Google Maps Water Cooler

Edit listings and report problems in more countries!

2011-01-12T16:35:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to let you know that you can now edit listings and report problems in Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Singapore.

How can you do this? It's simple! When you see incorrect information appearing for a business listing in your area, simply edit it directly on Maps by clicking the Edit Details or Edit this place links on the Place page or report a problem with it by clicking on the Report a problem link.

Learn more by visiting this help article. You can also check out our Hotpot Blog post on Keeping Google Places up to date.

- Keli

Scheduled downtime November 15, 2010

2010-11-15T12:08:00.000-08:00

Please note the following scheduled downtime for Google Places, Tags, & Boost

Monday, November 15, 2010010 at 4p PDT, 7p EDT for approximately 1 hour

We appreciate your patience.

Scheduled downtime October 26, 2010

2010-10-25T15:26:00.000-07:00

Please note the following scheduled downtime for Google Places, Tags, & Boost

Tuesday, October, 26, 2010 at 4pm PDT, 7pm EDT

We appreciate your patience!

How to Update Business Listings in Scandinavia

2010-09-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

If you are a Nordic business owner, we want to let you know that we’re aware of the difficulties you're currently experiencing regarding inaccurate business information in your listing. Please bear with us - we’re looking into the matter and working to resolve it as quickly as possible. In the meantime, here are a few actions you can take to correct your free business listings.

Business owners in Sweden and Finland (and many other countries) should claim their existing listing or add a new listing for their business through Google Places. Verifying your free business listing allows you not only to ensure that accurate information appears on your business’ Place page, but also to enhance your online presence by adding photos, videos, and even real-time updates like weekly specials to your Place page.

Here’s how to claim your business through Google Places.

1) Claim your listing in Google Places. More information is available in our Finnish Help Center and Swedish Help Center.
2) Verify your listing by PIN (options are any of SMS/ Mail/ Phone) .
3) If you can verify by Phone or SMS, updates to your listing will go live within several hours. If you choose to receive your PIN by mail, you must wait for the postcard to arrive in standard mail so verification may take several weeks.

If you’re a business owner, use the Report a Problem to report any listing information that is incorrect:

If you’re not the business owner of a listing, but would still like to correct inaccurate data, please review some of the following options, such making direct edits to listings that have not been claimed or verified:

Once we review your submissions or edits, the update to the listing will go live in a few weeks.
We appreciate your patience!

Edits now require approval before going live

2010-05-25T16:37:00.000-07:00

We recently made a change to Google Maps to require all community edits to be reviewed before they are shown. In the past, some "pending" edits were shown immediately on Maps and only moderated (and sometimes denied) later on.

We're taking this step to ensure that changes to Google Maps pass the high quality bar our users expect, while preventing SPAM and other problems from showing up before being reviewed first.

We want to empower you to be a valuable local expert by making it easy to fix and report problems you find on Google Maps. We realize it is inconvenient to wait for edits to be reviewed, and we are working hard to streamline our review process to reduce this waiting period.

Thanks for your patience, and for sharing your local expertise with the world!

Keli

New! Bulk Upload Templates

2010-05-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

Did you know that you can now download Google Docs templates for your bulk uploads?

Visit this FAQ for more information!

Google's 'Football Fever

2010-05-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

People all over Europe already use Google Maps to search for pubs, bars and restaurants in their local area. And with football’s (soccer, to all you Americans) biggest event fast approaching, millions of fans will be looking for the perfect venue to enjoy the tournament. So this could be the perfect time to create your entry on Google Maps for free.

Join the Google ‘Football Fever’ campaign by putting your business on Google Maps today to make the most of national football fever. You can include information about your pub, restaurant or bar, opening hours and even the matches that you’ll be showing at your venue.

• Let potential customers know your address, a description of your business, photographs of your venue and the matches they can catch there.
• More customers and more revenue, but this amazing service won’t cost you a penny.
• Sign up to the Google Maps campaign now and let people find you right in time for the games.
• You don’t even need to have a website to be on Google Maps.

To really score this summer, simply sign on to Google Places

Make sure you join before June 11 to be certain your local football-loving customers can find you in time for their big match.

Have fun and all the best!

Vote on ideas and questions for Google Places

2010-05-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

Our team wants to hear from our users so we're asking you to post and vote on feature suggestions, common myths you've heard, and general product feedback.

