Google Local: Your Image and Text On Google Maps; My Questions
Google's now officially offering a new ad type (in beta of course): an image on Google Maps that, when clicked, shows your ad text, phone number, url, tagline etc...

You may remember my recent coverage of the coffee cup spotted on a Google local search for New York Booksellers, as well as experiments - without images - for hotels.

Well, now you can get your own Google map ads, complete with images.

The Google local business ads help page outlines the offering.

I have many initial thoughts, and questions including:
• The Google + Verizon SuperPages.com deal's making a LOT more sense.
• Tracking use of Google Local to actual offline purchase has to be solved for Google to actually show value.
• Some sections of maps [casinos, las vegas] may get crowded to the point of uselessness.
• I can upload practically ANY image I want? How will Google ensure continuous look and feel?
• So I can buy an ad on my old highschool and label it as a Pharmacy?
• How long before their servers break and local ads become invite only? (This is one case where Google had better deliver - the whole "beta" excuse won't cut it with business owners who aren't as understanding as those of us who've known Google for a long time)
• Will Google enable Map Mashup creators to get a piece of the action?
• We will see a landslide of info coming out about how people use Google maps, and online local will come in to its own.

Questions aside, Google Local Business Ads is HUGE for local search, and the first REAL monetization of maps - outside of Sopranos and Nike - I've ever seen (Gary Price probably has seen a few ;).

Via Blogoscoped.
Garrett French - MarketSmart Interactive | permalink | +marktd |