Last Updated on October 8, 2022 by Arif Chowdhury
I have heard this question many times before, how do I create a custom Google map? To solve this issue, I have written this guide.
Creating a custom Google map is very easy and helpful to view specific locations without any trouble or requirements. For example, if you want to add a business location in Google maps, provide some business data, then go through a verification process; however, there are no such requirements when adding a place in custom maps.
It is a handy tool when you are required to showcase several distinct locations in your article, as you cannot use Google business maps for this purpose. For example, if your blog post is about hiking in the mountains in China.
Then it would help if you gave directions about where the journey should start and end. Finally, you may need to mark some points of interest on the maps and estimate duration by walking or cycling.
You cannot fully describe just by writing some text; you need to pinpoint the location on the maps. Therefore, and precisely for this reason, Google’s custom map is beneficial.
So, let me show you how to create custom google maps in your blog post.
How to create a custom Google map?
Custom Google map is best for pinpointing a location informally on the maps. If you need to add your business location, do not use this feature, as it does not provide a verified site. Thus, it will not be trustworthy to your clients, and your reputation may suffer.
It is best for pinpointing a location more casually. You can use it in your blog posts, articles, research papers, or magazines about temporary business outlets, disaster locations, exciting places to discover, etc.
So, let’s get started on how you can create custom Google maps in five simple steps.
Step 1: Open Google maps and find the location.
Before you begin, you need to login into your Google account. After that visit, Google maps finds the location either by typing the location name or manually finding it using your mouse.
For this instance, let us assume your desired location in New York City. Here we will add a custom location on the map. To do that, click on the three parallel lines at the left corner of the map to open the Google maps menu.
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Step 2: Create a new custom map.
Here you can see all the options to choose from. For this purpose, I want you to click on the “Your Places” option.
It will open your private area in Google maps. Next, click on the “Maps” tab. If you have created any custom maps before, they will appear under this tab. To create a new custom map, click on the “Create map” option at the bottom of the tab.
Step 3: Give the name of your new blank custom map.
It will open a new map of the exact location. Look at the left side of the screen, “Untitled map” click here to edit the name.
In the “map title,” give a name for your new custom map. It is not the name of your location, just the name of your entire custom map. If you want, you can name it on your business or site.
Step 4: Add a custom location on the map using a marker.
Now it is time to add your custom location on the map. To do that, click on the “marker” icon from the tab and place it in your desired location.
Here are two essential things to do.
Choose your icon and marker color from the left side option.
Type the name of the marker and add some information as well.
They have many custom icons to choose from, select one that best describes your purpose.
I have added another marker to give you an example of how it looks on the map. The good thing is that even if you scroll up to the top, your added markers can be seen clearly on the map. It will get bigger in proportion to the size of the maps.
That’s it, congratulations. You have done it.
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Now you can share it just like Google Docs with another person. To do that, click on the “share” option.
Now select the “Anyone with the link” option so whoever has this link can see your custom map without needing to log in to their Google account. It is an easy option for everyone; they will click on your link and take a quick look at the location with no hassle of login whatsoever.
It is how it looks in 3rd person. On the left side of the screen, you can see the details of your location name and description. Your new location markers can be seen clearly on the map, no matter how many times it zooms out.
Finally, if you want to embed this custom Google map in your blog post or webpage, click on the three-dotted options on the left side. Then, open the menu and click on the “Embed on my site” option.
Now copy and paste this HTML source code on your blog post or webpage where you want to show it and save it. That’s it; you have done it.
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Google custom maps layers.
I forgot to mention it. You have several layers of options when creating a custom map. By default, it has a base map layer. However, you can change the layer by clicking on the small icon at the bottom.
Not only that, but you can also add several layers according to your needs. To do that, click on the add layer button.
Google map layer is beneficial for different purposes. Sometimes you may need to see a location image for better tracking. Sometimes a base layer is enough.
It is an illustration of Google map layers.
Why do you need a custom Google map?
Though you cannot use this map for serious business, You can use it for casual business purposes.
If your client needs to view your business location, you can use this feature to give them a direction on the map quickly.
Conclusion.
I hope this guide solves the question, “how do I create a custom Google map?”.
Custom Google maps are straightforward to create and very useful for casual purposes. However, as I said before, if you need to add your business location to your website, then do not use this feature, as it will not verify.
Using these custom maps, you can write detailed articles about hiking, outdoor adventure, tourism, traveling guide, place to discover, hidden location on earth, etc. Sometimes even thousands of words cannot describe it, but an image can do it perfectly.
That’s right, for your location-based article, Google custom maps will be handy for pinpointing the location for your audiences. Hence, your article quality will also increase and rank in Google searches quickly.