Google Maps Finally Ready to Tell You "What's Here" for Any Point on a Map... Almost
On the Lat Long Blog, Google has announced a new Maps feature in the right-click menu for any point on a map.
Now, when a user clicks on "What's here?" Google will return as specific a result as possible, be that an address, a "natural entity," or a place name. When combined with the "At this address" feature, "What's here?" can even be used to return a full list of businesses located at a given address. Hypothetically, that is. The list of conditions for this feature functioning as laid out in the announcement seems to be a bit long and convoluted.
The feature recognizes magnification as a factor; for example a "What's here?" query for a body of water near Suffolk, Virginia, returns results of photos for Lake Meade and a link to Hampton Roads Executive Airport as well as a couple user-created maps for that general area.
As we zoomed in, specific addresses and place names started popping up on the left side of the screen:
As for finding businesses, however, we found the usefulness of the feature to be limited. Businesses at a specific (down to the street number) address could be found, but businesses across the street or one number over were not linked. And if a range of addresses was selected, we were out of luck unless the business was a significant place, such as a local landmark or historical site. Also, we would have like to see this option integrated better with options such as "Search nearby" to help users find businesses by vertical (restaurant, mechanic, etc.).
Another glitch is that the same rich data (photos, links) was shown for some map points that were a half mile apart or more, even when zoomed in relatively close.
And god help the user who clicks on an intersection. The feature didn't seem to recognize intersections, only street addresses, so no business results could be found given "the corner of X and Y" as coordinates.
All in all, the "reverse geocoding" concept is a necessary and overdue function of Google Maps; however, we feel this feature still needs improvement if it's going to be a handy tool for users with places to go and businesses to find.
Facebook
Comments
Subscribe to comments for this post OR Subscribe to comments for all ReadWriteWeb posts
I was with you until the end: "necessary and overdue"? What? Google Maps is amazingly handy, but there's nothing necessary about it. And as for overdue, its free (as in beer) software for God's sake. There's nothing "due".
American Health care reform. That's necessary and overdue. The Rolling Stones' retirement. That's necessary and overdue.
Wow, that's another interesting part of G-Map in fact, I'm beginning to love it and use it especially if I need to find a place I don't know yet.
Google map is always that useful.
This is an interesting innovation to support the LBC, but as you said it's usefulness is currently limited in regards to business information.
Google Maps is an excellent mapping tool, but why not leave the business listings to the large directories who's primary focus is to do so.
While I understand that Google's attempts are likely to open revenue streams and capture market share - I ask myself why? Why would they risk loosing a major industry that fuels their advertising revenue.
In my opinion they should leave the local business listings to those who's primary focus is putting forth an updated, active and maintained directory. They should focus on their local search algorithms and hold on to their market share of searches.
That said, Google Maps' new feature is a great innovation in reverse search - I know I'll be testing it in my area.
What do you think? Is Google cannibalizing their own advertising markets - or do you see this as a necessary step forward in search?
Great step for sure.This is a feature that has long been required.
I love it. I agree it should have been here from the very beginning. Although when I click on my house, it tells me what’s in the building four houses down… a little odd…
We at AdvSeo.com believe that the Google Maps and the Local Business Center algorithm is almost the same.
As we all know by know regular organic results surprisingly it is not as important as local listing particularly for local small business if they can get the same exposure from free source why not try to dominate it right?
The answer is right – but the question is HOW?
Google Maps and the Local Business Algorithm Suppose to be a secret that the Google People are very over protective till now here is the some of the things you can do to dominate Google Maps .
1-you must have an address in or close to the city you are trying to target.
2-you must have a local phone number
3-you must have a website that contains keywords related to your business area.
4-you must have some incoming links from other local directory.
5-want more information: Visit www.AdvSeo.com