Abstract: The present invention provides for a global computer network geographic information system (GIS) based search engine. The GIS search engine correlates entities and relevant information, such as its products and services, to a record in the database of the GIS search system that corresponds to a unique geographic location. This correlation enables search results to be directed in a user defined geographic criteria. Additionally, the GIS based search engine can be combined with advertising information to geographically target advertising over the Internet. Geographically defined search results may include the name, phone number, and/or address of an entity as well as additional information about the entity, including one or more entity locations on a user displayed map. Further, information, such as advertisements, for the GIS based search engine can be updated by remote entities by uploading information over the Internet to the database used by the GIS based search engine.