Google Maps + Users' Support = Better Mapping Tool

It's a well-known fact that numerous consumers create their own Google Maps mashups which are supposed to provide information about a certain location. Using the My Maps function, this activity is well enhanced as the interested Google fans can build a map in minutes. I'm sure many of you who used Google Maps anytime before this searched the web for a location using the Google mapping utility. Until now, the product returned only Google-powered results which were usually very relevant for users' search queries. But since the mashups became extremely useful for most users, the super giant Google decided to include them in the search results in order to allow the consumers to find more details about a certain location.

In case you have used Google Maps today, you probably noticed it returns to different colored results. The first ones, colored in red, are provided by Google and usually refer to the location searched by you. The other ones, marked with blue, are powered by the consumers who build their own mashups and which were included in Google Maps. Clicking on them will redirect to a certain location but it might provide additional and sometimes, very useful information.

"Over the last year, we've been working hard to organize this local wisdom; we've sifted through millions of My Maps, KML files and other information created by all of you in the geoweb. Starting today, community maps will be available in search results on Google Maps. Now you can find cool places to visit, go for a hike, walk your dog, or take a date using the help of other Google users," Lior Ron, Product Manager, wrote today on the official Google Lat Long blog.

If you want to test the new update, go over to Google Maps and conduct a search that might include user-generated content.