Second in a series

My prior blog post indicated I was next going to describe a mistake many real estate websites make when they display the detailed map for a listing. After starting to write that post I decided to push that topic back and first give a bit of background about Google URL maps. Knowing a bit about how Google URL maps are made will help you more easily understand the surprising map mistake being made by so many websites. I’ll describe that mistake in my next post.

Google URL maps v. Google API maps

Google URL maps are often full screen. A Google URL map is created by entering certain text in the search window of your browser. The browser search window is the very highest window in your browser. Repeat after me: No programming skill is needed to make a Google URL map - none - nada - zero - zilch. If you have never built a Google URL map before, this post will show you how. One way you can use such a map is to email it to a client as a followup after the client has expressed interest in a certain listing.

By contrast, Google API maps are often less than full screen and usually cannot be enlarged to fill the screen. Programming skill is definitely required to produce a Google API map. Usually a direct link to an API map cannot be emailed. One advantage to these maps is that you and the programmer working together can decide exactly what is going to appear on the map and how it will look.

To summarize:

Google URL maps: No programming required, quick to create, limited flexibility in controlling appearance.

Google API maps: Programming required, may be time-consuming to create depending on complexity, maximum flexibility in controlling the map’s appearance.

Let’s build a Google URL map

Copy the next line, paste it into your browser’s search bar and hit enter.
http://maps.google.com/maps
The search bar is typically the space one line high that is just under the File, Edit, View, etc buttons of your browser.

After you hit enter you should see a map of the USA. Congratulations! You just built your first map. See, I told you this didn’t require any programming.

Google URL map with marker at an address

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.

Parameters for Google URL maps

Note the letter ‘q’ in the URL command you have been using. 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. One of the most useful ones is ‘z’ which controls the zoom level. Add these characters to the map you made of your house: &z=17
For example:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1600+Pennsylvania+Avenue+NW+Washington+DC&z=17

(I’m intentionally not making 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).
Now when you hit the enter key the map will be more zoomed in. A larger number will zoom in more. In some urban areas you can zoom in more than in other urban areas.

As you add parameters to your Google map URL command, do not use commas to separate the parameters. It is also a good idea to avoid using spaces in your command.

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

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

Equally useful is the ‘ll’ parameter (that’s LL in lowercase). This parameter stands for (big surprise) latitude longitude. 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?

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.

Hope you stop by again

Now that you know the basics about how a Google URL map is made, I can show you in my next post the mapping mistake that is being made by too many websites.

Help me help others

If you found this post helpful, then please flag it as one that the AR staff should consider showing on their homepage. Thanks.

Joseph Elfelt
Owner & Director of Technology
www.MappingSupport.com
Redmond, WA
 
Posted by Joseph Elfelt, MappingSupport on 10/24/2009 04:54 PM   Comments (9)   Google Maps in the Technology and Tools Channel   google maps, google url maps, latitude, longitude  
Short URL: http://actvra.in/CPh
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Post is included in group: Tech Corner

9 Comments on #2 How to make Google URL maps - No programming needed

OCT
24
2009
117,698 Points

Hi Joseph,  Nice informative article here.  I love reading about google.  Thanks for sharing
4:57pm • #1
318,277 Points

Great information I have flagged so I can go back later to get information. Thanks for sharing this information.
4:58pm • #2
286,657 Points 12 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Thank you for sharing.  It's alot to read but you've made it simple.
4:58pm • #3
123,581 Points Outside Blog

Joseph, this simply explained lesson is a valuable tool for my business. Its also an impressive way to follow up with a client who is interested in a particular property. It was in fact quite easy to follow your directions. Thanks.
5:17pm • #4
154,608 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Joseph, thanks for the information. Very easy to follow.
8:05pm • #5
650,291 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

You made this easy for people to understand -- thanks much.
9:43pm • #6
NOV
19
2009
259,085 Points 17 Featured Posts

Lots of good information in that post. I do maps all the time, but I still learned new things. Thanks.
10:46am • #7
DEC
11
2009
975,239 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I am bookmarking this to go check it out again. Thanks for the detailed information.
7:34pm • #8
JUN
21
275,838 Points 2 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Thanks for your post, Joseph. I learned a lot from your post.
12:48pm • #9


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Joseph Elfelt, MappingSupport

Redmond, WA

More about me…

MappingSupport

Address: 20707 NE 120th St, Redmond, WA, 98053

Office Phone: (425) 881-8017

Email Me

   Joseph Elfelt is the founder of MappingSupport. We are a service business offering to add property line highlighting to the Google maps and Bing maps that real estate websites display as part of the details for a specific listing. Our work is unique since it is based on the property legal description, not the street address. We can easily add highlighting to the property lines of vacant or remote land that does not have any street address assigned. We offer a free sample, free use for all websites of the data we produce, free detailed topographic map with property line highlighting and free code to make this work on your website.
   This blog will address various issues related to the maps a website user sees when they are looking at the details of a parcel listed for sale. My goal is to help you improve the quality of the detail maps on your website whether or not you purchase our property line highlighting service.
   See my profile on LinkedIn.


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