What is Google Maps? Features and how to use it

Google Maps is a digital mapping service developed by Google to replace paper maps. It has become one of the most powerful and popular apps today. With so many useful features, Google Maps is the first choice for many people looking for directions. Seeing this, many businesses now put Google Maps to work in online business. 

In this article, Mona Media will walk you through the benefits of using Google Maps, how to embed Google Maps in a website, and finally how to register a business account on Google.

What is Google Maps?

Google Maps is a digital mapping service built and run by Google, created to replace traditional paper maps as technology has moved on so quickly. It offers top-down images, satellite imagery, interactive 360-degree views, real-time traffic maps and route planning for many kinds of transport.

Google Maps is now very widely used (in 2020 it reached 1 billion users a month, according to figures from that year). Users can look up routes, calculate distances, search for specific addresses, pin favourite places and more.

Because of this, many businesses have noticed how people use Google Maps and built their marketing and online sales strategies on the platform. The most common use is embedding a Google map in a website so customers can easily find where to buy. It is also used for SEO local local business SEO, which drives increased traffic traffic to the website and helps increase sales to your business.

Embedding Google Maps in your website

Benefits of embedding Google Maps in your website

• Users can easily find your address and see where you are.
• Users can quickly get directions from where they are standing to the place they are looking for.
• Khi Google Maps is embedded in your website, users can easily save your company's location along with other features. To embed Google Maps quickly, follow the steps below. If you are not comfortable with the technology, you can contact a specialist company website design provider to handle the Google Maps integration for you.

How to embed Google Maps in a website, step by step

Step 1: Go to the Google Maps website at: https://www.google.com/maps/preview

Enter your company address in the map search box.

Move around the map to find and confirm your company's exact location.

Step 2: Click the menu to get the code

Click the Google Maps menu

Click "Share & Embed map" to get the code

Step 3: Copy the code into your website

Click "Embed a map" and open the Embed maps tab

Copy the Google Maps embed code and paste it into your website

You can also add a basic Google Maps embed to your article content or your Facebook fanpage.

I see a lot of people in SEO who have never touched Google Business Profile, even though it is a free channel Google gives us to bring in customers and build trust in a website. In this video I will walk you through, step by step, how to put your website on Google Maps. Watch it and you will be able to do it yourself.

How to create a business listing on Google Maps

When you search on Google Maps, you will see some shops and businesses shown with a small map that points the way to their location. That is a business listing created on Google Maps.

Benefits of creating a business listing on Google Maps

• Your business address and details are shown on Google Maps
• Searches that include a province or city name show a map leading to your business address.
• As well as putting the information on Google Maps, this creates a Google+ page shown alongside the map, which helps the business attract followers.
• Your business address will appear in the search listings of Google+.
• Your brand looks more professional, backed by photos and independent reviews.

In short, a business listing on Google Maps makes it easier for customers to find you, and easier to contact you, since the map also shows your phone number.

See more: 20 social media marketing tips from leading experts

What do you need to prepare to create a business listing on Google Maps?

To use Google Maps effectively, a business needs to prepare the following:

• Brand logos of your company
• Strong photos of the business
• An accurate business address, so you can receive the verification PIN from Google. The PIN arrives in about 5 to 15 days, depending on the country.
• A Google Plus account

How to create a business listing on Google Maps

Step 1: Go to Google Maps

To add your company address to Google Maps, first go to this address: https://www.google.com/business/placesforbusiness/. Then click the sign-up button Get on Google.

Go to the Google Maps business registration page

Step 2: Sign in to your Gmail account

You need to sign in with your Gmail account to start creating the map listing. You will then be taken to the website https://www.google.com/local/business/add. Enter your company address here. If no existing business matches, choose to add your business.

Sign in with your Gmail account

Step 3: Enter your business details

You will be taken to https://www.google.com/local/business/add/info. At this step, fill in the business name, country, street, province or city, phone number and category.

Enter your business address

Enter your business details

Enter an accurate address so you can receive the verification PIN from Google.

Step 4: Submit a verification request

Submit the business verification request and wait about 1 to 2 weeks, or longer, for Google to mail a postcard to your address.

Step 5: Verify your address

When the letter from Google arrives, take the verification PIN and follow the instructions in the letter. At this point Google will tell you the process is complete, and your business address will start to appear on Google Maps.

To edit your profile on Google Maps, go to https://www.google.com/business/placesforbusiness/ to make your changes.

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How the Local Guides program works on Google Maps

Right now, Google Maps is considered the most popular digital map app in the world. To keep making it more detailed and cover more places in more countries, Google rolled out the Local Guides program for local guides. Taking part also gives users a chance to win attractive rewards.

As a Local Guide, you can add places you visit to Google Maps and earn points for each contribution. Contributions fall into 5 types: writing reviews, uploading photos of a place, adding new places, correcting outdated information, and answering simple questions.

