Your business likely has already done its part in collecting and organizing relevant location data. Now, these efforts are worth putting on display in a way that can support others in a meaningful way. For this reason, online map building software becomes an effective tool in taking your raw data points and turning them into an interactive map.
Step 1: Browse Available Tools
Although many map-building tools are at a user’s disposal, one of the most known is Google Maps, which creators can use with custom software to extend existing features. One of these extensions is Maptive, a software that enables users to create interactive maps targeted at an audience with the intent to make them better informed, educated, and persuaded.
Businesses often choose to use Maptive for its functionality for adding multiple locations and the ability to provide access as a shared version of a team’s map, ensuring that creators have access to hundreds of map-building tools. Some of these features may include:
Store Finder Tool
Especially in the case of businesses with physical retail locations, a store finder tool becomes a valuable addition that enables customers to find you, thereby increasing the number of potential sales and business growth.
Route Optimizer
A route optimizer is another tool at a map creator’s disposal, enabling users to determine the quickest route between two or more data points on a map. Alternatively, users may seek ways to shorten travel times between multiple locations on the map.
Territory Generator
Your internal team can use the sales territory tool to ensure that managers allocate districts fairly. With access to all relevant data, teams can determine which territories meet their targets and which may need additional support.
Heat Map Creator
Businesses use heat maps to help teams identify trends in their location data on a Google map. With added functionality for heat maps, users can seek out additional details about their sales activity, customers and competitor locations.
Step 2: Sign Up For A User Account or Test Options With Free Trials
After weighing available offerings, Maptive will prompt creators to sign up for an account. In the example of Maptive, this step is free of charge through a trial account. By creating this account, users can access the web-based tool, enabling them to access relevant information anywhere.
Step 3: Initiate the Creation Process
Once users have logged in, they will gain access to the project’s main webpage. When the time comes, this page will become populated with all the maps they created. However, upon initial use, this page will serve as a one-click access point to the main features, which users can find under “Actions.” To create a user’s first map, they can select “Click Create New Map.” The last step in this sequence will be giving the new creation a name.
Step 4: Copy and Paste Data
Once users have their accounts set up, they can begin inputting relevant location data. One method is uploading a spreadsheet file with the relevant data points. Suppose users decide to move forward with this method. In that case, they must remember to include column headers in these data sets to ensure information moves from your spreadsheet to the software provider in a readable format.
Step 5: Share The Results of Your Interactive Map
After conducting a final review, map builders are ready to share their progress with team members. Maptive enables users to collaborate similarly to how they can in the Google Suite by emailing a copy of the map directly or via a sharable link.
Step 6: See Your Business’ Data Brought to Life
As an interactive map, your findings are now ready to call to your team’s attention, including the decision-makers, marketers, and sales representatives. With a new communication method, your internal team can receive proper education about their business and have a visual component to their presentations.