May 11, 2009
Google Street View boosts traffic to Google Maps
Last month saw the controversial launch of Google Street View. But whatever your view of the privacy issue, there’s no doubt it has been a source of increased interest in Google maps. Since the launch on the 19th March, traffic has gone up by a whopping 41%, making Google maps the 20th most visited site in the UK.
The amount of time people spent on the Google maps also went up. ‘Time on site’ is a good measure of whether or not people like what they find on a website, and want to engage with it. Average ‘time on site’ for an informational site like Google maps is usually around 2 to 3 minutes. Following the launch, average ‘time on site’ jumped from an already strong 5 min 28 secs to 7 min 6 secs.
All data is thanks to Hitwise UK.
Here’s a graph showing the increase in traffic:
So for Google, was it really worth all the negative publicity? I think the numbers speak for themselves. But what do you think?
Just goes to show that there is no such thing as bad publicity.
Unless you’re an MP on expenses…..
AX
Has anyone tried making a personal Google map and using the webeden google map widget to show it off in one’s website? I think I might try that ;-)
AX
Comment by Alison Cross — May 11, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
Hi Alison,
As in one of these? http://maps.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=68480
?
Ken
Comment by admin — May 12, 2009 @ 10:56 am
Yup, that’s the beastie ;-)
I’ll need to sit down and work out what to do about that.
At the moment, the pin in the map is waaaay out of place, which is next to useless. Actually, it’s next to the police station, but I digress….
AX
Comment by Alison Cross — May 12, 2009 @ 12:28 pm
Hi Alison,
Are you having specific problems, or do you think there’s a general fault?
We just put this map on a customer site and its looking good at the mo:
http://www.alltrades.org.uk/#/location/4532627437
Ken
Comment by admin — May 13, 2009 @ 10:45 am
I see the map on the website (nice btw) but there isn’t a pin to show the business location. I’m trying to get the map with the pin in it :-)
With the pin in the right place LOL!
If you look at http://www.ibcsigns.co.uk/#/contactus/4527748486 the pin is there, but in the wrong part of the High St and on the wrong side of the road.
Sure, we’re only a small place, but it’s a niggle (and not a webeden niggle, so relax ;-))
AX
Comment by Alison Cross — May 14, 2009 @ 10:46 am
Yeah its all a bit approximate isn’t it? They should give you the ability to pick the pin up and move it - I’m sure they’ve got plans for that…
Ken
Comment by admin — May 14, 2009 @ 12:53 pm