A Group of Retailers Testing Promoted Pin Ads in Google Maps

In year 2016, mobile search has emerged as clear winner by dominating the desktop searches. More than 70% people use smartphones for their searching and shopping online. Around 50% of smartphone users who searched for something on their mobile make a visit to local store the same day. One in four of them also used a map through a web browser or an app to locate the store or making the purchase. This year, a number of brands are testing Promoted Places in Google Maps to showcase special offers and announcements to drive more foot traffic to their stores.

Google is continuing to test its new promoted pin ads in Google Maps with these small group of retailers. The promoted pins in Google Maps are being tested on Android devices.

Promoted Places ads can appear in the Google Maps app when users are looking at maps of the surrounding area; users don’t need to have searched for the retailer. Promoted pins appear with the retailer’s logo on the map instead of a general category icon.

  

Clicks on a branded pin pull up a banner at the bottom of the screen showing an “Ad” icon next to promotional text and an image. Users can click again to view the business’s place page to see store hours, check live updates to Popular Times, get directions, and more.