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A N N U A L E U R O P E A N G O O G L E A W A R D W I N N E R

Irish Business View Photographerreceives Google Annual EuropeanMarketing / PR Award.

Oliver Murray, a County Kildare based pho-tographer has become the first Irish winner inthe Google Maps Business View AnnualAwards.

The award was made in connection with avirtual tour of the National Ploughing Champi-onships which was commissioned by Bank ofIreland

Oliver Murray, an accredited Google Trusted-Photographer received the prestigious Goog-le European Award at a ceremony in Zurich,Switzerland.

The tour was hosted on the Bank of Irelandwebsite and allowed visitors to plan their visitto the ploughing in advance. Those who wereunable to visit in person were also able to getinformation about all 1,400 businesses whoexhibited in the trade area.

The National Ploughing Championships arethe largest outdoor event in Europe, attractingmore than 275,000 people over three days.

Commenting on the tour the National Plough-ing Association Managing Director, Anna MayMcHugh said: “The NPA has a proud traditionof pioneering the use of new technology,dating back to 1931. I am personally delight-ed that Bank of Ireland is enabling the eventto be experienced from wherever you are inthe world, through Google Street View”.

Mr Murray's late father Aidan's close harmonymusical group the Carlow Septet played atthe original National Ploughing Champion-

ships when they were held outside Athy in the1930's.

Mr Murray was honoured to be invited toaddress the awards ceremony, attended byGoogle staff and top performing Google pho-tographers and agencies from all over Europe.

The remaining awards went to photographersand agencies in Germany, France, Spain, theUK, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

Those wanting more information on GoogleBusiness View virtual tours can contact OliverMurray on 059 863 3780, 085 248 3053 orvisit www.contemporaryphotography.ie

Below: Google Business View Muffins!

C O N T E M P O R A R Y P H O T O G R A P H YG O O G L E T R U S T E D P H O T O G R A P H E R

Right: Oliver Murray addresses the GoogleBusiness View Annual Awards held at the

companies European Headquarters,Googleplex, Zurich, Switzerland.

Awarded for The NationalPloughing Championshipsvirtual tour commissionedby Bank of Ireland

How Does Google Maps BusinessView Work?What are the costs?See Page 2

What is Google MapsBusiness View for Hotels?The exciting new ‘must have’See Page 3

Google Hotel FinderChanging how accommodationgets bookedSee Page 3

Community ProjectsPutting local on the mapSee Page 4

I r i s h F l o r i s t G u i l dB o n u s P a c k a g e

Contemporary Photography haveteamed up with the body forflorists - the Irish Florist Guild - tooffer their members a specialbonus package when they booktheir Google Business View beforethe end of July.Call for details.

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H O W D O E S G O O G L E B U S I N E S S V I E W W O R K ?Google Maps Business View isavailable to virtually every business inIreland who want to improve how theyshow up on the Internet.

A 'Google Trusted Photographer'undertakes a photo shoot of thebusiness premises using specialequipment.

These images are then used to crerate a'virtual tour' where anyone with internetaccess can explore the businesspremises. This can be accessed on alldevices 24/7.

The business will show up better on allthe Google properties, which currentlyinclude Google+, Google Maps, GoogleStreet View and of course GoogleSearch. There is a one off cost for havingthe tour recorded, but there are noongoing costs or fees.

Examples of a tour can be found bysearching on Google for 'Bang andOlufsen Dublin', or for 'Frank O'BriensPub' and clicking on 'See Inside' in theright hand column.

Mr Murray is a qualified photographerwho spend many years persuing asuccessful career based in Londonwhere he photographed a wide range ofsubjects in the UK and throughoutEurope.

“The Google Virtual Tour is a fantastictool for any business wanting to improve

their presence on the internet” he saidrecently. He continued “Not only doesthe tour show up on search, but it caneasily be added to a website, blog,social media post or email.

That Google have put so muchresources into this project is a testamentto their belief in the long term future ofGoogle Business View.”

GOOGLE MAPS BUSINESS VIEWShows up on:Google SearchGoogle Street ViewGoogle MapsGoogle+CostsOne-off feeNo subscriptionsNo on-going feesUse onWebsiteSocial MediaEmailsIncludesA set of full resolution premiumquality ‘Point of Interest’ still photosto use in your marketing.

