How to Make a Custom Google Map for Your Website

Unclear or messy location information can easily delegitimize a business.

23:07 16 September 2020

Uploading a custom Google Map to your website is a quick and easy way to give your business credibility and increase customer satisfaction.

 

Google Maps is arguably the most ubiquitous mapping tool out there, so most internet users know how to navigate it. With a custom Google Map, your customers can easily visualize your business’s scope and find important location information that will ultimately boost business for you.

 

A custom Google Map can include not only business locations but product locations to help your customers shop easier. Businesses often use maps to visualize their data more efficiently. With a custom Google Map, companies can track growing trends, sales numbers, and franchising opportunities.

 

Creating a custom google map is straightforward. Users can create a map in the Google app itself or use a map generator like Maptive for a more detailed and captivating map. How you curate your map ultimately depends on your business needs and what exactly you wish to achieve with your map.

 

Create a Custom Map from an Existing Google Map

 

Most businesses are already in Google Maps. If you are pressed for time or want to upload a simple location-finding map to your website, you can upload an existing Google Map to your website.

 

Start by searching your business’s location in Google Maps, then click the “share or embed map” link in the dropdown menu in the top left-hand corner. From there, click on “embed map” to retrieve the URL link to copy into your website. A pop-up customization tool will appear, at which point users can customize map size using pre-set or custom dimensions.

 

Once you are happy with your map, copy the code provided into your website where you would like the map to appear. Uploading a map directly from Google is quick and easy but offers little in the way of customization. Those looking for a more detailed map should use a map-generating service to create a custom map.

 

Use a Map Generating Website

 

A custom map can not only help customers find information but are also an excellent data visualization method for businesses.

 

For business purposes, using a map generator that imports data from spreadsheets into a custom map is optimal. Most businesses use Excel to organize data, so the bulk of the work will already be complete. Using a generator like Maptive that works in tandem with Google Maps can yield a highly detailed map in minutes.

 

Maptive works by taking location-based data listed in a spreadsheet and marking out the information on a map. This method is particularly useful for businesses looking to translate big data into something more understandable. To make a custom map, head to the website and create a free account.

 

The process is relatively effortless as the software is made to be user-friendly. The generator prompts users to input relevant information and data and offers the option to upload a spreadsheet. By uploading a spreadsheet with location information, the generator can quickly take care of the lion’s share of the work.

 

Before uploading a spreadsheet, make sure your information is clearly set out in your spreadsheet. Use header columns to include addresses, cities, zip codes, and phone numbers so that the generator can pick up the information more accessible.

 

Once you have your map, you can make it as straightforward or as detailed as you like. For a more simplistic, easier to read map, users can choose not to display highways, roads, bodies of water, transit routes, and even points of interest like tourism landmarks.

 

Maptive has an extensive list of features to choose from, including heat mapping tools, color coding, and sales territory mapping. Most business owners will find the location finder tool handy for mapping out store locations and information. The location finder can also be used as a product locator to help customers see which products are in stock at respective locations.

 

Users have ultimate control over their map’s outcome, but if you encounter any issues or have trouble locating a feature, Maptive’s support team can point you in the right direction.

 

After you fine-tune your map to suit your business, you can share it with others or upload it to your website. To upload the map, click on the “embed map” link to retrieve a URL to copy and paste into your website or social media platforms.