Real Estate Blog - New GOOGLE Tools for Your BLOG

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New GOOGLE Tools for Your BLOG - Customized Mapping

hen I think of the old traditional maps, I still think of the ones in my glove compartment. You know the one, you unfold it six times to open it, stretch your arms across the entire front seat of the car to read it, and then you're never able to fold it back up the right way to get it back in the glove compartment again. LOL! I use to get those maps from AAA before going on road trips with my family, just 2 years ago.

oday, there's GPS, Google Earth, Mapquest, Mapopolis, Yahoo maps, TREO's and other options to finding our way around the planet. So clean out your glove compartments! :-) In my research to find a marketing tool for a client today, I discovered a Blog that talked about customizing Google Maps! It's the Google Lat Long Blog. DETAILS>>> We are creating a map showing all her listings, and one for open houses Sunday.

Customize your maps with icons, photos, images, graphics and more. Here are some links to some helpful sites using Google Maps!

	Use Google Maps on your phone: Learn more »
	Add or Edit your business: Learn more »
	Advertise with Google Maps: Learn more »
	Add Google Maps to your website: Learn more »
	Get free local info. 800-GOOG-411: Learn more »

ext, here's how to customize your maps. Personalize Google Maps using Google Real Estate Search, Photos From Picasa, Photos from Panoramio, Gas Prices from GasBuddy.com, Distance Measurement Tools and Browse other Popular Maps for ideas. Add these to your listings, open houses, MLS tours, flyer's, address domain names, and even your website. Here's how: Go to Google Maps:

elect "My Maps" to begin creating hundreds of customized maps for you, your business, your clients, and personal use.

Click the option to "Create new map" and you're ready to get started with customizing your map.

You'll notice that you have the option to: add place marks, draw borders and custom lines, import graphics from other Internet sources and much more.

Take the time to explore Google Maps and all these possibilities. In less than a few minutes, you can create some really cool and useful maps which are great Blogging tools as well.

If you want some support with doing this, there are support and instructional links and Blogs at Google's support Blog!

I think anything you do to advance yourself with these "new" technology tools will help keep you on the cutting edge, and ahead of your competition.

To View a Sample Map I created, CLICK HERE!

Once you're done, you can link or email with the URL address, or you can embed the map into your Blog or Website. The HTML code and links are provided by Google. THIS IS AWESOME!! Do I seem to be a little over excited?!? I think this new feature is the Bomb!! It's making me Crazy all this new stuff!!

                                                                                                         MY SAMPLE MAP

Just to show an example of how powerful this customized mapping can be, these guys are thinking really BIG!

ook what Google has done with maps in their International project, Cleaning Up The World. You're invited to participate in this project/event too. Pick a spot and join on in. Join Google, and the rest of the world, in the International Crusade, Cleanup Weekend! 3 EASY STEPS

I love how Google is making an impact "outside" of the Internet too! Taking a cyber-space tool to help our communities and our planet. I hope you can use these maps to make an impact in your area, and for your business as well! :-)

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Posted by Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager on 10/05/2007 08:30 PM

Comments (120)

Tools and Gadgets in the ActiveRain Channel

google, custom mapping, blogging tools, help, faq

Originally posted at: Real Estate 2.0 Technology : New GOOGLE Tools for Your BLOG - Customized Mapping

Post is included in group: Gadgets, Tools, & Extras
Post is included in group: HELP/FAQ (Read 'Purpose Statement' Carefully!)
Post is included in group: It's a Geek Thing
Post is included in group: Real Estate Technology
Post is included in group: Realtors®

120 Comments on New GOOGLE Tools for Your BLOG - Customized Mapping

OCT

2007

I've had custom maps on the 'things to add to my marketing arsenal' for awhile. Of course I always knew that if I was patient enough, The Escrow Guy would eventually deliver a solution. Thanks, Brad!

Oh yeah! I want to add a google map to my website!! Thanks! :)

John - the coolest part is that you can use the graphic as a cut and paste map, or google now gives you the html code to embed to your Blog or website. Check out the sample I did, you can even change it, select Hybrid or Satellite image and more. Make sure you look into all the features they have to offer.