Post your thoughts and vote up ideas on Product Ideas for Google Places.

Our team will review the posts after the page closes on May 21 and post a video response on our Help Center. We're eager to hear what you think - so now's your chance to let us know!

You can now edit listings and report problems in the UK!

2010-04-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

A lot of you have been asking, "when can I edit and report problems on a business listing?" I'm happy to let you know that you can now do this in the UK. If you see incorrect information appearing for a listing in the UK that hasn't been verified by the business owner, simply edit it directly on Maps or report a problem with it. To learn more about how to do this, visit this help article.

Please keep in mind that you won't be able to do this for listings that have been verified by the business owner just yet, but we're working on it. If you're the business owner and your listing contains incorrect information, you should update your information in your Google Places account.

Have a great weekend,

Keli

Google Places Scheduled Downtime

2010-04-30T13:48:00.001-07:00

Please note the following scheduled downtime for Google Places:

Monday, May 3 @ 3pm-3:30pm EDT (12pm PDT)
Thursday, May 6 @6pm-6:30pm EDT (3pm PDT)

Google Earth view in Google Maps!

2010-04-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed when you saw the Google logo on Thursday, last week we recognized Earth Day. And what better way to celebrate this occasion on Google Maps than by providing users with a new Earth view!

That's right. You can now enjoy Google Earth directly in your browser window. If you look in the upper right-hand corner, you'll notice a new button that says "Earth". Clicking on it will prompt you to install the Google Earth plugin. Once the installation is complete you'll be able to use a bunch of Google Earth features right inside the Google Maps window.

Keep in mind that not all Earth features will be available with Earth view on Google Maps. For more information about this new feature, please click here.

You can also see Google's official announcement of this launch on the Google LatLong Blog.

Enjoy!
Brian B

Say hello to Google Places

2010-04-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let you all know that the Local Business Center is now Google Places. This name change is to better connect Place Pages with the tool that allows business owners to manage their business listings.

Along with this change, there are a few new additions to help business owners improve their Place Pages. For instance, if you travel to reach your customers, you can now display which areas you serve.

Also, business owners can download a unique QR code that can be included on marketing materials. Customers can then scan the code with their phones, and they'll be taken to the mobile version of the business' Place Page.

We've also built a brand new Google Places Help Center and Help Forum dedicated to assisting business owners.

For more information on these updates, please click here.

Cheers!
Brian B.

New Google Maps Feature!

2010-03-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

In the past year it's received the third most votes on our Suggest a Feature page, and I'm happy to let you all know that it's now available. Say hello to Google Maps biking directions!

In more than 150 cities in the United States, you can now plot bike routes and even customize them by right-clicking on the map to select start and end points. In addition, you can also see bike lanes and bike trails directly on the map. The team is hoping to expand this feature to more areas in the future. Check out more information about this launch here.

Happy Biking!

Brian

Scheduled Downtime on

2010-02-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

Please note the following scheduled downtime for the Local Business Center:

Tuesday, February 16, 1pm EDT/ 10am PDT to 1:30pm EDT/ 10:30a PDT

Thanks for your continued patience,
The Google Maps Team

Local Business Center Scheduled Downtime

2010-02-05T14:59:00.000-08:00

Please note the following scheduled downtime for the Local Business Center:

Monday, February 8, 1pm EDT/ 10am PDT

Thanks for your continued patience,
The Google Maps Team

Google Maps Features Availability Tool

2009-12-17T12:49:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered if a Google Maps feature is available in your country? Maybe you've read an article or a blog post about a new feature that you want to try, but you aren't sure if it's available to you yet.

We've created a new Mapping Availability tool in the Google Maps Help Center. You can find the tool here. To use it, simply click on your region and scroll to find your country. From there you'll be able to see the different Google Maps features and where they're available.

- Cecelia

5 Reasons to Create a LBC Coupon Now

2009-11-24T14:36:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving this week in the US and more holidays ahead, use the season as an opportunity to give back to your customers. Whether you already have a great holiday deal or are looking to create one, you can post it to your Local Business Listing for users to find! Here are 5 reasons why this is great for both you and your customers.

1. New! Reach users on the go with Local Business Center mobile coupons. This new form of coupon allows your customers to search for savings via phone. A customer can pull up the coupon on his or her smartphone device and present the device at checkout to redeem. It's easy for everyone! Learn more about mobile coupons.

