Google: Yes Garrett, Maps ARE the Doorway to Local
I've been preaching for some time that maps are the doorway to local: Ads in Maps: BN's Coffee Cup on Google Maps

With some variation of course... In this post I say its Maps + Mobile as the doorway to local: Google Maps API2 + Local Search Marketing Checklist

Google talks about the orginal change, when they merged maps into local:
"Last October, we merged our local search site with Google Maps. At that time, we thought it was most appropriate to name the integrated product "Google Local" to emphasize the broad searching capabilities of the site and that it was much more than an ordinary mapping site."

The incredible popularity of Google maps and a public groundswell got them to switch the Local tab at the top of Google BACK to Maps.

Danny Sullivan thinks it's a bad move: "Hate to say it, but perhaps they should go back to two different sites. Local results can still be in Google Maps and vice-versa, but separately, they might be easier to maintain with more targeted front pages for what people probably expect. For example, compare Yahoo Local to Yahoo Maps."

I actually DO like the Yahoo Local layout better than Google Maps. Yahoo local has a PICTURE of a map which makes me feel secure that I'm going to be able to find what I'm looking for. It also has more writing, and feels a little more user friendly to me.

To dig a little on Sullivan though, Google Local (pictured below) isn't really all that different from Google Maps from a standpoint of layout and text on the page, so I'm not sure what his criticism actually is.



Local started with a picture of the US, and Maps defaults to Manhattan (watch for that to change shortly... Was THAT what you were talking about Danny? That Manhattan's not really a good place to start people off at?).

What it's all about
The Google home page tab switch was more about putting Google in line with how people are really thinking about local search. People want to FIND the LOCATIONS of places so they can successfully navigate to them. The strongest (and pretty much only...) metaphor for this activity is a map.

Google local to maps just makes sense. Maps ARE the doorway to local.

No wait! No wait!! The doorway is actually Maps + Mobile + Calendar ;)

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Garrett French - MarketSmart Interactive | permalink | +marktd |