Google Maps Shows Ad Markers for Local Business Advertisers

Google has expanded its Adwords into its own Google Maps with a clever twist. Instead of putting the listing at the very top of the google local search listings, Google catches your attention with a special marker:

Zales Local Ad Map

and then gives listing details when you either click on the icon:

Zales Local Ad Open

or when you scroll down to the very bottom of the local search results on the left hand side, even after the next and previous links:

Zales Local Ad Text

Local business advertisers don’t appear limited to the use of a letter either, here is a realtor in Chicago:

Vetro Chicago Local Ad

Interesting, the “dot” marker doesn’t seem to have anything to do with realtor company’s logo or branding.

This brings up a few different questions I have for Google Maps:

1) How many ads will you show at the same time? It looks like just one right now, but I could imagine being able to fit 2 or 3 without being too obtrusive.

2) Will you start letting businesses put in a favicon or a completely custom marker?

3) Will the typical Adwords ranking factors come into play for having the top spot (or 2 or 3) on the map?

This entry was posted on Friday, April 11th, 2008 at 7:53 am and is filed under Google Maps. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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