Google begins to monetize Google Maps

Google has quietly introduced Sponsored Links within Google Maps. If you do a search for hotels in New York on Google Local, you will see some results with blue balloons that are paid results as opposed to organic.

This seems to be in a testing phase because these links aren't widespread on Google Maps, and Google hasn't publicly told advertisers how to pay for placement on Google Maps.

This was first reported by David Galbraith.