Google has rolled out a host of updates to its search product. The updates are designed to make visual information more useful as pictures and video become more central to the Internet experience.

The new features showing up in searches include introductory videos about public figures, topic videos to help users plan trips or learn about new subjects, and an overhaul of its ranking system for displaying image-based searches, offering users more context and easier ways to shop online.

Businesses can leverage these changes to their benefit by integrating photos, videos, online reviews and more into Google’s “My Business” page.

Posting through Google My Business lets you publish your events, products, and services directly to Google Search and Maps. By creating posts, you can place your timely text, video, or photo content in front of customers when they find your business listing on Google.

Your business profile appears right when people are searching for your business or businesses like yours on Google Search and Maps. Creating a Google My Business (www.google.com/ business) page is free, and you can update your Business Profile with it so you can stand out and bring customers in.

Once you set it up, you can learn how customers are interacting with your Business Profile. How did people find you? Where are they coming from? It’s similar to Google Analytics, but tailored to your specific business. It’s also designed to be much less overwhelming. While many data scientists are devoted to analytics’ ability to handle any deep dive, the sheer amount of variables involved is enough to frustrate those without a statistics degree.

Google My Business also gives you the tools to build a website for your company, for free, in less than 10 minutes. The free website builder makes it easy to create and edit your site from your computer and phone. Google handles the optimization, ensuring your new site will look great on any screen, from desktops to tablets and phones. By doing it Google’s way, you might be losing a bit of your own autonomy, but the tradeoff might be worth it. All of the sites set up through Google My Business are designed to drive customer actions, using Google’s other services, like Maps to help people find you, and AdWords, Google’s online advertising platform that aims to turn searches into sales.

Matt is managing editor of sister publication Nursery Management.

LAYTONSVILLE, Md. – Ruppert Landscape has promoted Steve Faber to the position of regional manager in the company’s landscape management division. Additionally, Kurt Myers and Michael Vispi have been promoted to the position of branch manager.

As region manager, Faber will oversee operations in the Lilburn and Mableton, Georgia branches. He has been with Ruppert for more than 17 years and has a combined 25 years of industry experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and is a board member for the Georgia Green Industry Association. Over the course of his Ruppert career, he has held several positions including field manager, area manager, and most recently, branch manager in Lilburn. For the past year, he has also taken on the role of acting branch manager in Mableton while training the next generation of leadership. In 2011, he earned the company’s Clyde Vadner Merit Award, presented to the individual who has demonstrated consistent hard work and dedication leading to exceptional contributions to the organization. He currently resides in Athens with his wife, Cheri, and their children, Dorie, Ethan, and Claire.

“Steve has played a pivotal role in helping us establish a strong reputation in the Atlanta market. Without the benefit of acquisition, Steve and his team built the Lilburn branch from the ground up. The levels of success they achieved has enabled us to split the branch, which resulted in the opening of our Mableton branch in 2015 and the establishment of a satellite operation in Athens,” said Fred Key, region vice president. “We know he will continue to build strong teams and long-lasting customer relationships in his new role.”

Ian McCarthy, president of BlueClaw Associates says if a contractor skimps out on the base of a deck, it may cut costs but quality suffers the most.

“If you don't have a suitable base that's going to lead the stones or pavers to sink later on,” McCarthy says. “And then that's going to make the demise come quicker and require repairs. Sometimes we see some contractors doing skimping on the base because they can offer a lower price to the customer and it looks like a better deal, but it's really not because it's not going to stand up as well.”

At Blue Claw, the team primarily works on properties in Cape Cod and Nantucket. They install a lot of pool decks using pavers and concrete slabs and have been called out to do repair work on other properties after faulty installation.

What can go wrong?

Pitch: “It’s important that your decks are properly pitched,” he says. If the pitch is off, water can begin to puddle and cause damage or even dangerous conditions. McCarthy says there was an instance where an existing installation was leading water to puddle near steps. The water build up was starting to wear on the treat of the steps. Repair or replace: In this case, the team was able to repair the areas that caused the puddling rather than having to replace the entire pool deck. McCarthy says it was more cost effective to repair small sections for the client.

Sunken stone: Going back to the base, stones can life or sink if not properly installed. Not only is it aesthetically unappealing, it’s also a tripping hazard. In areas that see a full range of seasons, this can happen over a cold winter. Repair or replace: “It's more of an undertaking (to fix this issue) because you could cosmetically lift stone out and change its place and make it level, but there's something going on underneath that's causing it,” he says. “It's not usually going to happen in just one stone. It's going to be in an area or the whole thing.”

Joint separation: When this happens on a pool deck, it usually means there’s some sort of movement happening underneath the material. “The pavers or the stones are moving from their original location,” he says. Repair or replace: Ideally, it would be wise to replace as much of the install as possible, but cost might come into play. Similar to stones lifting or sinking, it’s usually an indication of a more widespread issue.