The official blog for Google Maps
Bringing Richer Data to a Local Search Near You
June 9, 2008
Posted by Tammy Stern, Software Engineer
When I search for a business, I often want more information than just the address and phone number: I want to know what people are saying about it and what it looks like. Many results in Google Maps have had this information for some time now, but it's always been a couple of clicks away. Now richer data automatically appears in the left panel.
When I travel from the Google NYC office to visit the Mountain View office, I can get a quick overview of the
hotels near Mountain View
just by scanning the left-hand panel. I can see a picture of the hotel and read a snippet from a review, and I'm just one click away from voicing my own opinion by clicking the "Write a Review" link.
This improved browsability makes for all sorts of interesting queries. For example, I can browse the real estate market by doing a
real estate in Chelsea, NYC
search. (When I compare those results to the results for
real estate in Mountain View, CA
, I think that maybe I should consider moving to the Google Mountain View office instead of just visiting!) Or I can read about the locations that people have dubbed as their "favorite restaurant" by doing a
favorite restaurant in NYC
search.
So, the next time you find yourself looking for
books in Cambridge, MA
,
paneer near London
,
tourist attractions in Brazil
,
schools in Nairobi
, or
Elvis in Memphis
, be sure to Google Map it for an overview of reviews and images. Once you narrow down your choice to one or two options, there's still the "more info" link which takes you to an
info-window
with more reviews, more images, related webpages, and basic information about the business, including hours, pricing, and the official website. So go ahead and local search your hearts away!
Have a business? Go to the
Google Maps Local Business Center
to add your business information and photos.
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