Google Base to get into Google Maps?

[Wicky]

Hi,

My goal is to get (Dutch) store location into Google Maps, so that local searches on <product> <town> would result in the store to be displayed. Searching on the store name already works as Google retrieved the locations from sites similar to the yellow pages. However, I want people searching for relevant products to find the stores.

I figured that Google Base is a way to submit structured data to Google. Google quote: "Items you submit to Google Base might be found on Google properties like Google, Froogle, and Google Maps."

The strange thing is: there is no item type 'Store'. I tried using the item type 'Product' instead. No luck so far.

Does anyone have succesfully submitted stores to Google Maps? I would be grateful for any tips and tricks you want to share.

[drodecker]

We've previously used the file upload method and found success in getting listings posted to Google Maps.

The problem is that the formatting requirement is very picky, which wouldn't be so bad except that validation takes days before responding with a failure for the whole file.

Through GBase API, we're able to upload our business locations, but we're not seeing these get uploaded to Google Maps in the same way. Many listings are not included even though the addressing is 100% accurate and identical to the base record. GBase items which do get associated with the Google Maps listing seem to have a bug and just show "More from >>" whereas it should say "More from RelevantAds" (see example ).

Waiting to hear from the Google local product team on that bug.

[Wicky]

Hi Drodecker,

Thanks for sharing your experiences with this feature. I found that Google only supports importing business locations for the US, UK, Spain, Japan, Italy, Germany, France, China and Canada. I am now trying a bulk upload also, but I probably need to wait for support in the Netherlands before we see some real results.

Do you get some traffic through Base or Maps?

[drodecker]

The biggest problem I have with Google Base is that there is no validation feedback - or an indication that a business record will actually appear in Google Maps. GBase accepts any and all data but it won't necessarily be included anywhere, nor does it provide a way of knowing that it was approved.

We help ensure our local business listings are accepted by validating and publishing business information with several providers; many of which Google also subscribes to. For example you'll notice that most of our listings in GMaps are publilshed alongside SuperPages. This is because we have are re-distribution agreement with Verizon that allows them to syndicate our business data. With multiple sources affirming a businesses listing, Google trusts that it is authentic.

It would simple be a great feature if they were to allow that feedback so that we (RelevantAds) could feedback that affirmation to our local clients.

[drodecker]

Originally Posted by Wicky

Hi Drodecker,

Thanks for sharing your experiences with this feature. I found that Google only supports importing business locations for the US, UK, Spain, Japan, Italy, Germany, France, China and Canada. I am now trying a bulk upload also, but I probably need to wait for support in the Netherlands before we see some real results.

Do you get some traffic through Base or Maps?

We do see traffic, of course it varies upon category and region, and the relative ranking of the listing. But we couldn't rely on Google alone (Yahoo! Local and several local search directories also produces a good deal of exposure). Since we recently changed from GBase file to API it's been difficult to track consistently, especially since they have that "More from >>" bug.

Since we publish 100% business information, most of the click traffic goes straight to the businesses own website. RelevantYellow profiles only see's traffic from that "More from RelevantYellow" link.