Remember the good old days when finding your way to a new destination was a mix of memory, a tattered old paper map, and the kindness of local strangers?! Well, thankfully (depending on who you ask), times have changed. And our tech overlords have helped us replace paper maps with smartphones… And even allowed us to find ways to make money with Google Maps if we feel like it!
Yep – you read that right – Google Maps isn’t just a brilliant invention that makes our lives easier – it can become a source of income if used correctly.
So, in this post, I’ll explore various methods to make money online and offline with Google Maps.
Let’s dive in!
There are many Google Maps features to help you navigate more confidently and easily, such as measuring distances, a trip planner, setting route preferences, exploring street views, and more.
Alongside finding your way around much easier, you can use Google Maps search results in the following ways:
One of the best ways to make money with Google Maps is to offer local marketing services.
Many businesses have no idea how to promote themselves and need help with their marketing strategy so you can step in to offer your services.
Different local businesses that may need help include:
Plumbers
Roofers
Electricians
Cleaners
Accountants
Landscapers
Car dealers
Massage therapists
Restaurants
Start by opening Google Maps and using the search function to find a local business to help.
Type in ”electrician,” for example, and scroll through the service businesses that show up.
The ones that appear at the top of search results generally won’t need help, as they will get lots of customers and have many reviews already.
Keep scrolling further down, and as you go, take notes of any that:
Have zero reviews
Do not have all their business information displayed
Do not have a link to a website or a Facebook page
Business listings are not well-optimized with images
Have not requested ownership of their Google business profiles
These businesses are probably not getting as many customers as they’d like, but you can make money by helping them get to the top of map search results.
Also, if you have search engine optimization knowledge, you can offer to do SEO for website traffic so they get found at the top of the search for relevant keywords.
If you’re new to digital marketing, start learning for free with the Semrush Academy.
Another way to earn an income from Google Maps is to become a map data analyst.
This role is also often called an ”online maps quality analyst”.
It requires a person to analyze mapping information on Google Maps and other search engines to ensure search results are appearing correctly.
You will need the right skills and qualifications to secure this type of work, so it’s worth taking a relevant course or securing a degree before you apply for paid positions.
Check these companies for map data analyst roles:
Virtual tours are video clips, and photos pieced together to create an interactive and immersive experience for local businesses.
While virtual tours are most often used in the real estate industry, they can also be used to showcase locations, services, and new products engagingly and uniquely.
Follow these steps to start a Google virtual tour business:
Use Google Maps to search ”niche business + city”
Make a list of 50+ businesses that do not have photos or virtual tours on their profile
Find a business that has a virtual tour on their Google business profile that you can use to show businesses what it looks like
Contact your list offering to create virtual tours for their business and give examples, with details of the value it will add
When you get interest, send your rate information
Create the virtual tour yourself or pay someone on Fiverr to do it for you
Advertising on Google Maps is a powerful way to attract new customers and revenue.
Many businesses won’t have time to do this themselves, so you can step in and offer a paid Google map ad creation service.
To create ads on Google Maps, you need to:
Create or update the Google business profile
Enable location assets in the Google ads account
Target a specific location and set bids by location
Use keywords in each campaign that relate to the business and location
Ads will appear as ”sponsored” at the top of Google map searches
Setting up Google map ads is free and you pay for every click on the ad so it’s a cost-effective way for businesses to get new customers.
To gain a client’s trust, offer to set up the first Google Map ad for free so they can see the benefits. After that, you can charge a monthly fee for ad management.
Another way to leverage Google Maps for profit is to join the ”Local Guides” influencer program.
This feature rewards contributors for uploading valuable information such as updates, reviews, and adding photos about local areas and places.
To get started:
Head to the ”Local Guides” page on Google
Select your city in the search bar
Agee to the program rules and conditions
Click the tab ”Become a Local Guide”
By sharing your local knowledge and experiences, you can help others navigate your area and have a better time.
One thing to note is that Google local guides do not get paid in cash to contribute content but often get sent perks such as subscriptions, gift cards, and early access to new features.
if you prefer to make money out in the real world with Google Maps, take a look at the following ideas:
If you know your local area well, you could use the Google Maps navigation app to make money as a local tour guide.
New visitors to a town or city want to learn about local history and the best places to go, and even if you charge a small fee per person, you can make a decent amount per hour.
20 people on your tour paying $5 each = $100 per hour, which is quite decent!
For a set fee, you could also do half-day tours for groups or families.
To get started as a Google Maps tour guide, follow these steps:
Choose a tour niche eg; history, best places to eat, local buildings of interest
Research travel and tourism trends and decide on your target market
Research local competitors to see what is working and what isn’t
Name and register your business (check out these travel business names)
Decide how to market your tour business eg,: website, Facebook, Meetup, local tour agency
Secure business permits and licenses relevant to your local area
Start marketing your tour guide business and accept customers
It’s possible to make money with your car by offering delivery and rideshare services on apps such as Uber, Lyft, Deliveroo, Doordash, and more.
Google Maps is an essential tool for drivers, helping them to navigate to restaurants and to customers’ houses to deliver food and supplies.
Other ways to make money with your car include:
These are all beginner-friendly ways to turn your car and daily commute into a source of income.
If you have trade skills, you can use Google Maps to navigate around town and complete jobs for clients.
Good contractors need wheels to get about, including plumbers, electricians, builders, gardeners, hairdressers, roofers, and cleaners.
While some freelancers will work at a central business location, others will be tasked with visiting properties all over the place, and Google Maps is an essential tool to help them get where they need to be on time.
And, of course, general contractors and any other freelance tradesperson can have a listing on Google Maps so people in their area can find them!
Take a look at these best certifications for remote jobs if you’re interested in becoming a freelancer.
There are many real estate side hustles to earn extra cash, such as blogging, house flipping, investing, and more.
If you’re interested in real estate, Google Maps is an essential tool to help you:
Research neighborhoods
Identify potential new investment properties
Investigate potential building sites with Google Earth
Real estate business owners can also utilize Google Maps for:
Building custom maps to share with clients
Using Google Street View to show properties
Get found with Google’s local search features
Using Google Maps APIs to add maps to your real estate website
Whether you’re an investor or a real estate agent, Google Maps is a helpful tool for identifying buying and building opportunities.
From working as a data analyst to becoming a rideshare driver or helping businesses get more customers with local marketing services, there are many ways to make money with Google Maps.
Whether you’re looking for a career change or to make extra cash on the side, Google Maps offers many opportunities to navigate your way to financial freedom!
The best part is that you can use more than one of the ideas listed and make extra money every month online and offline.
Want more ways to make money with your search skills?
Check out these search engine evaluator jobs hiring today!
