The more ways that your customers have to contact you, the better. Google has just rolled out a new service that allows anyone to send you a text message, directly from mobile search results. Like the “posts” that I wrote about a few weeks ago, messaging is set up using your Google My Business account.

Set up is simple. In the control panel for your business, a new “Messaging” item appears in the left menu. In this section, there are two items that Google needs: 1) a phone number where you can receive SMS text messages (it doesn’t have to be your business phone number) and 2) a short message (< 120 characters) that the customer sees when they initiate a text message.

When you enter a new phone number, you’ll receive a verification text to begin the service. After set up, customers will see a new “Message” icon directly below the map in the Overview tab. Clicking on the icon initiates a text message that you’ll receive at the number you specified.

It remains to be seen how many people will take advantage of this new tool. However, your ability to respond quickly, using the communication method that your customer prefers, allows you to start serving them immediately, giving you a unique advantage.

If you decide to use this new tool from Google, please let me know if you see any results (just click reply to this email), and I will do the same.