2. Coupons help you measure the value of your Local Business listing. You'll know that any customer carrying your LBC-specific coupon made it from your Google Maps listing all the way to your business.

3. Coupons encourage Google Maps users to interact with your listing. By adding more than just the basic elements, you invite customers to interact with your listing. As a result, you may find that more customers are compelled to write a review or share the listing with a friend.

4. Coupons keep you at the head of the pack. By offering more to your customers, you can ensure that you remain competitive and stand apart.

5. Customers look for deals over the holidays. Year after year, searches for the term 'coupon' spike during the holiday season. Customers will appreciate any relief your coupon gives their pocket books.

Ready to get started? Learn how to create a coupon for your listing.

Helen L. and Cecelia

New Help Forum Topic Structure

2009-11-23T17:40:00.000-08:00

New Help Forum Topic Structure

Today we changed the topic structure in the Google Maps Help Forum, creating more granular category levels for a few reasons:

To help you find answers to your questions more quickly.
To make it easier for Google Guides and Top Contributors to identify issues, find resolutions, and circle back in a more efficient way.
To help generate discussions around Maps features.

You may have also noticed that some of the new categories already have several threads within them. The reason for this is that we had to rename some of the old topics rather than completely deleting them. Deleting a topic would also delete all of the content within it. We definitely didn't want to get rid of all of the valuable tips, questions, answers, and suggestions that many people have provided in the past. Here's a clearer idea of what we did with some of the old topics:

Old Topic ---> Renamed

Problems and Errors ---> Map Won't Load
For Business Owners ---> Verification Issues
How Do I? ---> Base Map Data

The rest of the topics are brand new additions.

We're always looking for better ways to help users find the assistance they need, and we're excited about this update!

Brian B

Local Business Center Scheduled Downtime

2009-11-23T10:16:00.000-08:00

Please note the following scheduled downtime for the Local Business Center:

Monday, November 23, 8pm EDT/5pm PDT

Thanks for your continued patience,
The Google Maps Team

New Troubleshooter: I'm having trouble verifying my listing

2009-11-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

In our Help Forum, we have seen and heard our users' issues with PIN verification. As a result, we've created a troubleshooter to address the issues users are experiencing. While the troubleshooter may not solve all problems, it does offer more guided assistance and information about the verification process.

Maps Feature Suggestions Voting Results - October 2009

2009-11-11T09:46:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share the results from the Suggest a Feature page in the Maps Help Center for the month of October. Click the image below to get a better look:

A lot of you asked for new, updated Street View imagery, and I'm happy to let you know that we just launched a new set of data. Check out this Street View Gallery for some of the new hotspots you can check out.

Keep the suggestion votes coming, folks! I'll be providing more of these types of reports in the future.

Brian B.
Google Maps Team

New 'Verify your listing' video!

2009-11-04T14:15:00.000-08:00

Once you submit a new business listing, you'll have to verify it before it appears in Google Maps. We've created a video that explains exactly how to verify your listing by phone call or postcard. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXth5HIQYeY

"See your listing on Google Maps" link in LBC account

2009-10-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

Based on feedback received from users, we've made a change that allows business owners to see their active listings on Maps by clicking a link from their Local Business Center account.

After verifying your listing, you'll see a new link under Dashboard > Locations > See your listing on Google Maps. This will take you to the business location listed in your account.

If there are problems with the way your listing appears after you've claimed it, please make sure your business location is correct in your account. If there's still a problem, please describe the problem in our Help Forum and we will do our best to resolve it. We hope this new feature will help you easily find your business on Google Maps.

Local Business Center scheduled downtime

2009-10-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

Please note the following scheduled downtime for the Local Business Center:

Tuesday, October 19, 7pm-8:30pm EDT

Thanks for your continued patience,
The Google Maps Team

Scheduled Down Time for the Local Business Center

2009-09-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

Please note the following scheduled downtime for the Local Business Center:

Tuesday, September 22, 11am-12pm PDT

Thanks for your continued patience,
The Google Maps Team

Check out the new Local Business Center Newsletter to find new Tips & Tricks for optimizing your listing

2009-08-10T18:59:00.000-07:00

Here on the Local Business Center Team, we want to make sure you have all the latest tips and tricks for making the most out of your business listings. In our new monthly newsletter we'll also feature stories about local businesses' success stories and updates on Google products that can enhance your business operations.

