Google Maps Gets Text Ads

Perhaps the surprise is that it hasn't happened before — Google has brought text ads to Google maps.

It’s such a natural for search-related text ads that the amazing thing is that it hasn’t happened before. Google has added text ads to Google Maps.

CNET reports that some map search queries bring up a blue background text ad at the bottom of the page, while others don’t. It seems to depend on the search term being used. However, the service is new, and will certainly change in future as people bid for keywords.

Certainly it’s an idea full of opportunity to target ads very specifically. It could well be that anyone search “pizza Cincinnati” could well find an ad or two as the map comes up. Given that most of Google’s revenue comes from search-related ads, this could well be a big winner.