By Pandia Guest Writer Garrett French

Google Maps recently released the Google Maps API2. Garett Rogers indicates, based on changes in the API’s Terms of Use, it’s not as much will there be ads in API maps but when will it happen.

The Terms of Use don’t say anything about sharing map ad click revenues. I think Google will share money with eCartographers and further, that this will help drive the next wave of offline/online convergence. That will happen on mobile devices. As we search for love and good deals (or good deals on love) in the real world

The changes

Whew! So to start at the beginning, here are some of the more intelligible-to-this-non-developer changes to the Google Map API:

• No page view limits. “If, however, your site gets more than 500,000 page views per day, we ask that you talk to us before you launch so that we can prepare in advance to handle your traffic.”
• 90-day notice before any advertising-related changes, ability to opt-out of ads on your maps
• custom map controls
• custom map types
• Much smaller JavaScript download “improves performance and stability”

Local marketing checklist

All this adds up to better maps. We should all be watching Google Maps Mania to see how the change in the API changes what the developers are making.
And now for… the online local marketing checklist:

• get your site looking good for mobile browsers (would you like information on this?)
• advertise on maps (right now it’s only Google – that will change)
• figure out how to market with the Google Map API (or whatever’s the next map API)
• investigate click to call advertising
• track your incoming calls
• connect the entirety of your inventory to the web so that searchers know whether or not you have their products in stock (when necessary technologies become available)
• be prepared for changes in how people shop as technology changes (you will see FAR more in-store price comparisons happening)

Garrett French is the Marketing and Communications Manager for MarketSmart Interactive and the Managing Editor of Search Engine Lowdown. He drives MarketSmart Interactive’s web presence – and thought leadership – through search industry participation. Call 919-433-3139 or email Garrett.French@MarketSmartInteractive.com to discuss how MarketSmart Interactive can build your business.