Summary:
”This article is located on a ”’wiki”’. Position your mouse cursor over the [http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Plot_Your_Favorite_Locations_on_a_Map?action=edit edit link] and locate a spot in the article to position your own advice.”
==Create an empty map==
First things first: You’ll need to be signed into a Google account. If you use Gmail, that will do. If you don’t have one, take a few minutes to [[https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount create your account]]. You’ll use it again, we’re sure.
Armed with your Google credentials, proceed to the [[http://maps.google.com/ Google Maps]] site. There you’ll see an empty map, which in the U.S. will be centered on a view of the entire country. First things first: You want to zero in on your city. I entered mine, ”’Portland, OR”’ into the search box and hit Enter. Next, I manually zoomed into my neighborhood.
[[Image:mymaps.png|frame|left]]<br clear="all" />
With the map in a familiar area, it’s time to tell Google you want to make this map your own. Click the "My Maps" link in the upper left, beneath the Google logo. If you’ve never created a map before (and you likely haven’t, right?), you’ll see an introduction and a "Get Started" button waiting for you to click it. Go ahead. On the off chance you’ve done this before, you’ll have a list of your previous maps and a link to "Create New Map." Click that!
[[Image:mymaps-description.png|frame|left]]<br clear="all" />
Now is your chance to name your map, provide a description and decide who will be able to see it. With those details out of the way, it’s time to jump into creating a map of your own.
==Search and plot businesses==
To create map locations by searching for businesses, you are able to browse just as you would when using Google Maps normally. Start with a search. I chose ”’coffee”’.
Scroll through the results in the left column or the icons on the map. Click on one that interests you. A bubble will pop up with information about the business. Among the options at the bottom of this info window is a link to "Save to My Maps."
[[Image:mymaps-search.png|frame|left]]<br clear="all" />
Give that a click, and you’ll see a list of your maps. Since you’re new to this, you will likely just see your new map. Click the Save button and you’re good to go — this location is now part of your map, complete with its address, phone number and other info. Pretty slick!
Continue the process, and add a few more locations to your map. Isn’t this easy?
Of course, maybe you want to change how some things look, or what information you display. In that case, read on, because it’s customization time.
==Customize icons and description==
Before we dive into changing our map, let’s get a look at it without the searches in the way. Click the "My Maps" link to return to your list of maps, then select your new map from the list. You may also have to de-select some of your searches from showing on the map. Just uncheck the box next to the search term in the left-hand column.
To edit the locations, you need to put your map into Edit mode. Click the "Edit" button above the title of the map. You can make changes to the description and visibility, but now you can also change the locations on your map.
Click on the marker for one of your locations, and it pops up a little bubble. Unlike before, this content is now editable. You can change the title and add your own description. You can even adjust the information that Google already included, such as an address (just click the Edit button next to the default info).
[[Image:mymaps-edit.png|frame|left]]<br clear="all" />
And perhaps the most exciting thing is that you can change the boring icon that Google supplies. Just click the current icon, in the upper right corner of the pop-up bubble. You’ll be greeted with a long list of potential icons.
[[Image:mymaps-icons.png|frame|left]]<br clear="all" />
There are many options, some with very specific purposes. One of those is the coffee cup, which is what I selected. Repeat this process for all of your markers that you want to have customized icons.
==Add locations manually==
Sometimes you can’t find a location in the search results. Or maybe it’s something that wouldn’t show up in business listings, like a great viewpoint. Whatever the case, Google has an easy way to add your locations manually.
Make sure you’re still in edit mode and the map is showing the place where you want to add a marker. Click the button that looks like a default blue icon:
[[Image:mymaps-buttons.png|frame|left]]<br clear="all" />
Now you have a marker hovering above the map. Find the spot where you want to plot it, and click. The icon will be the same style as the last one you created. The bubble will pop up, ready for you to edit the location’s content.
==Share your creation==
Why did we make this map? Oh yes, your visitors from out of town want to know your favorite places. In that case, you’ll need to share it with them. Regardless of whether you chose a public or private map, you can give them a link to your map.
To let Google e-mail the map, click the Send link in the upper right. If you’d rather send it yourself, click the Link option.
[[Image:mymaps-link.png|frame|left]]<br clear="all" />
There you’ll be able to copy the link, or even some code that lets you embed it into your website. That’s perfect for sharing with many out-of-town guests at once.
==In the future==
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It’s hard to imagine creating a map getting any easier. You’ve just typed a few things, clicked, and you have a map. Except, wait … why all the typing and clicking? In the future, your list of favorite places will be automatic.
We can already see the beginnings of this future in the form of location sharing. With GPS-enabled smartphones becoming more popular, people are finding utility in telling their friends where they are. From this data, lists like your favorite coffeeshops could be created automatically by looking at where you go most often.
[[Category:Future]]
[[Category:Internet]]
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