Each contribution earns 1 point, and each new place you add earns 5 points. Points add up over time, and rewards are split into the following levels:

• Level 1 (0 to 4 points): You get the chance to join exclusive contests in certain countries.
• Level 2 (5 to 49 points): You get the chance to try new Google products or features.
• Level 3 (50 to 199 points): Places on Google Maps show an official Local Guide badge.
• Level 4 (200 to 499 points): You receive 1 TB of free Google Drive storage, worth 9.99 USD/month.
• Level 5 (500 points or more): You become one of the top Local Guides and can meet other Local Guides around the world. You can also visit Google and hear the latest news about Google Maps.

For places you pass through, such as restaurants, cafes and tourist spots, it takes only a few minutes to share a review on Google Maps and you could win attractive rewards.

≫ Find out more: Google Ads professional and reputable

Useful Google Maps features and how to use them

Searching for places on Maps

You can find any place on Google Maps by typing in a place name, street name or area. Sign in to Google Maps before you search so you can quickly see addresses from your earlier searches.

How to search:

• Step 1: Go to the Google Maps website, or open the Google Maps app on a phone or tablet
• Step 2: Type the area, address or street name you want to find.
• Step 3: Press Enter or click the Search icon
• Step 4: The small red pins or red dots that appear on the map are your search results.

Step 5: For more details about a result, click the red pin on the map and choose one of these sections:

• Overview: See the address, opening hours, phone number, website and more
• Reviews: See ratings and reviews of the place
• Images: Photos taken at the place
• Save: You can save the place to a list such as favourites, highlights or places you often want to visit, so it is quick to find in later searches.
• Directions: See routes and directions for each type of transport, and the best way to get from where you are to the place you searched for.

View information and directions

This is one of the main features that shows what Google Maps is for. With it you can look up driving directions, the transport options available for a route, the best route and alternative routes to your destination on the map.

How to use Google Maps for directions:

• Step 1: Open Google Maps in a web browser, or the Google Maps app on a phone or tablet.
• Step 2: Click the Directions icon on the screen, then enter your location and your destination.
• Step 3: Choose how you want to travel by clicking the matching icon (car, motorbike, public transport, walking, ride-hailing or flight).

The results then show you the following:

• The estimated distance between your location and your destination (in km)
• The estimated time to get from your current location to the destination by the transport you chose.
• Step-by-step travel instructions for each leg of the trip
• Automatic guidance (based on your actual progress along the route)

Check traffic, satellite and terrain maps

On a computer: Open Google Maps in your browser -> click the Menu icon (3 horizontal lines at the top right).

On a phone: Open the Google Maps app -> tap the Layers icon at the top right.

Choose the map type you want to see:

• Map: The standard Google Maps view.
• Satellite: A bird's-eye view of Google Maps that shows individual objects and buildings in detail.
• Terrain: This view shows mountains, lakes and other landscape features in more detail.

How to check traffic on the route you will take:

Choose "Traffic": this feature shows how busy the roads are, which sections are restricted or jammed and which are clear, so you can pick the right route.

Once selected, roads on the map are marked with different colours. Here is what they mean:

• Green: No traffic problems.
• Orange: Moderate traffic.
• Red: Traffic problems. The darker the red, the slower the traffic.
• Grey or blue line: Shows your route.

Street View, a 360-degree look at the street

Another Google Maps feature is Street View, which lets you explore places on Google Maps with a very realistic virtual-reality feel, as if you were standing there. Keep in mind that the 360° images in Street View were captured at some point in the past, and not all of them have been updated with the latest images.

There are 3 ways to use Street View:

Method 1: Open Google Maps on a computer -> click the Menu icon (3 horizontal lines) -> choose "Street View" -> blue dots will appear on the map.

Click the blue dots in the area you want to explore to see the 360° street view.

Method 2: Open Google Maps on a computer -> in the bottom right corner, click the yellow Pegman icon -> drag the Pegman to the area you want to explore -> release the mouse to drop him on a blue dot, a blue line or an orange dot on the map.

Method 3: In the Google Maps app on your phone -> tap the Layers icon at the top right -> choose "Street View" -> tap the blue dots to explore.

Share your location in real time

Google Maps lets you share your current location with friends and family in just a few steps:

• Step 1: On your smartphone -> Settings -> Google Maps app -> Location -> choose "Always".
• Step 2: Open the Google Maps app -> sign in to your Google account.
• Step 3: Tap your profile picture or initials in the Google Maps app -> choose "Location sharing" -> pick who receives your location from your Gmail profiles or contacts. Or copy your location sharing link and send it to family and friends.

Note: Anyone with this link can see your location for 1 hour after the link is created.

Add your work and home addresses

Google Maps lets you save fixed places, which saves time when you look up routes to places you visit often, such as home or the office.

• On a phone: Tap the Saved icon -> in your lists, choose "Labeled" -> choose "Home" or "Work" -> enter the address -> Save.

• On a computer: Click the Menu icon -> Your places -> Labeled -> choose Home or Work -> enter the address -> Save.

Name your favourite places

Once you know what Google Maps can do, you can save your favourite places straight from Google Maps with a few simple steps:

Choose the place you want to save on Google Maps -> tap the Save icon -> choose a list (Favourites | Want to go | Starred places) or create a new list -> Done.