You'll also now get a snapshot - right in your email inbox - of what has happened with your business listing over the last month, thanks to the launch of the Local Business Center Dashboard. These statistics are also available in your account online.

To subscribe to the newsletter, click the settings link on your Local Business Center Dashboard and check the box next to Newsletter. Or, to read the online version, click here.

Happy reading!
The Local Business Center Team

Another round of scheduled downtime for the Local Business Center

2009-08-04T15:57:00.000-07:00

Please note the following scheduled downtimes for the Local Business Center:

Wednesday 8/5, 12-1pm PDT
Monday 8/10, 10-11am PDT

Thanks for your continued patience,
The Google Maps Team

Recap your vacation with My Maps

2009-07-31T08:24:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about going on vacation is having so many stories to tell and so many pictures to share when I get back home. Ironically, one of my least favorite things is having to repeat myself over and over again when people ask me how my trip was! I've found that My Maps is great way to share my vacation experiences, and to make a cool memento for myself. Sure, I could blog about my trip, but I'm a fan of providing geographical context for all my experiences, photos, and even videos. That way, if anyone ever wants to check out spots I've been to, they know exactly where to go.

Check out this map I've been working on that covers my recent trip to Hawaii.

Now, when people ask what I did on my trip, I just email them this link!

Brian, Google Maps Team

Scheduled downtime for Local Business Center

2009-07-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday July 29th, there will be some scheduled downtime for the Local Business Center from around 1PM - 2PM EDT/ 10AM-11AM PDT. Thank you in advance for your patience!

Faster trip-planning with saved searches

2009-07-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

Do you plan most of your trips using Google Maps? If so, then you're just like me. I love how I can get ratings, driving directions, and even local tips through the My Maps that other people share. Using these tools, I can plan an efficient and productive trip even if I don't know the area. Recently, they helped me plan a great day in San Francisco -- visiting the California Academy of Sciences, eating at a local restaurant called Park Chow, shoe-shopping at a boutique called Huf, and topping it all off with a stroll through the Ferry Building.

While planning my day, I found myself performing the same searches repeatedly in Google Maps, and one feature really makes this a lot easier. In the lower left-hand side of the window, you'll notice a blue plus sign with some of your recent searches next to it, as shown below:

Click this plus sign to expand a list of all the searches you've performed in your current Google Maps session. It evens saves your driving directions! You can see how, in my instance, I was able to bounce around between the places I wanted to visit easily without having to re-type the search query or re-input the driving directions I wanted:

You can even select multiple search terms to display them as one search. This really helps you save time and can even remind you of something you may have searched for earlier.

Happy mapping,
Alvin, Google Maps team

Discover new places with Related maps

2009-07-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

Now that I've lived in San Francisco for almost a year, I've hit most of the big tourist attractions, but still don't quite feel like a local. There are still plenty of neighborhoods I've yet to explore, a list of restaurants I'm still dying to try out, and a whole lot of scenic views I haven't discovered. I've been using Google Maps from the day I moved here to get the lay of the land, find my way around, and master public transportation. Now that I'm a little better oriented, I've started figuring out different ways that Google Maps can help me explore.

I've found that searching for user-created maps can be a great way to get local flavor. When I do a regular search for "ice cream," I'll get a list of ice cream places in the city. But, when I click Show search options and then select "Related maps," I can find user-created maps showcasing their own favorite ice cream spots, complete with reviews and flavor recommendations. Doing a "Related maps" search for "scenic views" returned maps showing city spots with awesome views that I never knew existed. It's a great way to create your own customized city tour, taking advantage of local knowledge and user recommendations.

And, if a user has created a map that you particularly like, click their username to check out their Maps profile. There, you can find out if they've created any other maps you might be interested in. You can also share your recommended places with the world by creating a public My Map, that will show up in other users' search results. To learn more about My Maps, visit the Google Maps User Guide.

Listening to Local Business Owners

2009-07-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

We've heard many stories and talked personally to business owners who have had great experiences with the Local Business Center, as well as ones who have come to our Help Forum and other resources looking for answers. Many of the questions surrounding our help resources have been brought up by local SEOs, people who work very closely with business owners every day. We recognize how important it is for business owners to be able to list their business accurately on Google Maps, and how frustrating it can be when this is harder than it should be.