Pamela - glad you like this idea, I know my Realtor® friend is thrilled about it! You should see what we did! Oh my gosh! I just had to share this post, wish I could share the map that was created. The other thing that I don't think I mentioned in this post is that you can pull from the internet using a graphics URL. That's how I got the photo on my map, check out the sample. Have fun with it, I hope it helps you and your business! :-)

Brad,

Wow, what perfect timing as I need to do something like this. My question is this.....are we allowed to make a map, and use it without it being plagiarism?...sorry if this sounds ignorant (probably is), but I don't want to make a map and send it out to others only to find out ........

Brad - Thanks again. Another bookmark for me. I am getting very techy educated. Thanks again.

OCT

2007

Kathy - Google provides the codes and the links for you to use. It's like a widget, it is 100% legal. They wouldn't give us the code if it were plagiarism....at least not google. HERE's A LINK Widgets and gadgets are the same way, you create them, customize them, and then you're given the codes to use for this very purpose. To help your business, helps their business. If someone comes after you about it, you just have them call me! (Big Smile)!! :-)

BTW - On my Blog, there is NO SUCH THING as an ignorant question! (LOL)

Pretty soon it's be good bye Brad and just "Talk To Chuck"!! :-) Bookmark me cool, don't forget about me and let me get lost in ALL those other bookmarks you have!! LOL!! Thanks Chuck!!

Brad,

Thank you....so now here is my next question.....someone had a map where they put their different properties on it....can this do that? I need a map in 2 weeks, and know I saw a Post somewhere on here :) :) anyway, I need to mark several properties, and show how to get to them....does this make sense?

Kathy - makes perfect sense, you can use Google Maps or Google Earth, they will both allow you to search and map out addresses. That's exactly what we were trying to do today. She (my client friend) liked these maps, she felt they were quick and easy to use. Click on my sample in this post and see what it does when you click on anything...the photo, the push-pins, the computer, or even the lines connecting the circled area. The option to get directions comes up in the little bubble that pops up. It really depends on what you want your end result to be. I think this or Google Earth would work well for you. This mapping gives the code, that's what's so cool! :-)

Wow, Brad, the maps are great, but I think that it's YOU who is the BOMB! Thanks for some more great info.

Lisa - you're too kind!! Thanks!! Just call me MAC I guess...LOL!! :-)

Brad,

OK, I made the map...not all of it, but got a good start http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=33.931397,-116.688881&spn=0.016344,0.028582&z=15&om=1

here's my question...you had your picture on yours, how did you do that? Also, before i finished the map started going crazy just kept bouncing around/moving. I didn't know how to save it. And can I change the numbers of the place markers?

Thank you so much for your help......I am going to work more on this...

I have you bookmarked is one cool dude! This one is super cool.

Brad, hey I already read this on your Techknowbabble Blog. I check email first before coming here, where I get lost for hours.

People on AR should subscribe to it. http://techknowbabble.blogspot.com/

Brad - Excited? Yeah... Over-excited? Naah, I think you're okay. Great information. Google just keeps cranking it out!

Kathy - you have to have your photo on the internet, that's the only way to have it appear on your map. Just select "add icon" when you are selecting your placemark icons. Just click on the link and it with ask for the URL. Your map looks pretty good, you need to click on the save button on the left side of the page. Take your time, click on all the icons so you can become familiar with all the features. You can edit the placemark "Pop-ups" but I don't think you can re-number them. They appear on the left side of the page. When someone clicks on the pushpin or placemark, the balloon opens up and features whatever text you've placed in it. Just found this yesterday, so I'm still new at it too. Blind leading the blind! LOL!! Hope this helps, just go in there and play with it till you get the final desired results. :-)

Linda - thanks! I hope you're able to use this, my client is sending hers out today to her client database and she's also posting it on her website and her Blog. She is very happy today, and that makes me very happy today!! :-) Glad you're happy too!!

Awesome post!! I am going to do it right now!!

Missy - thanks for the heads up and the plug! :-) I tried to do a live interactive map on techknowbabble so readers can see how to use the code in a blog or website as opposed to just a link like I did here. I know you subscribe so I apologize for you getting what appeared to be a redundant notification. They are two different posts, but similiar on topic. I won't be doing that again. It's hard running both Blogs and knowing what to put where, there's so much new, great, and valuable information to share. I'll find my way, thanks for your patience.

