make an appointment using Google Search and Maps.

Add your own booking engine to your listing

If you already have an in-house booking engine, you can integrate it into your Google Business Profile and manage it yourself. Your customers will be able to book in one click, and you won’t need to rely on a third-party provider or fork out their fees. By integrating your own tool you can:

• manage the entire customer journey;
• increase bookings thanks to a “Book” button visible on your main listing and local pack;
• collect and manage customer data yourself;-   set up and monitor “conversion tracking”, to monitor the number of clicks on your “Book” button that resulted in an actual reservation.

Did you know?

In addition to a “main” booking button, you can add specific booking links for each service you offer. These are visible in the “services” section of your Google listing!

In addition to a “main” booking button, you can add specific booking links for each service you offer. These are visible in the “services” section of your Google listing!

Alternative methods

If you don’t have a booking tool, you can add a link to a third-party booking site (the “Place Action Link”) to your Google listing. However, your listing won’t have the “Book” button, but rather a discreet link.

You can also use Google’s third-party partners (BookDinners, Planity,The Fork, etc. depending on your sector). This simple solution is easy to activate, but you should factor in their fees and the risk of becoming dependent on them to manage your bookings.

Why “Reserve with Google” is a strategic local business lever

This brand-new Google listing feature is already making waves among several of our customers. Integrating a “Book” button on their Google listing means these sector-wide companies have:

• reduced their dependence on third-party platforms such as BookDinners, Planity, etc.;
• increased profits because they no longer have to pay third-party fees;
• increased the number of reservations thanks to a simpler and smoother customer journey.

These results prove that the “Reserve with Google” feature is not just a snazzy new gadget: it’s a powerful acquisition channel. It is the new must-have for retailers and service providers who want to capitalise on consumers’ already established online booking habits!

How to integrate your booking system into your Google listing?

Integrating your booking tool into your Google listing has numerous benefits however this process requires some tech skills. Fortunately, Partoo is here to do the hard work and help you integrate your booking tool into your Google listing.
What are the requirements to be eligible for the “Reserve with Google” feature?

You’ll need to meet certain criteria before you can display the “Book” button on your Google listings:

How Partoo simplifies the integration of “Reserve with Google”

Once the above are in place, Partoo will take care of the Google integration side:

1. Your “Book” button will be clearly displayed on your Google listings and in your local pack.
2. Bookings will be connected to your in-house engine, meaning you have total control and avoid third-party fees.
3. If you wish, it can be integrated via an API to automatically update your services (price, duration, description).

Once the tech side has been taken care of, all you have to do is complete the Services and Booking section in the Partoo app, making sure you have at least one general booking link per establishment. Ideally, you should add a specific link for each service.

Monitor your performance with Conversion Tracking

Once the tool has been integrated, Google requires a final step: the implementation of conversion tracking.

What is Conversion Tracking?

Conversion Tracking lets you know if a click on one of your Google listings’ “Book” buttons has resulted in an actual reservation. Without this follow-up, you’ll never know if a customer clicked on the button and then lost interest or made a confirmed booking.

Conversion Tracking lets you know if a click on one of your Google listings’ “Book” buttons has resulted in an actual reservation. Without this follow-up, you’ll never know if a customer clicked on the button and then lost interest or made a confirmed booking.

How does Google Conversion Tracking work?

When a user clicks on your Google Business Profile listing’s booking button, Google adds a specific identifier called “rwg_token” (understand “Reserve with Google_token”) to the redirect URL.

• This ID confirms that the visit is from Google.
• You must then link this session to a validated booking on your site.
• Once the booking is confirmed, the information is noted and sent as a “conversion” to Google.

All this data goes back to Google’s Actions Center, a centralised space that allows you to track:

• the number of conversions made through your booking buttons,
• and, therefore, the precise ROI generated by “Reserve with Google”.

Why is tracking your conversions so important?

First and foremost, Conversion Tracking means you can accurately measure the impact your Google listings have on your business.

For Google, on the other hand, it improves the credibility and relevance of your listings, since only confirmed bookings are logged and sent to the Actions Center.

Simply put, Conversion Tracking turns your “Book” button into a valuable, measurable performance lever, making it more than a simple outbound link.

Reserve with Google…But only with Partoo by your side!

Partoo makes activating your “Book” button a cinch: we help you meet the prerequisites, connect your booking engine, and activate performance tracking.

Partoo is here to help

Want to learn more? Partoo supports you in implementing Conversion Tracking for your “Reserve with Google” button.

Contact us