Google is rolling out new features for local search, as well as new tools to assist journalists with producing locally-relevant stories.
Google is finally rolling out the local search capabilities it previewed earlier this year, including the ability to search your surroundings using your phone’s camera.
At Google’s Search On virtual conference in September, the company gushed about its innovative local search updates.
Google has previewed an option to search for restaurants by dish and a new search feature integrated into Google Maps live view.
These updates and more are available now. Here’s a rundown of the local search updates rolling out today.
Updates for local Google search
Search with live view
Google Maps Live View search will roll out to Android and iOS in London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco and Tokyo next week.
Search with Live View allows you to use your phone’s camera to find information about places around you. Find out if a store is open, how busy it is, the price range and its star rating.
Search restaurants by dish
There are two new ways to find restaurants near you.
Find restaurants that serve a specific dish, either by typing it in manually or by doing a visual search with Google Lens..
Google’s “Multi-Search near Me” launches today in the US in English. Now you can use Lens in the Google app to snap a picture or screenshot of a dish, add the words “near me,” and instantly find a place to sell it nearby.
Find fast charging stations for electric vehicles
Google adds a filter to searches for electric vehicle charging stations, making it easier to find fast charging stations.
Search for “EV Charging Stations” and select the “Fast Charge” filter. You see stations with chargers of 50 kW or more.
You can also filter for stations that offer your electric vehicle plug type in more countries.
These features are now available on Android and iOS in countries where electric vehicle charging stations are available.
Find wheelchair accessible locations in more countries
The ability to search Google for wheelchair-accessible, stair-free locations is now available worldwide.
After you turn on the “Accessible Places” setting in the Google Maps app, you’ll see a wheelchair icon on business profiles if it has an accessible entrance.
If a location is not wheelchair accessible, the same symbol is shown with a strikethrough.
New Features For Local News In Google Search
New features coming to Google Search will make it easier for people to find content from local news publishers.
- Local News Carousel: Google will display a carousel dedicated to local news stories when there’s local that’s relevant to the user’s query.
- Top Stories Carousel: Authoritative local news sources will appear more often in the Top Stories carousel, which is typically reserved for stories from national publications.
- Deeper Understanding Of Topics: Google is refining its ability to connect broad topics with local stories. For example, searches for “football” may return stories about the searcher’s local teams.
