| With the worldwide release of Apple’s iPhone 3G | | | | first of all it has not happened yet. Location-aware |
| this device has become the most sought after smart | | | | advertisements are in in the early stages of being |
| cell phone ever. Apple has always known that | | | | developed but there is a feature that you can |
| Personal Digital Assistants or PDA would be a power | | | | leverage today. This is simply the Google local search |
| and convenient tool for both business and personal | | | | capability. |
| use. Back in 1993 Apple marketed the Newton but it | | | | If you have ever done a search on Google for a local |
| was not the runaway product hit Apple had hoped it | | | | business you may have noticed that at the top of the |
| would be. But it looks like Apple’s time has finally | | | | results page a small map containing little alphabetized |
| come with the iPhone. | | | | balloons and to the left a list of links to businesses |
| Apart from the iPhone’s ease of use and | | | | located on that map. This is the Google local search |
| integration of being a PDA, iPod and cell phone all rolled | | | | feature and every business should be taking |
| into one, it has some very interesting features that | | | | advantage of this. |
| could change the face of local advertising. The iPhone | | | | By visiting Google’s local business centre ( you are |
| has built into it two types of location tracking. One using | | | | able to add your business location to Google maps. All |
| cell tower triangulation and the other being GPS or | | | | you will need for this is a Google account, and if you |
| Global Positioning System. And while neither of these | | | | use Gmail you already have one, if not signing-up is |
| technologies are new and have even been built into | | | | easy. Once you have signed-up you just need to fill-in |
| many other cell phones and smart phones there is one | | | | your business address and information including a local |
| other ingredient that has been missing. Mapping! | | | | phone number. Next you will need to activate your |
| The mapping feature used in the iPhone uses GPS or | | | | listing. This can be done in one of three ways. You can |
| triangulation using cellular towers to plot your location | | | | verify your listing by either phone or SMS (the two |
| on Google maps. These mobile maps can be used | | | | quickest) or by mail. After you have been verified your |
| for directions of course but the really intriguing part is it | | | | listing should appear in the next few weeks. |
| ability to be used for location based advertising. For | | | | But this does not necessarily mean that your business |
| instance a person could search for hardware stores | | | | will be in the top results for local listings. You will still |
| closest to them or more interestingly your location | | | | need to optimize your website properly for better |
| could trigger an advertisement from a local business. | | | | rankings, but is a first step to marketing your business |
| For example a 2 for 1 deal for glasses at the optician. | | | | locally to both home, but especially, mobile users. |
| So how can a business take advantage of this. Well | | | | |