Since we can't respond to every problem individually, we put a lot of effort into helping users help themselves, and each other. When creating help resources for the Local Business Center -- the User Guide, the Help Center, the Help Forum, and the Water Cooler blog -- we do our best to give business owners access to the information that will help fix their problems. By constantly working to improve these resources, our goal is to help to the greatest number of users we can, as quickly as possible. We also do this by creating troubleshooting tools to resolve what we've found to be some of the most common issues, like when a listing does not appear.

Recently, we've also been using the Water Cooler blog to shed some light on the more technical aspects of the Local Business Center. That way, business owners can get insight into some of the processes that help create their listings, and where glitches and delays can sometimes happen. And, as always, we're listening. The individual concerns and issues voiced in the Help Forum help shed light on ways our help resources can be improved. We may not have found the perfect way to address each problem and question that comes up, but we're always on the lookout for new ways to help as many business owners as possible.

Local Business Center scheduled downtime

2009-06-19T09:53:00.000-07:00

On Monday June 22nd and Tuesday June 23rd, there will be some scheduled downtime for the Local Business Center from around 1PM - 2PM EDT/ 4PM-5PM PDT on both days. Thank you in advance for your patience!

UPDATE: There will be scheduled downtime this Monday or Tuesday.

An Inspirational View

2009-06-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

I love backpacking and hiking in the Sierras. John Muir famously said, "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." I'd like to cheekily draw a parallel between walking in nature, and finding interesting or unexpected search results with Google Maps. However, I will refrain from saying anything more, and simply state how much I love being able to "drive" along and stop to look at one of the most beautiful views I know of.

What have you found in Street View or on Google Maps that inspires you?

Maps Guide Jen

Local listings: Where do they come from?

2009-06-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, a local listing is often created by including data from multiple sources. We do our best to give attribution to the data appearing on a local listing. Here's a rundown of our main sources of data and how it appears in a listing:

LBC: Local Business Center. Information submitted and verified as individual listings appears with the label Provided by business owner. Also, some feeds are submitted through the LBC.

YP: Yellow Pages. This describes information we get from public directories created and licensed from 3rd parties. In some areas, we provide attribution at the bottom of a list of results (e.g., business listings distributed by YellowPages.ca™).

EC: Enhanced Content, which can include reviews, photos, business hours, payment methods, and other details. This is provided to us via feeds from other websites. If this information is coming from a published web page, a link will be provided.

UGC + WEB: User Generated Content & other websites. Both these sources are either submitted to Google directly or crawled, just like other websearch results. If the content is hosted on a website, we'll provide a link. Otherwise, you'll see a Provided by Google users label that shows it was submitted using our community features.

Joel Headley, Google Maps team

Introducing the Local Business Center dashboard!

2009-06-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

If you're a business owner, you may have noticed an exciting new change in your Local Business Center account. The Local Business Center dashboard is a brand new feature created to provide you with more information about the way users are viewing and showing interest in your business listing. To learn more, check out this announcement to the Google Lat Long blog. Or, to dive right in, click View report underneath the 'Statistics' column on your Local Business Center homepage.

Quality business titles for your listing

2009-06-03T12:04:00.000-07:00

Since we rolled out the most recent set of Local Business Center Quality Guidelines, we've seen a number of questions about which business titles are appropriate, and which are not. I hope this post will help clarify some of the confusion.

Our current guidelines state: "Represent your business exactly as it appears in the offline world. The name on Google Maps should match the business name."

A recent post from Mike Blumenthal polled a number of different amalgamations of one business title, with the following results:

A. "Jones Brothers - Dallas Plumbing and Heating" unofficial name with tag line on web & literature
B. "Jones Brothers" official name
C. "Jones Brothers - Plumbing and Heating" unofficial name on website & literature
D. "Jones Brothers - Plumbing and Heating" has a DBA or fictitious name filing
E. "Jones Brothers - Dallas Plumbing & Heating - Air conditioning, Emergency Repairs, Hot Water Heaters" unofficial name with tag line on web & literature

Of all the above choices, the ONLY acceptable one is the one labeled official name (Jones Brothers).

You could, of course change the title of your business, as we've known a couple business owners to do. You could officially become "Jones Brothers - Dallas Plumbing and Heating." If another user flags your listings for violating our guidelines however, we should be able to verify this name change.

So where should the words "Plumbing and Heating" go? You should add them as a category.

