MapQuest Gets Social With Twitter & More

If you're a local business owner looking to capitalize on the boom in social media marketing, look no further than MapQuest. Yes, Mapquest.

The once-leading map site, since displaced by Google Maps, has recently added a local Twitter feed on its MapQuest Local home page. By the looks of it, Twitter users that designate a location in their profile could appear on a geo-specific page when users search at MapQuest. I'm not sure how much value actual Tweets provide MapQuest users (those we saw were mainly about Gov. Blagojevich), but it is a relevant addition to an already hyper-social local portal, which, if you're a local business owner, you might want to have on your radar.

Some of the services already tapped in MapQuest local include Truveo (video), Flickr (images), Kaango (classifieds), Topix (news) and of course Yelp (consumer reviews). Each of the sites listed above present an opportunity to get a website (or at least a reference to the business) listed on MapQuest local. The value proposition of participating in these networks (by submitting local videos and images, posting classified listings, submitting news and facilitating customers reviews) will extend your brand well beyond these individual portals.