Beyond Maps – The Hyperlocal Experience

For 12 years, MapQuest has provided the quintessential maps and directions service on the web and is the 13th largest website in the U.S. This constitutes the largest online audience that brings a location with its query – which is the essence of having the largest local audience and front door to local content the web.

MapQuest is transforming from a simple maps and directions website to a personalized user location centric experience. To aid in this transformation we’ve released a great deal of personalized and local content. This release has revealed interesting and enlightening user characteristics, activities and preferences.

This presentation will provide insight to our audience’s behavior with real stats and real behaviors including, adoption rates, what kind of searches are happening, and how have searches evolved. It will also highlight best practices on building a local network in terms of content and how this supplements and augments the mapping experience.

We will enlighten attendees as to the challenges (and rewards) of setting up a personalized, local content site. And, will show how local bloggers, sites, etc., can expose their content. How can they benefit in terms of growing their own local environment and a demonstration on how MapQuest can help in building the local experience.

It will also demonstrate the value of connecting communities between the mobile and .com experience and enhancing the overall value of the hyperlocal experience.