Thomson Local to enhance Google Maps

Feb. 12, 2010 - PRLog -- Thomson Local has announced that it has expanded its long-standing relationship with Google after it signed an agreement to become the preferred supplier of business listings for Google Maps.

The deal will see Thomson Local provide its database of UK companies to Google Maps alongside its network of other sites.

Thomson Local customers will be given the ability to add additional information about their business, for free, in order to provide users of Google Maps with a wider range of relevant information when searching for a local business.

Richard Avery, General Manager of New Media for Thomson Local said: “The agreement is great for users and our customers: users want relevant search results with enhanced information, and our customers rely on us to generate quality leads to their business.  

“By giving our customers the ability to enhance their online listing by adding additional text, pictures and documents within ThomsonLocal.com for free, they will benefit from the ability to increase the amount of information users receive and therefore make a more informed decision on who to contact.

“There is no limit to the amount of times that our customers can update their data, so for a business such as a restaurant, they could change their menu daily in order to give their customers the most up to date information available.”
   
Kelly Allison, Strategic Partnerships, Google said: “We are delighted to have extended our strategic partnership with Thomson Local as we consistently enhance user search experience via Google Maps.  Search is becoming increasingly ‘Local’ and the business data Thomson Local supplies will help provide our users with the relevant and accurate information they are looking for.”

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Thomson Local has been operating for over 25 years and has established itself as the leading local search company in the UK. Today, business listings are available both in print and online following the launch of ThomsonLocal.com in 2003.

ThomsonLocal.com is powered by the most comprehensive database of its kind in the UK with over 1.8 million businesses listed and additional content provided. With a variety of online advertising options, as well as being a Google AdWords Qualified company, Thomson Local’s tailor-made packages help promote businesses to an online audience that makes over 275 million searches a month across its partner network, which includes Bing, Pipex and Streetmap.