Use Google Maps offline

One of the most loved Google Maps features is offline maps, which work without a network connection.

To use it, follow these steps:

Open the Google Maps app on your smartphone -> sign in to your Google account -> tap your profile picture or initials in the app -> choose Offline maps -> select your own map (zoom in or out to choose the area you want to download) -> Download

Review every place you have been, as a timeline

Whenever you search for a place or travel along a route you looked up on Maps, Google knows where you have been, and the Timeline feature lets you look back at those places. To use it, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open Google Maps -> sign in to your Google account -> tap your profile picture or initials in Google Maps
• Step 2: Choose Timeline -> pick the place you want to revisit from the places you have been, organised by: Time (by day) | Places (shopping, eating, sightseeing, etc.) | Cities | World.

Find places around you (hotels, airports, ATMs)

Google Maps makes it easy to find petrol stations, ATMs, hotels, airports and more near you, accurately. Follow these steps:

Open the Google Maps app -> tap any suggested category under the search bar (petrol stations, restaurants, hotels, cafes, etc.).

You can swipe left to choose, or tap More (…) to see all the other place categories Google Maps suggests.

Find restaurants with takeaway

One of the most popular things Google Maps does is find restaurants near you that offer takeaway or delivery.

Steps: Open the Google Maps app -> choose the suggested category "Takeaway" under the search bar

The small red pins or red dots on the map are restaurants that offer takeaway or delivery -> tap each red dot to see an overview of the restaurant (phone, website, opening hours, photos, reviews, menu, reservations, etc.)

Give Google Maps directions by voice

Google added voice commands to Google Maps for times when you can't type a destination by hand, for example when you are in traffic or carrying something.

Sending voice commands to Google Maps is simple. Follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open the Google Maps app on your mobile device
• Step 2: Tap the microphone icon at the top right of the screen -> allow Google Maps to access your microphone
• Step 3: Use your voice to search for the place you want (for example, search for "school", "petrol station" or "bus station", or say a specific address).

Send directions from your computer to your phone

Google Maps works across platforms, so you can use it on a computer and on mobile devices. If you want to send directions for a place from your computer to your phone, it is easy to do in the steps below:

• Step 1: Open Google Maps on your computer
• Step 2: Enter the place or location you want to search for
• Step 3: Choose "Send to phone"

Sharing a place from your computer to your phone also lets you send places and directions to friends through many different apps.

Sharing a place on Google Maps is simple:

• Step 1: Open Google Maps
• Step 2: Choose any place, or your current location
• Step 3: Tap the Share icon
• Step 4: Choose the app you want to share with (Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, etc.)

Share directions on Google Maps quickly:

• Step 1: Create any route on Google Maps
• Step 2: Tap Menu
• Step 3: Tap Share directions
• Step 4: Choose the app you want to share with (Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, etc.)

Transit information on Google Maps

Transit information is ideal for people who often use public transport. This Google Maps feature tells you which public transport leaves from where, what stops it makes, when to change lines and more.

Steps to use Google Maps with this feature:

• Step 1: Open Google Maps
• Step 2: Choose your destination and tap directions
• Step 3: Choose the travel mode at the top and switch to the bus, train and similar icons
• Step 4: Choose the route you want to take.

Use the compass to adjust your view on Google Maps

Google Maps has a built-in compass that adjusts your direction automatically, so the view fits how you are travelling, whether by motorbike, bicycle, car or on foot. Follow these steps to use the compass:

• Step 1: Open Google Maps and start navigating
• Step 2: Google Maps sets the direction by default to the way you are facing
• Step 3: Tap the compass icon to change the direction you want to see

Use a shortcut to start navigation on Google Maps quickly

The navigation shortcut on Google Maps speeds up your searches. Follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open Google Maps
• Step 2: Search for the place you want to go to
• Step 3: Press and hold it instead of tapping the navigation icon

When you hold it, the route appears on the screen and Google Maps switches to navigation mode automatically.

Frequently asked questions about Google Maps

When did Google Maps launch?

Google Maps was first announced on the Google Blog on 8 February 2005.

How does Google Maps give directions?

• Step 1: Open the Google Maps app on a mobile device or computer
• Step 2: Search for or enter a specific place, or tap that location on the Google map.
• Step 3: Tap "Directions" at the bottom left. If you press and hold instead of tapping, Google creates directions for you automatically (you can then skip steps 4 to 6)
• Step 4: Choose how you will travel (walking, bicycle, motorbike, car, etc.)
• Step 5: The map shows the routes you can take (in grey). To choose one, tap that grey route and it turns blue
• Step 6: To start following the directions from Google Maps, tap the Start icon.
• Step 7: To stop following this route, tap the X icon at the bottom left.

What is the difference between Google Maps and Google Earth?

In short, Google Maps is a tool for directions and for locating you and places, as its name says. Google Earth is a tool for learning about and exploring the Earth in detail.

Google Maps is a great app with plenty of useful features, and we hope it gives you a great experience. We hope what we have shared here helps you understand this digital map app better.

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