Local search results and why they are so important.

I have covered how to make sure your business gets included in the three main search engines local searches. When my family is out and about, we regularly do Google searches for businesses on our phones to get directions. I can’t be the only geek that does this all the time, and I get frustrated when I can’t find what I’m looking for. My thought is, why can’t Mr. Business person can’t take the whole 15 minutes it takes to use these free tools offered. Google mobile just posted to their blog that they are making searching with smart phones even easier. Here is the post.

One of my favorite things about Google Maps for mobile is finding businesses on the go. Today we launched a server-side change that makes it easier to get directions to businesses. You can now get directions to restaurants, stores, and other points of interest by entering their names in the start or end point. Consider this example:

Until today, if you tried to get directions and entered a business name, “starbucks” for example, as the end or start point, Google Maps for mobile did not understand that you meant Starbucks the business. Rather, Google Maps for mobile would search for an address with “starbucks” in it.

Google Maps for mobile now recognizes when your end or start point is a business and not an address. Try setting “starbucks” or “mcdonald’s” as an end point when getting directions, and you’ll quickly see what we mean.

If you’ve already got Google Maps on your BlackBerry, Nokia S60, T-Mobile G1, iPhone, or other smartphone, then you don’t have to download anything to start using this new feature. This is because today’s launch was made on our servers, not the Google Maps for mobile client.

But if you don’t already have Google Maps for mobile, visit google.com/gmm on your phone to download it today.

Posted by Constantinos Michael, Software Engineer