Location data (map) showing up in organic results

[Dj]

I saw something today that I have never seen before in the organic results for google and I am wondering if anyone knows what it is, how it happens to show up and/or how to make that happen.

If you google "san diego real estate" and go down about 7 entries, you will see one that has a + sign that opens up a map to their office.

Anyone?

[REW Tyler]

I believe that is an option you can sign yourself up for at http://maps.google.com/. It should be on your left hand side!

[MikeNY]

Hmm interesting, wonder if that is a good thing or not. If say a prospective seller was looking online for a Realtor in your area and say they lived 10 min from where your office is (on the map) maybe they would keep looking for someone with an office closer to them? Even though you may sell houses in that persons area all the time. Not that it makes a difference on who can do a better job but a lot of people think the agency in their town is the one they should choose even if that agency is not all that great.

[Susan Zanzonico]

I have seen that before in the Summit area and have not been able to figure it out. I believe its a good thing, but don't know how its done.

[Brian Mc]

There was an old thread here on how to do it, basically you make sure that a G map exists for your address and make sure that your address is listed on the homepage. I set mine up like this and it works, my listing is the only one on 'city real estate' 1st page SERP that shows the map. I think it helps with click-thru since they can see that you are a true brick-and-mortar business.

Since I did that awhile back, G has now updated the user map stuff and the other day I googled 'city real estate agents' and it came up with a list of 10+ user maps before any other results and it also showed the agent's photo from their map page, I looked into it a little and looks like I need to make a new user map to show up there. I just tried this search again and this list is not showing up now, looks like they are experimenting with this feature.

[OCTeam]

It appears that G is picking up addresses off of our agent/listing information as well. We did nothing to list in G the address (144 W. Avenida Cadiz) on the below search where it shows under a listing posted on REW, yet the +map shows up even with the wrong city shown, but correct as far as where mapped. We do not even list that address on our site. It is about 7 down here http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...te.com&spell=1

I am seeing more and more of this from many other linked sites as well.