Comments on: Ads added to Google Maps API

By: Google Map Ads Update | Local SEO Guide

Google Map Ads Update | Local SEO Guide — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:39:49 +0000

[...] Mike Blumenthal took me to the local search woodshed with the following comment: In mid March, Google announced that they have changed the API to allow the hosting site show ads along with searches for local [...]

By: Martijn

Martijn — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:58:08 +0000

@Mike

on that part I totally have to agree with you.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:24:56 +0000

@Martijn

Yes it seems that the new tool is a very flexible addition. I erroneously compared it to the way that Google is placing ads inside of the business records in Maps. I stand corrected on the API…its got choice, flexibility and serves both the developer and the end user well. I can not say the same for the inclusion of ads inside business records.

Mike

By: Martijn

Martijn — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:58:07 +0000

@Mike
as an advertiser you have the option to include your Local Business Ads to the ‘search’ network and to the ‘content’ network.
The ads used by the Google API imply that it is the ‘content’ network. When setting up your Adwords account to use Local Business Ads you can set up your campaign to use the content network. Even in this there are options. you can choose to target regionally. or to use Site Targeting. By using site targeting you – as an advertiser – tell Google where you want your ads to be shown.
To learn more you can visit the Adwords Help center: http://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=77418&topic=8518&hl=en

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:38:27 +0000

Thanks for the clarification. I do not use the API and am not familiar with it and their post made it seem as if it was required if you used the GoogleBar. Having a choice is really the only way.

Now if only the business whose name is being used to show ads had a similar choice.

Mike

By: Pamela Fox

Pamela Fox — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:39:59 +0000

Most developers do not currently use the GoogleBar. Only developers using this control will get ads inside of it. If they don’t want the ads, they can remove the line of code that adds the Googlear.

Developers who want local search integration without ads are still welcome to use the standard AJAX Local Search API.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:57:33 +0000

But if I understood this correctly, it comes as part and parcel the business listing and pov data? So if you are using those then you will have the ads? Is it required if they use that data?

Again as you point out its a developer decision but…

Mike

By: Martijn

Martijn — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:52:34 +0000

Well. Its up to the developer if he wants to make a buck using AdSense and maps or not. If you are developing something which uses the search feature and are using the new interface, then yes. ads are being shown. But this is by all means done by the developer, client just will have to accept that the website owner wants to enable those ads.

There is always the possibility to use the old style Google Bar I [i]guess[/i]