Tom - thanks for accepting my enthusiasm with open arms. Google really is cranking out some valuable tools to help our industry. This is really cool stuff. It's the way of the future regardless of what the anti-bloggers think or say. Thanks for your comment and kind words. :-)

Melonie & Lee Ann - Thanks!! Let me know how it goes for you. I think you'll love what these maps can do. You just have to figure out what the most practical use for them will be. Open houses, MLS tours, Getting clients to your office, mapping your personal or company listings, the list goes on and on. You could even do an outside Blog that just focuses on garage sales and moving sales. Imagine the listing and buyer potential that could come from that! Hmmmm.... Good luck with it, let me know how it works out? I just found these yesterday and the "new" tools that google added. :-)

Brad, thanks for putting this together for us. It takes time to sort it all out, get the graphics and copy to work... and it's appreciated.

i had no idea how to do this........nice blog

Duane Hosek in the Black Hills of South Dakota

This is great. A client from out of town asked me where a particular listing was: this map tool is a great way to show her. Thanks.

Another star. You never cease to amaze....your fan, jaygeezy

Very cool, Brad. You are the go-to guy for this stuff. Thanks for being so generous with your sharing.

Jeff

That's it! I've had enough! I'm subscribing to your Blog! Thanks a mil!

Brad -- thank your for this tip. You have illustrated how to do this and I appreciate that so much. Often I will see post and it doesn't explain how to get to the next level. You did a great job with your custom map.

Yep, I will have to read everything you write. Thank you for something cool and do-able.

Thanks for the infor...... I can't remember everthing.. but I sure will bokmark this one and keep it for the future..... Keep them coming.....

Brad - What great information! You constantly amaze me.

Thanks for the great tip. There is great info here that everyone should look at and utilize

Brad, thanks for the tip. That is definitely something I will add to my homepage.

Angie Vandenberghwrote a great blog about this a while back - 10 Ideas for Localism Posts Using Google's New "My Maps" Feature. People then linked to the maps they created. I love to do parade maps and neighborhood maps with local interest plotted out so they can see how close they are to all the good stuff around town.

What a great post! Thanks for the info and I'll definitely be using it!

Thanks so much for the great info. I need to start using maps more.

Brad -You are a weath of knowledge - have been lookin for a way to add maps to some f my posts. Do you think if we use all the new Google tools, we could get some extra juce? Yeah, probably not! Thanks!

Tons of potential ways to use this.. Thanks for the info!

Brad, wonderul information. Thank you for your generosity in thinking of others and how you can help.

OCT

2007

Hi Brad, So pleased to see another great resource from you. Thanks. I've been away too long, but I'm back!!!!

Very cool and pretty easy to use! Thanks for the info. I have already used it on a blog post.

You rock, my friend.

Nick

Gary - thanks, it does take time and these posts are a lot of work. I believe every job is the self portrait of the person who did the work. We should always autograph our jobs with quality. Thanks again.

Duane - give it a try, it's not that hard! I think you'll like using these maps, they're really cool! Thanks!

Matt - you can email to her, put it on your blog, upload it to your website, or just send her a link. Your client will be very impressed. Take the time to add a couple other things to it as well, like homes you or your company sold in the area, dining places, shopping, whatever your clients interests are, you can place them on the map! Hope it works well for you!! :-)

Janet - a mutually admiring fan here!! Thanks for my star! love it!! Have a great weekend and congrats on all your recent features too! You're amazing! :-)

Jeff - thanks for the "go-to-guy" compliment, but there are so many "go-to-guys" and gals for this stuff, I just have some great friends like you to come by and be appreciative, guess that's why we keep doing it huh? Thanks my friend, enjoy your weekend! B-)

M&M - it's taken you this long to subscribe to my blog? Man, what's a guy gotta do around her! Glad you finally came to your senses. Now I can get rid of that stupid "subscribe to me" button. That was only there for you, we've been waiting forever for you to subscribe!! LOL! Thanks for hooking it up, I'll try not to let you down! :-)

Joan - posts like this do take a little (really a lot) longer, but I think the detail makes it easier for the readers to follow. I have read some of the posts you are talking about, and it can get frustrating when the instructions fall short of completion. Thanks for recognizing that, and for commenting with your opinion. I appreciate that! :-)

Virginia - you are very welcome. Be careful committing to everything I write, I can go out on the edge sometimes but my AR family and friends always keep me in check! LOL! Thanks for your comment, that was nice! :-)

Donna - you got it! Just bookmark me and go play with the maps, it's really easy once you're there, you probably won't even need this post once you familiarize yourself with the Google maps. Enjoy and best of luck!

