Google Local Business Ads Score New Features


The Google AdWords team has announced a group of new features for Local Business Ads, some of which are in place now, and others that will be coming soon.

In place now are new links that will appear at the bottom of the ad’s info window: Get Directions, Street View, and/or Save to My Maps. Here’s a look at my wife’s local business ad showing two of the new links:

local business ad

(We don’t have Street View in our little backwater hamlet, but maybe someday.)

A “Send” link will be added soon, allowing searchers to send business information to their phone or email address. If I’m reading the announcement correctly, advertisers won’t pay when searchers click on these links: “Users will still be able to click through to your site if they wish — the info window simply offers additional free functionality.”

Also coming soon — in “a few weeks,” according to the announcement — is a new report detailing things like how often an ad’s info window was opened and how often users clicked on the new links.

Google’s announcement emphasizes that these new features won’t be available to all advertisers: “… while local business ads can appear in several countries and on a number of web properties, the changes described here will only affect local business ads that appear on Google Maps.”



Matt McGee is the Search Engine Land Assignment Editor, and offers search marketing consulting and training to businesses of all sizes. He blogs at Small Business Search Marketing and HyperlocalBlogger.com.

See more articles by Matt McGee >


Share, Bookmark & Discuss This Article
More:


Keep Updated: News Via Email | News Via RSS Feed | News Via Twitter


See more stories like this in the Members Library! Check out the Google: AdWords, Google: Maps & Local, Search Marketing: Local Search Marketing sections of the Members Library where this story is filed. Members also get access to exclusive video content, a members-only weekly & monthly newsletter, plus more. Check out all the benefits!

Comments are closed.


RECENT COMMNENTS

  • Dudibob said " :O that's a Storm Trooper, not Vader! Interesting way to get a coffee at Yahoo lol"
  • claydo said " I agree with you @chiropractic. Check out http://www.search3.com/ as an easy way to compare them. It"
  • claydo said " This a great article. There's also a great article by Stanley Bing in the latest Time magazine about"

See All »


FREE DAILY SEARCH NEWS RECAP!

Stay on top of all the search news with our daily summary, the SearchCap newsletter. View a sample ›

STAY CURRENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY

RSS Feeds

The Search Engine Land feed keeps you informed as news happens. SEE ALL FEEDS »

Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences

Advertise With Us »

Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.


SMX Web Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »


Join us at an upcoming SMX event:

Search Marketing Now Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include:


See more webcast topics »

TRACK US SOCIALLY
Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences

Get Your Search Engine Land
Premium Membership!

Become a premium member today and receive:

  • Express commenting privileges & photo.
  • Exclusive videos & newsletters.
  • Discounts to our SMX conferences.
  • Access to "How To" & Other Archives.

Learn More

Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences
Add to GoogleAdd to My Yahoo!Add to BloglinesAdd to NetvibesAdd to Windows Live