Email your client a Google URL map - No programming needed

[Joseph Elfelt]

One great way to followup with a client is to email them a Google URL map that you made. This post is a speed course that will teach you the basics of making a Google URL map.

Copy the next line and paste it into your browser’s search bar and hit enter.

http://maps.google.com/maps

After you hit enter you should see a map of the USA. Congratulations! You just built your first map.

Copy the next line, paste it into your browser’s search bar and hit enter.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1600+Pennsylvania+Avenue+NW+Washington+DC

Howabouthat. You just built a map with the marker located at the White house.

Now build a map with the marker located at your house. Use the + sign as shown above. Also, it is a good idea to avoid spaces in your command.

You now know how to make a Google URL map for an address. Gee, that was easy. A map like this can be emailed to your client in a clickable link. For example, here’s a map showing the location of Independence Hall In Philadelphia.

Notice the letter ‘q’ in the URL commands shown above. This letter is a “parameter” that is used to pass certain information to Google so it makes the map the way you want it made. Use the ‘q’ parameter to tell Google what to search for in making your map. There are a number of other parameters that can be used to help make a Google URL map look the way you want it to look.

As you add more parameters to refine your URL map command remember to not let spaces creep into your command.

More basic parameters for Google URL maps

Parameter ‘z’
This one controls the initial zoom level of your map. You can see how this works by adding these characters to your URL map command:

&z=17

Change the zoom setting to suit your needs. A larger number will zoom in more. In some urban areas you can zoom in more than in other areas.

Parameter ‘t’
Use this one to control the type of map which initially appears. Here are the options:
Map: &t=m
Satellite: &t=k
Hybrid: &t=h
Terrain: &t=p

Do you want your Google URL map to open in satellite mode? Just add &t=k to the command.

Parameter ‘ll’ (that’s LL in lowercase)
Your map will be centered at the point you specify for the ll parameter. Here is a map that uses ll but does not use q. Notice that the map lacks any marker.

http://maps.google.com/maps?z=15&t=k&ll=38.009977,-78.453047

Here’s the same map with a q parameter. Now there’s a marker on the map.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.009977,-78.453047&z=15&t=k&ll=38.009977,-78.453047

In the prior map did you catch the fact that the q parameter can use either an address or a latitude-longitude? <=== I’ll talk more about this important point in a future post.

I intentionally did not make these maps clickable links since I want you to get used to the idea of making Google URL maps by entering the command into your browser’s search bar.

Add a text balloon to your map

Think of all the real estate maps you have seen with some text that appears when you click the marker. Here’s how to do that with a Google URL map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.708202,-77.086258(Mount Vernon - Home of George Washington)&z=17&t=k&ll=38.708202,-77.086258

The text for your marker balloon is part of the q parameter. At the end of the q parameter just add parenthesis with your text inside of them. When you click the marker on this map your text is displayed.

Stay tuned for more Google map tips and insights

You now know how to make a basic Google URL map. I’ll be posting more Google map info here so remember to check back from time to time.

[webmaster]

hmmm you just posted this here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1301...ramming-needed - spam much?

Incidentally, this is the google "search engine" forum - as in how to get your website performing better in the google search engine.

I think I have seen enough of this spam to justify an account suspension. Have fun on active rain.