Google Maps ups ad game to help businesses capture mobile users

Google is about to get a lot more evil especially if you hold an absolute hatred for advertisements.

Google Maps is getting a slew of new advertising features, that will help brands, physical stores and the like reach consumers more effectively.

“To help marketers succeed in this mobile-first world, we have redesigned AdWords — from the ground-up — and re-thought everything from creatives and bidding, to workflow and measurement,” Google’s SVP of ads and commerce, Sridhar Ramaswamy, noted on the AdWords blog.

This change comes courtesy of smartphone usage trends, which has seen Google receive close to 50% of its search queries on mobile. It’s also in a bid to help businesses bridge the digital and physical divide.

And in  what form will these ads take? Ramaswamy explains:

First, we’re experimenting with a variety of ad formats on Maps that make it easier for users to find businesses as they navigate the world around them. For example, Maps users may start to see promoted pins for nearby coffee shops, gas stations or lunch spots along their driving route. Local business pages are also getting a brand new look — to encourage consumers to explore your store before they even arrive, we’re adding new features like special offers and the ability to browse product inventory.

“Nearly one third of all mobile searches are related to location,” Ramaswamy continues, so granted these new ads promise to be a bit more helpful than most.

So if you happen to see an odd ad or two popping up in Google Maps this week, drop a comment below, and tell us of your experience.