How to Create a Map for Your Article or Website

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By Katrina Derrico
User-Submitted Article

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Google Maps

There are many benefits to adding graphics to your web designs. By creating and adding a map to your article or website, you can provide your customers with valuable information as well as additional search engine optimization (SEO) for your page, resulting in more traffic, page views, and additional income.

By using the step by step instructions below you can easily create your own signature map and directions using Google Maps. In addition to increasing your readers interest in you site, once your map has been published as public, it will be indexed very quickly by Google Maps for use on their site. This will also increase your traffic, page views, and create additional income for your site.

At the bottom of this article you will find links to Google Maps and their step by step tutorial for additional reference.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Computer
Easy access to the addresses or directions you are planning to map
Easy access to links of locations

Step 1

Go to Google.com and open Google Maps.
Step 2

Click on My Maps in the upper left hand corner.
Step 3

Click on Create a New Map.

Note: You will have to sign into your account to access this function.
Step 4

Create a title and description for your map.
Step 5

You may choose to make your map public or unlisted. Public maps will be able to be accessed by everyone and will be listed in search results.

Note: You can draft your map as unlisted, then publish it later as public.
Step 6

Use the tools on the left side of the map to zoom in to the area you will be working with.
Step 7

You can choose to make a map of places, events or even directions.
Step 8

To begin your route, choose a marker and place the marker on the map where your beginning point of interest is located.

Note: You can type the first address in the tool bar up at the top of the screen and click search maps. Then save this marker to your map and edit accordingly.

Note: Markers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you may use the same map to show different location – such as movie theaters and theatrical companies.
Step 9

To Create Directions (example: directions to a party, a walking tour, a scenic drive) – Proceed to Step 10

To Create a Map of Places and Events (example: houses for sale, area attractions, historic places) – Skip ahead to Step 11
Step 10

To Create a Specific Set of Directions - To Draw your route, use the straight line tool and begin to draw your route by clicking on your turning points. Double click your icon to finish the route. Then choose an icon and title to finish your route.
Step 11

To plot points of interest on your map, such as homes for sale, events or area attractions, type the address of the first location in the tool bar at the top of the page. Then click search maps.
Step 12

Click ‘Save To’ on the left hand side of the screen and select the map you are saving this point of interest to. Edit location, add link or picture by using ‘Rich Text’ or HTML tool bars.

Note: If the map does not zoom in automatically to your location, scroll locations on the left side of screen and click to edit.
Step 13

Continue adding all your points of interest.
Step 14

By clicking the ‘link’ button on the upper right hand side of the screen you can get a link to your map or the HTML for embedding your map into your article or web page.