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10 Ideas for Localism Posts Using Google's New "My Maps" Feature

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Crye-Leike, Realtors

ok - ok, first things first. I technically only have 8 items listed in the idea section... My brain gave out at eight. But I thought, hey who wants to read the "8 ideas...". --- 10 --- just seems to be the 'official' number for things like this. So please comment below and include ideas that this helps you generate. Then maybe the title could become 100 Ideas for Localism Posts Using Google's New 'My Maps' Feature. :)  

Why I like this idea?

  • Google Maps is a free new tool. I wanted to try it out. It has a lot of possibilities.
  • I had fun writing this and the actual localism post.
  • Localism post provides useful information that takes you some time of living in the town to figure out.
  • Addresses a common misconception that most people have about the town.
  • Leads to tons of possibilites of other articles to write like this.
collierville blogWhat did I create? See it in action...

Ideas for localism articles using google maps...

  1. Is there something that everyone *thinks* about your town that is not necessarily true?
  2. Apply the same concept to your town for those of you who live in a town that is really not far away.
  3. Map a few good walking spots.
  4. Map out some popular biking paths.
  5. Map out area playgrounds or parks.
  6. Map out some shopping areas.
  7. Map out any types of attractions... build short day trips of a couple things for people to check out.
  8. Map the secret spots that you the local know?
Google My Maps FeatureTips on creating your google map...
  • How to find google maps.... go to www.google.com/maps and click on the "My Maps" tab.
     
  • Figure out before hand which order you want the items in the list to appear. Google does not yet offer the ability to sort the items you include on the map. They list in the order you add them. This will save you time and heart ache.
     
  • Google User Guide for My Maps 
     
  • Once you have the map created, click on the "Link to this page" link in blue to get the url to link to. When you click on the link, google adds the full url to the page in your address bar. ("Link to this page" is included above the buttons to change between traffic, map, satellite and hybrid map views).
So, what do you think?   Do you like this idea? Have you done something similar? Did this lead you to other ideas? If so, please comment and help get this post up to the '100 ideas resource level'.

Comments (97)

Brian Lee Burke
Kenna Real Estate - Lone Tree, CO
Broker & Advising Expert-Kenna Luxury Real Estate
This is great, I was just wondering about how to make show the boundaries of a neighborhood, I signed up, drew the lines and it was done in 5 minutes. Awesome. Thanks. ~Rita
Jan 23, 2008 04:09 PM
Angie Vandenbergh
Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN
A Crye-Leike Blogger
Hi Brian and Rita - I like the neighborhood boundary idea. I just recently made a map with an overlay to show where Midtown Memphis is. You can see the overlay in the image here of Midtown Memphis Map.
Jan 24, 2008 01:43 AM
Ginger Wilcox
Sindeo - San Francisco, CA
I don't know if this is a new feature since you wrote this post, but you can now easily embed the maps directly in your blog.  "My maps" provides the embed code so you don't have to do the whole print screen image thing. This is a great tutorial.  I can't wait to use it for some blog posts.  Thanks Angie!
Jan 27, 2008 12:18 AM
Kathy Anderson
Arizona Luxury & Lifestyle Living - Cave Creek, AZ
Arizona Homes For Sale
Graet idea!  As soon as I have time to look into this I plan on mapping all the area Active Adult Communities that I feature on my website.  Thank you!
Jan 28, 2008 06:27 AM
Darryl Glade
RE/MAX N.O. Properties - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate
I know that I am a little late but I have been struggling this morning for a blog topic and you helped...Thanks!
Jan 29, 2008 02:02 AM
Evan Vanderwey
Cornerstone Home Loans - Okemos, MI
The Cashflow Coach

Angie, good post and a great idea.  I've just posted an article about all of the new developments happening in our capitol city and I'm going to go back and add this map to put things in perspective.

Thanks, the Cashflow Coach

Jan 31, 2008 01:47 PM
Martin Dorgan
Prudential Indiana Realty - Columbus, IN
Great Idea for Localism! Actually for any agent anywhere!
Jan 31, 2008 10:07 PM
Mike Frazier
Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN
Northwest Tennessee Realtor

Angie,

Thank-you for the information. Now I am going to see if I can wrap my brain around this and put Google maps to work for me.

Jan 31, 2008 10:50 PM
Ryan Martin
Pacific Continental Realty, LLC - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Commercial RE Broker
Angie - That is a great idea. I like using the aerial and bird's eye functions of Google Maps too.
Feb 03, 2008 02:24 AM
Ray Nellum
Envision Real Estate Group, LLC. - Fort Smith, AR
Fort Smith Real Estate

Angie, I think those are some great ideas that I am going to start using as well.  I love finding new tools that help in the trade.  Thanks

Feb 05, 2008 02:13 PM
Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Real Estate One - Commerce, MI
Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
Great idea to put the map on localism.  I am going to try it right away on my next blog.  Thanks for the idea.
Feb 05, 2008 10:38 PM
Paul Viau
Nova Scotia Real Estate Blog - Halifax, NS
Nova Scotia Real Estate Blog + Photo Services
Great idea! The mapping function will work  on my new blog! I assume google treats any blog with  this function with raised search engine capabilities.
Feb 11, 2008 05:28 AM
Vickie Nagy
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Palm Springs, CA
Vickie Jean the Palm Springs Condo Queen

Thank you for sharing this GREAT post. AR is a wonderful place, full of sharing, helpful people.

Feb 15, 2008 04:12 PM
Chris DeSimone
DFW Fine Properties - Southlake, TX
CRS, GRI, Realtor

Hey Angie,

Great Ideas!  I am bookmarking and will definitely use this.  I can think of using the google map to define the city limits.  I live in a town that shares a school district with surronding cities.  Realtors constantly misrepresent what city the property is in.  Posting a map on Localism to illustrate this would be beneficial.

Thanks again, Chris

Feb 16, 2008 03:32 AM
Angie Vandenbergh
Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN
A Crye-Leike Blogger
Hi Chris, Thnaks for sharing. That's a good idea. I actually did something similar on a few pages of our web site. Check out this page with a map of Central Gardens (a neighborhood in Memphis).
Feb 17, 2008 02:06 AM
Julie Martin
Port City Realty - Mobile, AL
Realtor, Broker - Gulf Coast Real Estate

I'm going to try this. Do you think it would help me show up on Google maps? I've done everything I can think of and still I do not show up in my city on the Google map.

Jan 02, 2009 01:40 PM
Angie Vandenbergh
Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN
A Crye-Leike Blogger

Hi Julie - I don't think this will help you personally get listed on google maps. You'll need to add yourself as a business to their local pages. Here's a link for the page to get started...

http://www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter?gl=us&hl=en-U

Jan 02, 2009 11:57 PM
Jean-Paul Peron
The Outer Banks Real Estate Copmpany - Corolla, NC
Carova Beach - Living & Working in 4-Wheel Drive

WOW!

 This is just what I need to give my localism a boost in 2010.

 

 Thanks.

Dec 27, 2009 10:15 AM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

This post is just as relevant today as when it was posted two years ago.  Thank you.

Dec 29, 2009 02:08 AM
Dave Miller
RE/MAX Integrity, Dumont, NJ 201-385-8100 - Dumont, NJ
RE/MAX Real Estate Dumont,NJ - Bergen County, New Jersey Homes for Sale

Like so many other things, I knew this, then forgot/didn't utilize it.  Thanks for the refresher course!

Dec 31, 2009 08:57 AM