Special offer

Google Static Maps - Anyone Can Do It

By
Real Estate Technology with Content, coding, marketing, host.

Rule one: Do not "borrow" one of Lenn Harley's maps.

Rule two: Use maps.

Dynamic maps, maps that zoom in, scroll and give the choices between satellite photo and map views among others are a little involved. Using static Google maps, however, is a cinch. In fact, you'll be able to do it yourself in less than 5 minutes.

Step 1 - get yourself a free Google API (Automatic Program Interface) which I will be talking about on Social Media Edge Radio on September 8 by the way. Simply go to http://code.google.com/apis/maps/signup.html

Read and agree to the terms and conditions and simply enter your TLD (Top Level Domain) name - for example http://twitterbits.com - the API will work on all subdomains such as http://radio.twitterbits.com or http://twitterbits.com/radio

Select the "Generate API Key" button and on the next page copy the API key with which you are presented. It's a long one so you'll need to copy and paste instead of printing. (The API in the sample is faked.)

Step 2 - replace the BOLD ITALICIZED text with your own: http://maps.google.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=Smyrna,GA&zoom=13&size=400x400&sensor=false&key=YOUR_API_KEY

(Get the full HTML code with IMG tags at the sample link below)

If you are using a WordPress Blog or something based on WordPress like Active Rain simply paste the link into the image link form field. If you can't figure that out either email me or phone my office at 678-946-0101 and I'll help you!

Here is a sample of Smyrna,GA using my API and the HTML code if needed (link)

For those who want all the goodies you can get the low down from Google here http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/reference.html

Be sure to listen to SOCIAL MEDIA EDGE RADIO every Tuesday at Noon (or get the archives on Facebook at http://facebook.com/socialmediaedge) for more tips on how to make your web work for you!

Posted by

Web/Social Developer For Hire - I code. I create. I manage. Whether you need your website to actually do something other than look pretty or one of the following services let's talk. Anyone can make a beautiful WordPress site (all the hard work is done) but few can make it work for you. , blog content, research intense reports, data reports (and accompanying charts and graphics), ebooks, presentation content, speeches, social media management, advertising scripts, or similar, let me show you what you can have.

Listen to Social Media Edge Radio weekly for powerful tips on making the Internet pay for you. Blogging, social media, and web technology with some of the most successful and well-known guests on the Web!

I started writing on Active Rain in 2006 when I was representing the mortgage industry. I am no longer in that industry and many of the older posts contain outdated information. Please do not contact me for LENDING or MORTGAGE questions but rather contact a licensed mortgage professional from your area. I have always been in marketing and branding and that is still what I do. Thanks for reading!

Comments(44)

Stephen Kappre
KW Hometown - Mantua, NJ
Helping You Home

Just yesterday I put a google map into my blog post for the first time, using the html code. It was easy as could be. If you can copy and paste, you can put them in your blog.

Sep 02, 2009 03:28 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Ken - I realized as I was reading your post that this topic was on yesterday's agenda.  I guess that's the way things go on our show most of the time, huh?

Sep 02, 2009 03:32 AM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

Ken - thanks for this information and for the link on FB. I will check out  the archives for sure.

Sep 02, 2009 05:18 AM
Jo Olson
HOMEFRONT Realty - Kettle Falls, WA
Retired - HOMEFRONT Realty @ LAKE Roosevelt

This will be cool - but I just went to "My Maps" after reading Collen's comment and really found it to be cool - Ken? Can you explain the differences.

Sep 02, 2009 05:30 AM
Irene Kennedy Realtor® in Northwestern NJ
Weichert - Lopatcong, NJ

Ken,

Bookmarked for later this week. Thanks ever so much!

Sep 02, 2009 06:10 AM
David L. Montgomery
MULAMONT REALTY, LLC - Pontiac, MI
David L. Montgomery

Wait a minute...Copyright infringement?  $90,000 fine?  Is this for real?  If I use it am I at risk?

