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The benefits of Google My Business

ITK Magazine
Mar 19, 2024
2 min read

Google My Business (GMB) is a free business tool that helps businesses of all sizes to create and maintain a listing on Google. GMB helps businesses appear in people’s searches and on Google Maps, meaning your business can attract new customers and share information.

Within your Google listing, you can link to your social media profiles and your website and display any Google reviews your business has. You cannot disable Google reviews, which many see as a negative, but reviews show customers that your business is legitimate and can give them an insight into what you do. People trust what people say about a business more than what that business says about itself - a good review could influence whether a potential client parts with their money or not.

If you want to get the most out of your GMB listing, you need to make sure that you’ve given Google as many details about your business as you can. With more information, Google can better match your business to potential customers’ searches. To draw people’s eyes to your listing, you can even also images; these could be of staff serving customers within your business, infographics, menus, pictures of your office and more. According to Google, businesses that include photos within their GMB listing receive 42% more clicks for directions and 35% more clicks to their website.

One great feature of GMB is that you can include recent post updates and any special offers your business may currently be running. Promoting offers is a great way to increase your website traffic and sales.

The category your business falls under determines whether you’re eligible for GMB’s additional features, which are as follows:

Businesses that are heavily service-oriented can include a service menu and booking button
Restaurants and bars can upload their menus and add links for customers to place online orders and reservations
Small to medium-sized businesses can add a product catalogue
If you are a hotel, you can display your ‘star’ rating and list amenities available

If, after you’ve created your profile, you think you qualify for these additional features but you cannot see them as an option, you may have accidentally chosen the wrong category for your business; it’s worth double-checking your choices.

Maybe you offer free Wi-Fi or wheelchair access and want potential customers to know - you can include this, too. You may wish to mention that your business is led by women, for example.

Google My Business has a lot to offer, and it’s worth creating. Follow the link to start creating your free listing: https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/business/

What This Means for Video Games

All Articles

24 June 2025

Reece Harrison

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After over 10 months, a deal has been struck with voice actors. This agreement includes a pay raise and introduces "secondary performance payments," ensuring actors are compensated if AI uses their voice.

A silver microphone is in focus against a blurred soundboard background, suggesting a recording studio setting. Soft lighting enhances the calm mood.

The strike happened primarily because voice actors feared being replaced by AI, leading to less work and lower income. The core concern was AI's ability to replicate their voices.

This deal means AI voice replication might become more common in games. Studios can now potentially use it with less backlash from actors, as compensation is guaranteed. However, it also means actors have less control over what their replicated voices say. AI could be used to make them say anything.

This technology could enable dynamic NPCs whose dialogue changes for every player, responding in real-time and making each interaction unique. But it's not all positive. A significant problem with the deal is that actors retain the right to refuse permission for AI use of their digital replica at any time, especially during a strike. This means studios must halt any AI voice usage if an actor withdraws consent, particularly during labour actions.

Furthermore, while actors will get paid more for AI usage, this increased cost must come from somewhere. This could lead to either:

Decreased budgets elsewhere in the game (e.g., graphics, level design, gameplay features).

Increased game prices, which many consumers already find too expensive.

Silhouetted game controller on reflective surface, bathed in blue light, creating a futuristic and calm atmosphere. No visible text.

Long-Term Implications for Video Games and Actors

One potential downside of the strike is that it may have inadvertently highlighted exactly why studios want to use AI: it's faster, cheaper, and doesn't require scheduling actors or waiting for them to come into work. By striking, actors made themselves more expensive and potentially seemed less reliable. Paradoxically, this could increase studios' motivation to replace them with AI in the long run, making the strike potentially shortsighted.

The strike's long-term effect might actually harm the very people it was meant to help by emphasising the advantages AI offers producers. Only time will tell if this deal proves beneficial, as future negotiations, new laws, or technological shifts might change the landscape.

We could also see increased public acceptance of AI voices as consumers experience (and continue to feel) the effects of the strike on game and movie releases. While this deal specifically covers video game actors, its structure and outcomes could influence how film and television actors approach their own negotiations regarding AI.

What Does This Mean for You (the Gamer)?

For you, this could lead to:

Increased game prices.
More of a game's budget being allocated to voice acting, potentially meaning less for other areas (like gameplay depth or visual polish).

On the positive side:

Actors, more confident they won't be replaced by AI without compensation, might deliver better performances.

The end of the strike means fewer delays in game releases, so you get to play highly anticipated titles sooner.