Miami Beach 411’s “Success Story” Featured in a Google Campaign

(Thanks to the Entire Team)

Miami Beach 411 was recently featured in a national Google Advertising Campaign, a recognition we’re incredibly proud of. Google has supported our site since 2004, and being selected—among a small group of publishers—as a featured success story is both humbling and exciting.

The campaign highlights how independent publishers have grown sustainable businesses using Google’s tools, and our story was included as a real-world example of what’s possible with the right mix of content, technology, and teamwork.

From Google

“The campaign is designed to drive acquisitions and bring high-potential publishers into the Google Display Network. We highlighted your personal story as proof that AdSense enables success for publishers in a variety of ways.”

As you browse the web, you may even spot display ads from this campaign. Each one links to a Google page where Miami Beach 411’s story is featured.

A Nerve-Wracking (and Rewarding) Selection Process

I’ve been through some grueling auditions in my life, but Google’s selection process had Michelle and me on pins and needles. It felt a bit like being on American Idol—except this time, it was for web publishers.

The big difference? Miami Beach 411. has never been a solo act.

A True Ensemble Production

Miami Beach 411 has always been powered by people. The site, the tours, the customer experience—it all works because of an incredible team behind the scenes.

Customer Support
Mirna Arce, Katalina Calderon, Mario Mendoza, Doug Eames, Cheryl Willett, Christy, Jess, and Laurie

Drivers / Tour Guides
Jim Moore, Susie Launiere, Eddie Torres, Jorge Torres, Derek Sanberg, and Jeffrey Lieberman

Editorial & Video
Matt Meltzer, Carlos Miller, Maria de los Angeles, and Bill Cooke

Developers
Atiosis Blanco, Juan Carlos Pini, Frank Galletti, Olesya Vinogradova (X-Cart), Michael Miller (Innovation by Instinct), Tim Mahoney (eevolution)

Advisers
Fred Garvin, rk, Under the Sun, coach, GandJ, wpns4l

Every person listed here has played a role in shaping what Miami Beach 411 has become.

What AdSense Made Possible

During the interview, Google asked Michelle a simple but powerful question:

“What has working with AdSense allowed you to do?”

Michelle Moore responded:

“It’s been incredible to watch the company grow—from waiting tables full-time and working on the site out of our apartment, to managing tours and transportation for more than 3,000 people a month.”

AdSense gave us the ability to leave our day jobs and reinvest time and resources into growing the business. Over six years, that growth translated into eight full-time employees and 21 independent contractors.

With more writers, more phone lines, and the launch of The Miami Tour Company, we moved beyond simply telling visitors about Miami—we now show them the city we love.

Advice for Other Publishers

When asked what she’d recommend to others, Michelle didn’t hesitate:

“Learn Google’s entire suite of products and figure out how they can help you grow.”

Because we’re travel-focused, we manage thousands of pickup times and locations every month. Google Apps for Business gives us a central system to handle reservations, calendars, and logistics in real time.

AdSense manages our advertising. Google Apps runs our operations. Together, they allow us to scale without losing control.

“We couldn’t get by without Google,” Michelle said.

Will Google Drive the Tour Bus Next?

Now, if Miami Beach 411 could just teach Google how to drive a tour bus…
Oh wait—you’re working on that.

(Above video: Sebastian Thrun discusses Google’s driverless car, created from a deeply personal mission to reduce traffic accidents.)

No, self-driving tour buses aren’t here yet—but Miami Beach 411 is serious about using technology to streamline travel, improve communication, and deliver first-class sightseeing tours in multiple languages.

To do that, you need two things:

• An amazing team
• Software that actually works

We’ve got the amazing team covered.

Thank You, Google

Thanks again to Google for providing the tools—and the confidence—that helped us take Miami Beach 411 from an online guide to a full-scale, offline experience.

We’re honored to be featured in the campaign, and we don’t take that lightly.

Google later updated their AdSense section with a new photo of Michelle and me standing in front of our buses.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in March 21, 2011 and updated in 2026.