It really seems like Google is just continuing to dominate when it comes to mashups and sheer innovation on the web.  And they should after all – that’s their business.  Third parties are building their services on top of the industry leading Google Maps at an astounding pace.  Real estate professionals should really begin taking advantage of all the new developments if they have not already.  Here’s why…

1.  You Can Put Your Face On the Map.

Literally.  The Transparent Real Estate Blog just showed us how and why in their recent post, Google Maps with customizable icons.  It’s easier than you might imagine and the results are pretty cool too.  It’s a definitely a fast and simple way to add a professional edge to your site or blog.

2.  Own the Map with Integration.

Again, the tools allow you to pop your own custom tailored map right into your site or blog.  No need to link externally to a map featuring your properties or other relevant data when you can build it right into your own web property.  Heck, the maps even make a good centrally focused feature – build the rest of your site around the map.

3.  You Just Can’t Beat Customization.

Heck, not very long ago, the best you could do with a map was just having a plain map background and maybe Photoshopping your points of interest on it.  Wow, have things ever changed!  Using the Google Maps API provided free for all, you can probably map just about anything you set your mind to – and more.

4.  Mobile Map Madness.

Some of the novelty of the iPhone has worn away now as the initial PR phenomenon has long since been forgotten about.  But the fact of the matter is the new features introduced with the mobile device’s rollout have changed what we’ve all come to expect from mobile functionality.  Google Maps are the new base point when it comes to mobile.  There’s not much to dispute there.

5.  Oh, the Promise Held by Street View.

As far as I know, no one else is rolling out anything comparable to Google’s Street View – literally allowing users to view maps just as if they were driving down a street for real.  Granted, it’s still new and only currently available in a handful of major cities.  But when it’s completed on a large scale, the possibilities will be unbeatable.  Imagine being able to explore a neighborhood from realistic perspective right from your computer.

If you’re not already using Google Maps for your web property, I would totally recommend that you take a look at what they have to offer.  And one thing is for certain – they’ll only continue to get better in the future!