Marlene - Amazing? How about Amazing Grace! (Big Smile) You're amazing, I miss you and think about you often. You made a real impression on me in SF at Inman. Your words and kindness have stuck in my mind ever since. Thanks for your comment and more importantly, your friendship! You Da Best!! :-)

Joe - thanks, I hope everyone does get to read this, unfortunately, there's 50,000 members and I'll be lucky if 100 - 1000 ever actually read it. It's ok, whoever finds it, gets the value, and whoever uses it, gets more business....I hope! :-)

Brad,

Good job on the explanations. I love using the Google Maps for customized maps to our listings.

Once again Brad you have taught me something new. I have looked this over but I think I need to play with it some more to make the most of it. I think this is awesome, thanks for bringing it to our attention. Now all I need do is make the time to play with it more. Thanks.

Sweet! Thanks Brad. I don't know how you find all the time to find these cool new gadets but you do. Thanks for sharing once again.

To both anonymous commenter's, thanks for your appreciative comments. My pleasure to share and "pay it forward".

David - adding this to your homepage is a cool idea, let me know how it goes, I'd love to see your final product. I am going to do a "MasterMap" of all AR members...someday....yeah right!! LOL! Thanks!! :-)

Sherry - great ideas. I looked at Angie's post but back then, google didn't provide the code to place the inter-active map using the <embed> feature. This is new. Now you can even do so much more with the maps. I can do a post on 25 ideas on how to use these maps to grow your business and increase your web traffic. I bet you can think of another 25. You already added 2 great ideas, neighborhood info and parades! Great stuff, thanks for sharing your comment and Angie's post!

Vickie - glad you found this info to be useful, I do hope you'll be able to use it and create more value to your clients! Thanks!

Tracey - use them only if you need. One day, they will come in handy I assure you.

I have to tell you I'm a big fan of your Blog. Love your home video productions! Really liked the one about the stuff you drop off to clients. The popcorn, the forget me not seeds, all great stuff. Sorry I haven't been by much to comment, but my recip's start next week. My goal is 200 comments to my faithful readers and subscribers! That will be a new record for me! I'll be by yours again too.

BTW - I just added my photo's to your "What's under the hood" post! Fun! Thanks!! :-)

Paula - I think anytime you use Google stuff, it can't hurt! You never know who's watching, and what juice they may be giving. I happen to post a lot about Google stuff....don't you wonder why? (Big Smile) Juicy Fruit! LOL!

Linda -OH MY GOSH!! It's so nice to see you back! Are you going to post and let us know where you've been and what you've been doing and why you're back? (BIG SMILE) Sure glad to see you again, I look forward to your posts with great anticipation. I know you get it, and so many don't! That's ok, you deserve to be here and you definitely deserve the benefits of being here!! :-) Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by to say hi!

Nick - you are the man! I love when other members have already used this stuff, makes me feel a little better knowing that it works and has for others already. I think the HTML <embed> feature is Brand New though. There's some really cool stuff you can do with that! Thanks my friend! Enjoy and Ciao!

Paul - glad you find these maps useful. Can you think of some other ways to use them to benefit your business?

Darrel - no problem. Wish I could create more time for you, that's the one thing you'll have to figure out without my post! haha! Do take your time with tools like these, the more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it, just like everything else in life my friend! Have a great weekend Darrel! :-)

Beth - I don't know either! When I heard my clients VM message, I just started researching what kinds of maps might work best for her. I stumbled across this and also, wait till you see what I found for a post down the road...

I am still learning it and trying to understand how it works, but it will be an awesome post about a great new technology that may save folks hundreds of hours we are investing into blogging...almost gave it all away there, oops...better shut-up now while I'm ahead! LOL!!! Thanks for the comment!

