The Google Maps interface was revamped, again, to get a better user experience, especially by putting more attention to Google Street View and to increase maps usage in general. This was just announced on the Google LatLong blog

When you drag the pegman (the little yellow mascotte) from the zoom bar to the map you will see thumbnails of Street View appearing on the area you drag it to. You can see directly which areas are available in Street View. Very Cool!

Some of the new features include the mini map in the bottom corner, showing the area around you. Almost as it looks like with Street View on the newly released firmware for the iphone.

For a video `showing off` the features click the |> button below:

another question I’m asking myself with this new update is how I put the ‘new’ zoom bar and icons in use with the Google API, but I bet I’ll read about that soon enough in the Maps API Groups.

Feel free to join the conversation with your thoughts on the interface update!

Post from: Local Search - martijnbeijk.com

Google Maps Interface Revamped for Street View

Mike was fast with his catch on the LBC awaiting an update! I wonder if it has something to do with his previous post that has drawn some attention.
Anyway, here’s the screenshot!

Update: as Maps Guide Brian posted in the Google Groups the Local Business Center will also undergo some maintenance the 6th of November.

Post from: Local Search - martijnbeijk.com

Google Local Business Center awaiting updates

More Google AdSense appearing in Google Maps –
I’m seeing all kinds of posts popup about this ‘new’ Ads you can see underneath Google Maps. People at Techcrunch are even giving it a weird financial twist. Almost two weeks ago I asked Mike Blumenthal about these ads I started noticing and they might have been there for even a longer time for some selected people. Now what’s the real reason Google is starting to display these Ads? Of course, creating even more revenue! But this couldn’t be just it.

It must have had a different reason, and my idea is, that this is all because of the ‘blue line’ upgrade. The ‘blue line’ upgrade made sure that there was now the possibility to fold away all the text (and ads!) on the left. By implementing text underneath the maps Google made sure there is still some more exposure to these Local Business Ads. It would be unfair for the Local Business Ad owner if it was counted as an impression but didn’t get its maximum possible exposure inside Google Maps when people were using Google Maps Full Screen. Also the CTR was apparently quite low, and these ads are a way to encourage google maps users to click more ads. Although, if many people didn’t notice them at first, are they really that visible?

some apparent facts:

• The ads shown in the adsense box underneath the maps correspond with the ones already shown in the maps markers (with the customized icons) and the ones on the left.
• Some ads might be added/shown in this bar if the ads on the left do not count up to three items.
• your ad shown two times counts as two impressions (haven’t tested this yet but googleguy mentioned it)

If item number 3 in fact is true, I am wondering if this negatively affects your quality score. 2 impressions and most likely just one click at max. would lower your CTR, affect your Quality Score and affect prices of the keywords you are bidding on negatively.

These are my thoughts, what are yours?

Post from: Local Search - martijnbeijk.com

The Real Reason for more AdSense underneath the Maps

First off all, in the ‘link’ feature, to send people links of google maps, they should provide you with some sort of tinyURL that is descriptive. Everywhere you see Google asking you to be clear as possible, using good structured URL formats, etc, and they just provide you with a URL that contains at least a couple of & parameters, fuzzying coordinates, etc. I read this idea also somewhere in the Google groups.

Second, I have to agree with Matt McGee and Mike B. that if Google would like to promote the use of Geositemaps, KML, and more stuff that common people or small business owners don’t understand they should think of better ways on how to do this.
For example, in the Local Business Center they could provide an export function of your current business listings, (approved, flagged, filter if necessary!) to KML! with automatic geo-encoding, maybe 1 or 2 images to embed in the KML or which further details per listing from the feed and information that is already there! And why not provide your KML in the webmaster central without using a sitemap?

Third,
everything that is still listed here; my previous post about updates I would like to see in the LBC or Google Maps.

Please share your thoughts or name a few things of what you think Google should do to improve Google Maps or make it more successful for business owners!

Post from: Local Search - martijnbeijk.com

What should Google do?

Again, Let’s do something for the user-experience. let’s make it more easy! Bigger Map viewing area for example. Away with the clutter, new tabs (user content)! They now use just one search box! make it easier for you to find stuff, not just pizza!

This UI also affected the European Google Engines.

Post from: Local Search - martijnbeijk.com

Less is…more Maps