Thanks,
Maps Guide Jen

Getting started with the Local Business Center

2009-05-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

When I'm hankering for a bite to eat in my neighborhood, business listings on Google Maps are one of the first places I look. Whether I'm checking the opening hours of my local coffee shop, or finding a phone number to make reservations at a cool new restaurant, I rely on Google Maps for accurate and up-to-date information about local businesses -- especially when it comes to picking a good place to grab dinner.

When I see a business listing that the owner has added and verified with the Local Business Center (you can tell, because the phrase 'Provided by the business owner' appears in the listing), I breathe a little easier, since I know for sure that I'm getting reliable info. Not to mention the fact that the additional details, photos and video that the business owner adds can help sway my choice of dining spot. And for business owners, there are obvious benefits: adding a verifying a business listing is the best way to help Google users find and connect with your business.

In addition to the Local Business Center User Guide, which is your one-stop shop for information about putting your business on Google Maps, the Local Business Center folks have recently put together a new list of tips and advice for tailoring your business listing to help even more users find you. It's a win-win situation: adding and verifying your business listing with the Local Business Center gives you control over the way your business appears in Google Maps. And, particularly in my case, it connects your business with customers who may be hungry for what you have to offer.

To get started, simply visit the Local Business Center (make sure you're signed in with your Google account) and click Add new business. If you already see your business listing in Google Maps and want to claim it as your own, follow the instructions here.

Updated Quality Guidelines

2009-05-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

A lot of questions came up after we put out the first version of our Local Business Center Quality Guidelines. Today we launched version two. We really worked to clarify some of the confusion that people had around the guidelines. Please check out the newest Local Business Center Quality Guidelines today!

Cheers,
Maps Guide Jen

Hot topic of the week: GMaps Pedometer

2009-05-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

The hot topic of the week in the help forum has been, without a doubt, the GMaps Pedometer. While we help developers build great web apps by improving our products, it's their creativity and skill that has written amazing applications for niche audiences. GMaps Pedometer, created by a marathon runner with top-notch programming skills, is a great example. This cool application allows you to draw jogging/running/hiking/biking routes, record distances traveled and calories burned during workouts, even taking into account elevation changes, all using Google Maps.

For example, this is the bike route that one of my colleagues planned for his Bike to Work Day commute from the Los Gatos shuttle stop to Google:

Creating your own route is quite straightforward. Click the Recording button on the left panel, and then double click on the map the place you wish to start. Double-click another point to draw a path between the two. Keep clicking points along your route, and GMaps Pedometer connects the dots.

You can get more from your route by calculating the calories. Simply 'Turn on calorie counter' in the left panel and type in your weight, and GMaps Pedometer automatically approximates how many calories you'll burn on your planned route. A 'there-and-back' course can be measured as well -- just click the 'Complete there and back route' link once you reach the midpoint.

Want to save or share the map with your fiends or running buddies? It's super easy! Click Save Route to get the URL for the route. It would look like this: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=938584 . TinyURL will make it even shorter.

And it's always OK to mix things up whenever the route becomes boring and routine. Just click the Clear points and start over option and start trying something new. For complete information about how to use GMaps Pedometer, check out the Usage Instructions.

Even though I'm just a casual hiker, I can't wait to try it out for my favorite trail this coming long weekend.

Happy Mapping!

Maps Guide Jade

Today's quick tip: Find coordinates of an address or business

2009-05-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

Finding the latitude and longitude coordinates of a point on Google Maps is easy.

First, right-click on the location you're interested in and select Center map here.

Now, in the upper corner of the map, click Link. This is where you'll find your lat-long coordinates:

Here's the complete link if I paste it here:

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=41.879635,-87.623531&spn=0.005288,0.009409&z=17

You can paste these coordinates back into the search bar on Google Maps to check them.

You can find the coordinates of businesses and addresses the same way. Just open the business marker, or find the address you're interested in, and link to the page with the search result. You'll find the latitude and longitude coordinates in the same place in the URL.

Happy mapping,

Maps Guide Jen

Important announcement for Local Business Center users

2009-05-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

We're planning scheduled downtime for the Local Business Center on Monday, May 18, at around 12:30pm EDT for approximately two hours. During this time, you will not be able to access your Local Business Center account.