Sep 02, 2009 07:05 AM
Deborah Ryman
Santa Cruz, CA
M.A. Feng Shui Services, Santa Cruz County

We need clarification on the Copyright issue. I would have thought that if their name was on the map it would be ok. Please educate me (and refer to specifics). Thanks

Sep 02, 2009 08:37 AM
Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time

So Ken,....how do I gewt my listings on there? lets say I want to doa map with my closed short sales on it. Can I just write you a check? :)

Sep 02, 2009 10:17 AM
Ken Cook
Content, coding, marketing, host. - Marietta, GA
Content Marketer/Creator

Bryant - yes.

Colleen - you're missing something.

David - the $90k Lenn was referring to is for copyright infringement. Just follow the terms and you're okay.

Steve K - right, that's copyright infringement unless you are using the API key for your site.

Bob H - if you're using it on Active Rain just make sure you put only the link in the "IMAGE URL" form field or swithcing to HTML to use the IMG tag.

RECAP: Please do not use links in the body of your comments that link to anything that I may remotely deam as competitive to anything with which I am remotely associated.

Sep 02, 2009 10:41 AM
Mara Hawks
First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL
Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

This info is so helpful. I've been wanting to lwarn more about doing maps (without doing it the wrong way or infringing on rights!) and have been completely in the dark. I'll be reviewing this and trying to learn. Thanks for sharing such valuable info!

Sep 02, 2009 11:17 AM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Ken - This is great information, it's bookmarked for when I have time to sit down and actually do it.  Thank you for sharing!

Sep 02, 2009 12:31 PM
Beverly of Bev & Bob Meaux
Keller Williams Suburban Realty - West Orange, NJ
Where Buying & Selling Works

Another bookmark to add. Thanks, Ken. Let me know if you have an answer to Bryant's question.

Sep 02, 2009 01:37 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

Great stuff, Ken.  I keep menaing to tweak out a few Google Maps.  One day I'll have a staff...

Sep 02, 2009 01:54 PM
Damon Gettier
Damon Gettier & Associates, REALTORS- Roanoke Va Short Sale Expert - Roanoke, VA
Broker/Owner ABRM, GRI, CDPE

bookmarked for this weekend....thanks!

Sep 02, 2009 02:47 PM
Dan Quinn
The Eric Steart Group of Long & Foster Real Estate - Silver Spring, MD
Dan Quinn

Super stuff.  Thanks for the reminder that it is illegal to reproduce copyrighted material without permission.  I remember when the only way to make a copy of something was at the library and in order to do it the librarian would have to review and approve the material you were going to copy.

Lenn, didn't the record companies go after a little girl for downloading illegally and she got busted for like 5 - 10 grand?  I seem to remember that Pepsi used her in a commercial later on and she got paid handsomely for her spot in the commercial.  Go figure.

Sep 02, 2009 03:34 PM
Chris Olsen
Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH
Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

Hi Ken -- Very cool, thanks.  I look forward to seeing your dynamic version next! :-)

Sep 02, 2009 04:00 PM
Roland Woodworth
Blue Cord Realty - Clarksville, TN
Blue Cord Realty

Ken.. Great post on the use of Google Maps. I book marked this to take a closer look when I get home. Lenn makes a great point about the maps. Also... I would not want to use one of her maps... no offense... but I want to keep my hard earned money :)

Sep 02, 2009 04:06 PM
Sandra Scott
DPR Realty - Payson, AZ
REALTOR of Choice! Payson, Pine & Strawberry, AZ

Google and Ken ROCK!  Thanks...simple, simple, simple.

Sep 08, 2009 05:30 PM
Christine McInerney
Great Life RE - Knoxville, TN
The McInerney Team, Knoxville TN Homes For Sale

Ken, Thanks for the map tips.  I have been reading about how beneficial they can be but have been so busy have not had much time to research how to utilize it. 

Oct 06, 2009 02:37 PM
Jen Bowman
Keller Williams on the Water - Holmes Beach, FL
Realtor - Anna Maria Island & Bradenton FL

Ken, I tried it but apparently it's beyond my comprehension. I spent hours working on it, adding the key and don't know if I was doing it right. Then I just decided to leave a link to the map and make the map public on Google.

Jan 26, 2010 12:21 PM