One of the partners here at PointForward Ventures, Wendy Hanson, just launched a BlogTalkRadio Show “Business Innovators.”

MapQuest’s GM – Christian Dwyer
During her first show, she interviewed Christian Dwyer, GM of MapQuest. He provided insight on business innovation and its challenges. He also talked about how MapQuest tools have blossomed to help small businesses and enable folks to embed great maps on their blogs and websites.

MapQuest’s New Tools
Yes—MapQuest is great for mapping and navigation. It’s grown to include alternate routes, live traffic feeds as well as transit and pedestrian routes. With Business Center and Map Builder, the tools to embed maps along with photos, text, annotations and videos, you are only limited by your imagination. Hikers can document hiking trips; moms can point out events for children; and business owners can market multiple locations of brick and mortar stores and restaurants.

Mobile Apps, as we all know, is the tool of choice. Voice-guided navigation is so cool on a smart phone. For business owners, the future lies with location-based advertising and drawing folks into your store as they walk by…hmmm. We’ll keep an eye on this trend!

MapQuest’s Innovation
Christian Dwyer also reinforced the organization’s vision and communication, start-up mentality (even though the business is 15 years old), human consumer service options and usability lab in Denver that strives to know more about what a consumer wants.

Start-ups have a hard job. Start-overs who want to transform their businesses have to work even harder. MapQuest is modeling great practices in this area.

To hear the interview go to: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/businessinnovators1/2011/09/09/business-lesson-listening-to-consumers