For an increased customer satisfaction

Feb 25, 2008 12:11 GMT  ·  By

Modern people can't live without advertising, and advertising definitely can't "live" without people, that's why we'll see various new ways of advertising in the future, ways intended to bring advertisers closer to consumers.

Relevantis, a US-based advertising technologies developer, announced the availability of the first advertising platform that support paid icons for interactive maps as well as for navigation systems. The new platform can place branded icons on an interactive map, allowing mobile users to easily interact with advertisers, with just a single click or touch. More exactly, instead of displaying a normal icon that represents a fast-food or a coffee shop, the maps that use Relevantis' new platform will show the name/logo of the nearby interest point, like McDonalds or Starbucks, helping both advertisers and customers.

"At Relevantis, our goal is to enable advertising that doesn't feel like advertising," said Scott Searle, Chief Executive Officer of Relevantis. "With map advertising, everybody wins: The map publisher receives revenue from advertising; advertisers are able to reach out to consumers in an engaging and effective manner; and, most importantly, end users have a great experience that doesn't feel like advertising. The map icons feel natural - like they belong. This leads to greater ad revenues and increased customer satisfaction and retention."

The platform developed by Relevantis supports icons that allow customers to interact with various advertisers in an elaborated way. Users can immediately call the advertiser, receive a coupon or get directions, and the advertisers are charged based on the number of actions or impressions their icon receives (for example, the number of clicks for coupons). The platform also allows advertisements to be repurposed for interactive maps.

Although it's first of all created for cell phone maps and in-car navigation systems, the Relevantis advertising platform also supports online and desktop map products.