Essentially, in the US - or for any searches run through American IP addresses - Google is testing a property addition to search results when certain property key phrases are searched for.
For our test we are using the terms: 'real estate', 'homes for sale' and 'apartments for rent'.
Within the organic results an option is presented to refine the search further for the key phrase and search housing. As shown below:
Refine the search
When a user chooses to refine the search for the key phrase they are presented with the following screen grab with options to search the web or to "search housing". Housing is one of the categories of an existing Google Base template from which results are being pulled.
When the search is refined and the search housing option is selected results are delivered on a Google Map.
When "map pin" is selected a photo and description of the individual property is displayed on the Google Map.
Sort Results
The results on the Google map can be sorted further by using a drop down box presented at the top of the results.
So what does this new Google service mean for you?
This service for users is still at a test stage with Google so it may be some time before we see this in search results and, currently, it is only being tested for American users. In terms of how this new service can be used to the advantage of clients, well that is an issue of some debate, and any search engine optimisation marketer will, no doubt, have their own take on this issue.
In terms of the potential timeframe for further moves from Google on this topic, given that Google has all the pieces, and is probably just waiting for enough of each kind of product to make a stand alone search feasible, it could be anything from a matter of months to a year.
The most exciting application of this new search approach would be through Google Base (see the link to the left). Categories other than property sales with description templates in Google Base and to which location is an important search factor will no-doubt quickly follow the property market's example once Google has developed a proven, successful service from this new feature.
If forced to suggest some areas then, in order of likelihood, I'd go with:
- Jobs
- Events
- Vehicles
- Services
- People (a sort of alternative white pages)
- Travel Packages (outsider, because travel tends to be less location specific than Gmaps is aimed at)
No doubt all of you out there can come up with a more extensive list of your own.
