• Business 2.0 blog, Wednesday, August 8, 2007 11:07 AM

There's a big ad opportunity in Google's latest strategy to let people add business details to its online maps. Anyone can do it, apparently. Under Google's recently introduced business referral program, the search firm will pay reps $2 for info about the enterprise and another $8 if the data is verified by the shopkeepers.

Now here's where the magic comes in. Google then promotes its AdWords programs to the local businesses. Presto, they turn into paying Google ad customers. This is a Wikipedia-like way to compile a comprehensive directory of local venues practically for free.

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