Google has added a Questions and Answers feature to Google Maps. This means you can ask businesses questions (and hopefully receive answers) before you visit them. You can also see questions other people have asked, and learn more about different locations as a result. Result!

As shocking as it may sound to younger generations, there was a time in the not-too-distant past when the internet wasn't a thing. This made it a lot harder to know where you were going and what you were going to do once you got there. But now Google Maps does the hard work for you.

Asking Questions and Providing Answers

Google Maps has a new trick up its sleeve, with Google adding a Q&A feature. The idea is to help fill in the gaps in knowledge we all have when searching for things to do and see online. If you have a question, you can ask it, and hopefully someone will provide an appropriate answer.

All you need to do is search for a specific location on Google Maps. Once you have found it, open the local business listing, and scroll down to the "Questions and answers" section. From here, you can ask a question, answer other people's questions, or upvote the best questions by giving them a thumbs-up.

This is mostly organic, with people free to ask and answer questions as they see fit. However, Google will notify business owners when a question is asked. The hope being they'll be on hand to provide the best possible answer. Businesses can also add their own frequently asked questions to get ahead of the curve.

Google's new location-based Q&As are rolling out worldwide for Google Maps for Android. They will also show up in Google Search on mobile.

Adding Information to Google Maps

Now that it's happened, adding Q&As to Google Maps seems like the most obvious thing in the world. After all, this has the potential to add a wealth of information to Google Maps. This simple little feature should stop visitors from asking the same questions over and over, which in turn will help save the businesses themselves both time and money. So, everyone's a winner.

Do you regularly search for a business on Google before visiting? If so, have you ever made a decision based on the information, reviews, or photos you have found? Can you see yourself using the new Q&A feature in Google Maps? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Josh Tasman via Flickr