Fabulous Brad! This is a wonderful tool. I love how easy you made it look! A keeper for sure! Thanks

Wow, Brad, this is wonderful! Thanks for helping us stay on the cutting-edge. It's nice to see your enthusiasm too :) Thanks

KEWL KEWL KEWL!!!! I'm bookmarking this one. Thanks for sharing!!

I tried it right AFTER you showed me how. :-) Will play with the HTML a little later. Thanks again.. Looking forward to your "awesome post about a great new technology!" Enjoy your weekend!

Allison - another great tool for your toolbox! It really is easy, once you do a couple. Thanks for making me a keeper!! :-)

Bridget - thanks for your nice comment, cutting edge is good, I'm glad you feel this one qualified! :-)
When I come across this stuff, especially at a clients request, I do get a little excited to say the least. Don't think that's something I'll ever grow out of, and not sure I want to! :-)

Elizabeth - thx thx thx!! :-) Love to be bookmarked, it feels kinda like being the first one picked for the TEAM! LOL! Really, thanks, I do appreciate that and I hope you'll find this to bring you some value in the future. :-)

Now that's WAY cool. You've taken us by the hand and walked us through it. That's so considerate!

Nick - thanks for poppin back in, the HTML code is available when you're in the map, it's in the upper right corner of your screen, and it's just a text link, hard to find if you don't know it's there. cool stuff! My post will probable be on TechKnowBabble next week, I try not to double up on this stuff here on AR. Hope you'll check it out from time to time. Thanks and enjoy your weekend as well. :-)

Dawn - and you leaving a comment is even more considerate, thank you! :-) Always happy to lend a cyber-hand!

You Rock! Thanks for the detailed mapping instructions and links keep up the good work!

Brad,

This is a very informative and useful blog!!! I have book marked it for future reference. Thanks for sharing and taking the time to post!!!

Oh, my goodness, Brad! Such great ideas, so many places to go, so little time to learn....

I must say that this is one of the coolest tips I've seen so far! I just tinkered for a couple minutes, using a new listing as my "test subject". Here's the link I created...what do you think?

If you were a home buyer, would you be more impressed seeing an individual map for each listing, say, as a link button on a virtual tour page or a single map showing all the listings I currently have together?

I'll be curious to check this myself once it's been posted. I noticed that the map was zoomed way out until you go to modify it, but I don't know if this link will show the change or not...let's see!

Anyway, thanks for the tip - I'll be using it one way or another for sure!

10/06/2007

by Dan Kalleres

Dan - sorry, I had to delete your comment, the URL for your map was soooo long, it pushed the right column of my blog right off the page! LOL! So in your honor, I went and put a copy of the map back in along with your comment. Looks great! Congrats!!

Scot - thanks my friend! Takes time, but quality is my gig! :-)

Ray - thanks for the appreciation. That means more than you know, especially that you took the time to put it into words and leave it as a comment! Thanks!! :-)

Sharon - I understand, it took me 2 hours to create this one, who's got that kinda extra time? Sometimes I just have to sleep less to Blog more!! LOL! :-)

OCT

2007

Very interesting. Must come back later and read this more.

Bob and Carolin - you just make yourselves at home, come on back anytime you like. :-)

Thanks for this post, I'm definitely going to bookmark it! By the way I gave you a FIVE!!!!

OCT

2007

Brad, Very cool info and I share your excitement. Keep it up.

Brad-awesome information...a you've made it very easy to use.. bet you had a good time putting it together!

Brad,

I noticed when I was creating my map that there is no obvious way to place the balloon marker at the address of my listing. I had to fudge it by zooming in really close to where I knew it should go and planting the marker there. When you made your map, how did you get your markers where you wanted them?

Also, just after I was done tinkering with this, I got an email from a friend using "community walk". Have you seen their mapping? It looks even cooler than Google, but appears to use their base. You might want to check it out, too...

Thanks!

