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Google Maps - using this Magic to enhance your business
Introduction – why use Google Maps
When I first started thinking about developing Women Travel the World, I thought that a key part of it should be the ability to search for accommodation via a map based system. In 2008 while planning my own overseas adventure, I found it fantastic to use Google Maps to locate where a place I wanted to stay was in relation to other places, and to transport hubs, and to build my own itinerary which I can share with others, or keep private.
So working with Jan Malone of Action Web, we have integrated Google Maps into the Women Travel the World website and the result I think speaks for itself. Accommodation businesses can now be seen in their exact map position in the country.
2. Accommodation listings
- Check your position on Women Travel the World Google maps
For Google Maps on the WTW to work you need to:
- fill out your exact address in the form required, including a postcode OR
find your longitude and latitude manually – sometimes we at women travel have a go at this, but it is unlikely to be as exact as you could make it.
After your accommodation listing is on the site, please take the time to see that it is in the right place. If it is not visible, or in the right place, please use the instructions below to find your own longitude and latitude.
3. How to find your own longitude and latitude
Go to this website: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/universimmedia/geo/loc.htm
Put in your address: number, street, city, country, click Search – check the location. If not correct you can move the bubble around to get it correct. The point of the bubble should be pointing at your exact location. If they can not find your exact location, try just your town and country, and then zoom about and move the bubble to the right location.
Read off the Longitude and Lattitude and send them to rosemary@womentravel.info
We will insert that location for your accommodation business.
4. How to register your business on google maps
Would you like to have your business listed in the correct location for people searching on Google Maps? All the information required is here:
http://www.google.com/local/add/lookup?hl=en-US&gl=US
I have just done this and it is a very straight forward and easy to follow process.
5. Can I embed Google Maps into my website or blog?
a. Ensure that the map you'd like to embed appears in the current map display – enter your address etc at http://maps.google.com/
b. Click "Link to this page" in the top-right corner of the map.
c. In the box that pops up, copy the HTML under "Paste HTML to embed in website," and paste it into the source code of your website or blog.
If you'd like to adjust the size of the map before you embed it, just click "Customize and preview embedded map," select your preferred size, and take a look at the preview map. Once you're happy with what you see, copy the HTML that appears in the box at the bottom of the window.
Try using Google My Maps
Once you register for Google and sign in to Google Maps, then you can see you have an option “MY maps”. Here you can plan a trip, plot favourite places etc. I found it invaluable planning a recent overseas trip.
I hope this is helpful - Good luck
Rosemary Neave
Women Travel the World
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