Local ads allowed on metro mapping site

Local advertisers looking for a new way to interact with users may have found it with a city mapping website. HopStop.com provides maps and walking directions for mass transiters, and now local advertisers can offer coupons and other ads to HopStop visitors.

by Kristina Knight

Here is how it works: users log on to HopStop.com to find the best bus, cable car, train or walking route to their destination. Advertisers can place their ad in a targeted location and can even place geographic limits on queries that will link to their ads. Once the map query is in, advertisers within x-number of blocks will have ads displayed on the map results page. Ads can also be targeted against competitor searches. HopStop allows both ads and coupons to be built from their website.

"In the future we'll have ways for [advertisers] to track conversions, print coupons and include easy-to-read maps," said Chinedu Echeruo, HopStop.com Founder and CEO (via Clickz). In the future, ads may also be offered on sites for mobile users.

Currently, the ads are served up to residents in New York City, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The site plans to add more cities by the end of 2007.