Michael - thanks for the bookmark and the 5, glad you liked this post! :-)

Bill - thanks for the comment and for sharing my ridiculously contagious excitement and enthusiasm. That's a good thing I think right? :-)

Eva - thanks! Yes I had a pretty good time putting this together. As you know, these take plenty of time to do and require a bit of patience and commitment. As long as they bring value to my friends and clients, I'll continue to write them. Thanks for enjoying them and for saying so! :-)

Dan - I did it the same way as you. I had to zoom into the area I wanted, but placing the markers was easy. Just point and click then add the label and the info. I have not heard of the community walk you mention, but I will check it out later when I get the time. Thanks for pointing that out, I do like google because they push our blogs to the top and I feel that in some small way, I am helping them out too! Not that Google needs my help in anyway! :-)

OCT

2007

Brad - Thanks for giving me my latest gadget to learn & play with. I have used the maps but in a limited capacity such as just linking. This will be nice to save & personalize.

Great Info Brad I will be using this fr sure!!!!!

Steve - glad you like it, I know you'll enjoy it! Some great ideas I have heard outside AR but am currently sworn to secrecy. I will say that this in conjunction with Google Earth Maps is a very powerful thing if you start really thinking creatively! That's all I can say about that! Run Forest Run!! LOL! B-)

Jason and Deanna - fr sure? LOL! right on!! :-) Hope it all works wellfor ya, let me know if you need any assistance with it at all! Thanks!! B-)

OCT

2007

I had the mapping feature integrated and stopped using it for some reason. I think I need to resurrect the old google mapping tool.

Tracy - it's resurrection time!! :-) There are even more new features coming out for this soon. Better get back on the wagon with us!! LOL!!! B-)

OCT

2007

Brad, you are my most bookmarked blogger!

Dan - thanks!! I'm honored and humbled!! It's a great feeling knowing that the time spent here is bringing some value to those who read my ramblings. Your comment helps to build credibility to my Blog...and that's priceless! I sure appreciate it!! :-)

I use Google map for so many things - on my website I have an interacive map to my office so my clients can get driving directions to me... on my individual listing websites I have the overhead images so buyers can see how close the house is to the water, or to the main highways, etc...

Google makes it easy to do!

OCT

2007

Ginger - that's awesome! Google really rocks, but now I'm preaching to the choir!! LOL! Thanks for commenting.

Buy your Google stock now....

Troy - it's over $500.00 per share!! Are you kidding?! Wish I already had 500 shares!!

OCT

2007

Your timing was perfect, I was just finishing a blog that needed a map and I’ve since took out the .jpg map I had and added the html from google. It was a lot easier, since google didn’t have this location on there. I was able to pinpoint it and add that to the blog. Thanks, Todd

Todd - it's your timing that made this perfect! :-) Glad you were able to replace the .jpg file, those maps are gone out the door now. You might even want to check out google earth for some 3D images and some of their mapping tools as well. Leave your blog url so I can check out what you've done, inquiry minds want to know! :-)

OCT

2007

Terrific information!! - Thanks, Brad!!!

OCT

2007

Dale - no worries, glad you enjoyed and can use it! :-)

WOW! Thanks. I always used yahoo maps, I'll be changing to google maps. ther is so much more.

I hope to read AR more often. It is time

OCT

2007

Wynne - you're welcome. Yahoo maps is cool too, I find uses for them both. They keep competing with each other, so just stay up on what they both have to offer.

OCT

2007

These maps are truly the Bomb! I just had a client that used them to create a "moving Sale" and "Garage Sale" map. She's going to be taking a listing on Tuesday because of these maps and her efforts! Love it!! :-)

DEC

2007

One month ago, I placed a google map on TechKnowBabble, and we have already had 494 guests sign in on it! These things really do work.

OCT

2008

Just sent this post to a member in Kentucky, I hope she likes this mapping tool. Thanks for the email Elizabeth! :-)

OCT

2008

Brad, Right under my Maps is an option to search google real estate when I do that most of my lisitngs come up. Any idea how to capture the map that the real estate search does and save it as my map? Thanks for your help.

Terry - there is a "my maps" tab and directions how to create your own map, and then even embed it on a site or Blog. It's been a while since I have done it, but I know you'll find it there on the "My Map" tab at the google maps page. You can view a sample of the one I did in the post above and again in the comments about half way down. If you need more help, you know how to reach me. My consulting fees are really cheap! LOL~ :-))

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