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Google Maps Adds Sponsored Icons, Puts Logos on Your Searches

by Terrence O'Brien on September 2, 2010 at 06:30 AM

HSBC Logo on Google Maps
Starting today, you might notice something different about your searches in Google Maps: company logos. After a trial period in Australia and New Zealand, Google is expanding its sponsored map icons program to the States. Bank of America, Target, Public Storage and HSBC will now have their logos, as opposed to generic business icons, displayed in Google Maps to indicate their locations. The program is only in beta at the moment, but it's expected to eventually include all companies that wish to pay to have their logos displayed. The sponsored icons will become visible in the next few weeks on mobile phones, as well, where they'll likely be much more useful. Businesses paying to have their icons in Google Maps will benefit by having more visible locations in searches and increasing brand awareness, while consumers will be happy to navigate the map with added ease.

The common worry is that, if enough companies buy into the program, our Maps may become buried in a sea of logos. But, Google says it will decide which logos to display based on the search context to prevent customers from being overwhelmed. If you search for a restaurant, Google may display logos for banks (in case you need to hit an ATM), whereas you probably won't see Public Storage locations.

Tags: advertising, google maps, GoogleMaps, logos, top

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