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W H A T I S G O O G L E M A P S B U S I N E S S V I E W F O R H O T E L S ?

Google Maps Business View forHotels is the first of two productsrecently launched by Google which willaid the tourism industry. To give it its fullname 'Google Maps Business View forHotels' is a specialist virtual tour gearedtowards the particular requirements ofpremises who offer accommodation.

This allows anyone thinking of visitingthe hotel to take a virtual tour and look atthe facilities that are of particular interestto them.

As well as moving through the lobby,reception and bar areas the visitor cantake a good look at the ambiance of therestaurant.

Those thinking of an overnight stay canexamine the different types ofaccommodation from suites to double,triple and family rooms.

Brides and Grooms can look at thewedding ceremony room, banquetingsuite and even visit the gardens toassess the photo opportunities.

Business visitors can look at all the hotelfacilities including meeting rooms andbanqueting facilities.

Research shows that hotels with Googlevirtual tours attract more visitiors thanthose who do not.

Google Hotel Finder is the second newproduct which is aimed at giving thepublic transparent, honest information onhotels and B&Bs.

Google Hotel Finder is being rolled outon a phased basis and is regarded bymany as the greatest change to the waypeople access information aboutaccommodation in recent times.

Oliver Murray of ContemporarryPhotography is one of a select group ofGoogle Trusted Photographers whohave been accredited to provide HotelView.

Speaking in Zurich recently Mr Murraysaid “The vast majority of hotelmanagers we encounter have not heardabout Google Hotel Finder. I predict that

this will start to change very rapidly overthe coming months.

When we create a Google Virtual Tourwith the appropiate informationembedded” he continued “It becomes anincredibly valuable, cost effective tool toget direct bookings from potentialcustomers.

Once hotel professionals realise thepotential of the virtual tour and the way itcan be utilised on websites, social mediaand even emails they become veryenthusastic.

The most common comment we receiveafter the tour is completed is a requestthat we do not approach theircompetition any time soon!” Mr Murrayconcluded.

Below: Google Business View includes aset of premium quality still photographs

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C O N T E M P O R A R Y P H O T O G R A P H Y C O M M U N I T Y P R O J E C T S

Contemporary Photography CommunityProjects are Google Maps BusinessView virtual tours of premises that housecommunity, not for profit or charitybusinesses.

Contemporary Photography supportscommunities by supplying Google VirtualTours on a pro bono basis.

Anyone with an internet connection canvisit the resulting virtual tour of thepremises 20/7.

The tours show up on Google Search,Google+, Google Street View andGoogle Maps.

Google Business View is a great way fororganisations to be found more easily.

As part of the service ContemporaryPhotography also supply a set ofpremium quality still photographs.

The photographs are supplied in highresolution so they can be used in print.

A web resolution set of the stillphotographs is also supplied to be usedon websites, in emails and on socialmedia.The virtual tour itself can be embeddedin a website, and with the supplied shortcodes can be added to emails and socialmedia.Contemporary Photography can alsofeature an article about the organisationand its premises. This article can formthe basis of a press release plusnewspaper and magazine articles.Examples of Community Projects carriedout by Contemporary Photography in

Athy include the Heritage CentreMuseum, Arts Centre and Men's Shed.Oliver Murray of ContemporaryPhotography said "The Google MapsBusiness View product is a fantasticaddition to the online presence of anyorganisation.At Contemporary Photography we areproud to use our skills to give somethingback to our community." "We are actively looking for communityprojects to support at present andwelcome applications from anyone whofeels their organisation would benefitfrom a tour.”

Arts Centre“A fantastic marketing tool in itself and theset of still photos are just so useful”Brid Brophy - Secretrary

Men’s Shed“It’s great that guys thinking of coming tous can look it up and see what to expect”Gerry Walsh - Manager

Heritage Centre Museum“We are delighted that the tour isattracting a new and younger audience”Margaret Walsh - Manager & Curator

"We are actively looking for community projects to support at present…with a sponsored Google virtual tour”

Contemporary Photography - Tel: 059 863 3780 & 085 248 3053 - Web: www.contemporaryphotography.ie