Fuzion Fuzion Technology and Marketing are experts in providing marketing services, specialize web, email and social marketing, develop software and database design.

Google ends their Google Maps Location Tags Program in May 2011

Is it the end of an era? or just a way to kill off some competition?  Google maps had implemented a very quiet method of promoting your business (for free initially!) with the use of promotion tags.  These tiny yellow icons that would show up next to your Google Maps listing were very inexpensive and defied the pay per click model by offiering them up for a flat fee of $25 per month per location.

Why are they ending it then?

Google figured out that locations were one of the most dominant influencers in buying decisions for local businesses.... after the Groupon fiasco it became patently clear that local business search is where it's at.  We were early adopters of the Google Tags system for First Option Mortgage, David and Associates Dental, RPM Automotive and many other clients that used the Tags for bringing in local customers.

Despite our early adoption, Google finally came out with a program that would more effectively eat up our budget which they now call Google Boost.  While we love the program and we enjoy the "boost" in sales, the $780 per month price tag came as quite a big pill to swallow.  Needless to say it's worth it and that traffic converts really well.  I am suspicious that it likely cannibalizes some of our existing free search traffic, but leaving your Google Maps listings undefended to other Boost competitors simply isn't wise.  Best to just pony up the dough and make it happen.

Happy Googling!

Jared Nielsen
[email protected]