Chitika Pay You to Use Their Maps

Online maps have long been a staple of internet usage. Any time that someone on a forum or in a chat channel wants to show a location to a friend, then a link to a map is produced. Directions to a house party are e-mailed alongside a map. More importantly for online businesses, an interactive map can draw potential customers right through their real world door.

For years, most people have defaulted to using either Google, Bing or Yahoo maps to do this. But that might be about to change.

In October 2011, Google announced that they would start charging some of their customers for doing this.

It is likely to only affect large businesses, who can attract thousands of visitors to their website, but even the most heavily used forums can expect some charge.

Google maps will allow 25,000 free hits, on any particular map, before the webmaster will receive a bill. It's likely to be $4 per 1,000 hits over that limit.

Bing have always charged high level users for their maps, though their limit is higher. 125,000 hits can occur before Microsoft will be asking for money. Then a one-off administration fee of $250 will be incurred. Future maps can be served to that site only with a licensing agreement. This involves a monthly subscription to a plan, on a sliding scale between $99.95 and nearly $500.

For businesses used to accessing maps for free, this is worrying news. Their growth in terms of popularity could see a large payment lurking in the future. This would be true regardless of whether map usage translated into actual customers and profit.

Just when wide-eyed executives were gulping nervously in boardrooms around the globe, Chitika offered a solution. Not only would they provide the same functionality in their own maps for free, but they would allow users to make money off them!

Traditionally, eCommerce businesses have monetized maps indirectly. These were displayed in order to provide extra information (and therefore better website content for those browsing their websites) or to bring customers to a real world location.

Stores, restaurants and public arts facilities, like galleries and museums, found an obvious benefit here. Interest would be piqued by websites or advertisements, then the map would be consulted so people could find their building. Sales could then take place face to face.

Chitika offers all of this, but also a secondary revenue stream. Those selecting to display their maps will also receive commission from the clicks. In this way, the business gains a small profit, even from those customers who never sought them out in person.

Chitika's maps are still currently in beta. However, they are already available for use. Developers have promised the full version by early 2012.

Chitika Maps will be created from each webmaster's adserving account there. Therefore the first step would be to register with them. There is also the opportunity to test the demo version without signing up.

Once approved, the registrant is able to log in to display their dashboard. Alongside the advertisement set-up and reports, there is a new tab. It reads 'Chitika Maps'. Clicking on that will open up a form table. This is where the maps will be both created and monetized.

The table (displayed left) appears both simple and self-explanatory:

The size should be entered in pixels. If you don't fill in this section, then the map will automatically be set to the standard: 512px x 512px.

The zoom stretches from level 1 to level 17, which provides plenty of scope for customization.

The center shows where you wish to place the focus of your map. A 'bottom bubble' is currently the only option available under 'monetization'.

For local businesses, or simply those wishing to highlight a specific spot on the map, then the location and pop-up sections will be the most useful.

These will allow the webmaster to place a pin in an exact position (a store, restaurant or the house where your great-great granny lived).

Anyone running a mouse over that pin will gain extra information. At the very least, this will be the address, though these can be edited. In short, you can decide what people should be reading there. For example, it could be an address with a short slogan like, 'best restaurant in town!', or a telephone number for more information.

Programmers who prefer to code their own pages can also easily do so. Chitika have provided step by step information on how to insert their maps onto your website.

Chitika maps have the capacity to be fully geo-coded, with hourly updates and the ability to include advertising. Developers have promised that a 'get directions' function is next on the agenda and should be released early in 2012.

The choice appears cut and dried. No business worth their healthy bottom line is going to pay for a service, when the option is to be paid for the same. But there may be two factors which intervene.

The first is that Chitika maps are currently untried and untested in the marketplace. Frankly, they might be rubbish, though the existing examples show them to be clean, bright and attractive. If Chitika can't provide the service that they promise, then they will be sunk before they've even taken on the big boys. That's just common sense.

The second potential obstacle is familiarity. People have been using Google, Bing and Yahoo maps for a long time. They are a common and trusted brand. Those browsing websites expect to see them and know how to use them. They might not have the bells and whistles that are anticipated in Chitika's version, but they are known.

In Chitika's favor is the fact that the internet is a fast changing environment. In the Age of Technology, everyone has learned to be flexible and to adapt to new tools, as they emerge on the market. Those ready and waiting with their maps may even be seen as having their finger on the pulse of change. Chitika's maps might become fashionable, as the bright, new thing.

As the opening shots are sounded, it will be interesting to see who wins the Battle of the Online Maps in 2012. Or, indeed, whether the competition will force Google and Bing to back down from their map profiteering.

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