Atif on the Maps and Location Panel at SMX
I spoke about Maps and Local Search at SMX in early October. SMX is the largest and highest profile event covering search marketing. During the talk, I had a chance to discuss how Y! is driving more integrated consumer experiences between web search, local and maps. In the past these products acted like separate products. In recent months, we have made some improvements towards converged experiences.
A key example of this is the ability to see a map when you do a local search on Y! and then interact with business listings on that map. For example, the user can select a business through the map markers and navigate through all the profile information, photos and reviews on the Map interface. This happens without firing off a separate page or re-loading it. On top of this, we add some powerful filtering options such as radial search, which allows a user to drag or alter the size of the search radius on a Map to sort results.
There we some additional announcements in and around SMX like Google’s launch of fixed priced sponsored listings for Local queries. Overall, this is a good development fo the market. It reflects the simplicity that local and small businesses require in online marketing, as dynamic pricing and bidding are currently barriers for many local merchants.
Google spoke of its Local Business Center, which allow businesses to list their profiles on Google Maps at no cost — a service we’ve had for many years at Y! Google also demonstrated Google Places, a way for users to add locations and POI’s. Microsoft, which is making significant technical investment in the Maps area showed some bling bling - including high-res satellite imagery and 3D modeling on top of Maps. Overall, the companies showed different but useful developments in location-based marketing and services. We had everything from a consumer experience focus (Yahoo!) to real technology innovation (Microsoft) and user-generated content programs (Google).
There is indeed alot of ground still to cover in this sector of the web. Some of our ideas at Y! at presented below.
View more presentations from atifrafiq.
Related Links
Filed under: Web Apps
Email It
Digg This!
Slashdot It!
Tags: Maps, business listings, product innovation, Bing Maps, Google Maps, Y Local, Bling Bling, search marketing, location based services,
As the web market staurates, smaller businesses will be key players marking the growth ofthe internet. I think Google is innvolvative to focus especially on small local businesses. With teh popularity of iphone and other such devices local searching is becoming increasingly imprortant and we are using in the internet more to find lservices locally