Virtual World Advertising – Google?
Google’s getting smart…er. Not only have they nearly tripled their 4Q earnings, they are starting to add Local Business Advertisements into Google Earth as well, as, Google Maps. I received an email from them earlier today announcing this as I’m a customer of their AdWords product:
Advertise on Google Earth
If you’ve created Local Business Ads in your AdWords accounts, they’ll now appear on Google Earth in addition to Google Maps. Advertising a hotel in Lake Louise? A neighborhood cafe in Paris? Google Earth users across the globe can zoom in on your business. Don’t forget to add a customized icon to make your ad stand out.
» Learn More about Local Business Ads
I like this move by Google. Think of a visual Yellow Pages. Many people (including me) like to see things visually and this will help local advertisers such as pizza restaurants or a neighborhood cafe showcase themselves in the virtual world. I would love to know usage statistics of Google Maps and Google Earth to see how large an announcement this really is.