Thanks for your patience,
The Google Maps team

Jog your memory with Saved Locations

2009-05-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

For places I don't visit frequently, the hardest part about finding them on Google Maps can be remembering the right address. The dentist's office or a museum, for example -- places I've found on Google Maps before, but not quite recently enough to remember the exact address to search for a second time. Fortunately, when I'm signed in to my Google account, Google Maps automatically saves the addresses I search for. The Saved Locations list can hold up to 100 different places -- an indispensable address book that I add to each time I search for somewhere new.

To see what locations are on your list, sign into your Google account and click the small gray triangle just to the right of the search box. You'll see a list of a few of the locations you've searched for recently, as well as the option to enable or disable the automatic saving of your searches. Click Edit saved locations to see a full list of all your saved places. You can change a particular address by clicking Edit, as well as add a label. You can search using your saved labels just as you would an address; typing 'Jen's house' or 'Hardware store' can be a lot easier to remember than an address.

Finally, you can click the green arrow next to a saved location to set it as your default location -- it's the map you'll see whenever you sign into Google Maps, and it's useful if you usually look for places in the same area. It doesn't have to be a street address; you can set any location to be your default. So, for addresses you search for repeatedly that seem to slip your mind, or a new place you want to save so that you won't have to remember it again, the Saved Locations ensures that racking your brain for an address will never hold you back from finding your way.

Sarah, your friendly Maps tips guru

Where'd those lines come from? The technology behind Terrain View

2009-05-12T15:49:00.000-07:00

If you're a hiker, mountain biker, skier, or just a map enthusiast like me, you've probably checked out the Terrain View in Google Maps. Assuming your map view includes some geography with differences in elevation, you'll be treated to the linear splendor of closely spaced contour lines. For example, check out the differences in terrain data between the area around Tiny Town (Tiny Town, Colorado) and near Sterling (Sterling, Colorado). Your next question may be, where do we get that terrain data? Well, I'm glad you asked.

Most of the data comes from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). From the SRTM website at http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/ we learn that:

The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) obtained elevation data on a near-global scale to generate the most complete high-resolution digital topographic database of Earth. SRTM consisted of a specially modified radar system that flew onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour during an 11-day mission in February of 2000. SRTM is an international project spearheaded by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

If you're looking for more detailed technical information on the SRTM program and data, you should definitely check out their website.

Maps Guide Adam

Got Duplicates? Help for Local Business Center users

2009-05-07T16:55:00.000-07:00

In some cases, adding listings, claiming listings, and correcting other information on Google Maps can lead to duplicates of your listing appearing in your Local Business Center account. In the Help Forum, we often get questions about how to remove these duplicates. These are the steps that we recommend:

Disclaimer: Before you get started, it's important to remember that a listing contains information merged from multiple sources. Suspending a duplicate listing could cause the original listing to be removed from Maps, because all sources of information for both the original and the duplicate might be suppressed.

Choose the listing that you'd prefer to keep in your account. Make sure that you have all your enhanced content (photos, business hours, description) attached to this listing and this listing only.
For duplicates of this listing in your account (the ones you want to remove), remove all enhanced information. Keep only required information, like the business title, address, and onephone number.
Submit these changes and verify as necessary.
Now, sit tight for a couple of weeks - just for good measure.
Delete the duplicates from your account, choosing Remove this listing from my Local Business Center account.

That's it! Now you should only have one entry to control the details of your business listing. Be patient with updating certain kinds of information, like pictures -- they should eventually appear in Maps.

Joel Headley, Google Maps team

UPDATED instructions (also in this FAQ) - Updated May 27, 2010

Do multiple results for your business appear in Google Maps search results?

If so, you can fix it by following these steps:

Make sure you've claimed one of the listings in Google Places. Verify that there’s only one active listing in your account by logging in to your Google Places account.
1. If there's more than one listing in your account for the same business, you’ll first need to fix that problem by following the steps in the section below.
2. If you don't have a listing for it at all, you should claim your business.
For every extra result for your business, go to its Place Page, click the Report A Problem link, and select "Place has another listing". If you can, include a link to your claimed place page in the comments section.
Google will review these reports and fix duplicate business listings.

Are there multiple listings in your Google Places account for the same business location?

When you log in to your Google Places account, if you have multiple listings for the same location, that can be a violation of the content guidelines. You should avoid having duplicates in your account. Here’s how to ensure you have only one listing per business location:

Choose the listing that you'd prefer to keep in your account.
1. Make sure that you have all your enhanced content (photos, business hours, description) attached to this listing.
2. Make sure that its status is "active".
Delete all other listings for the same business from your account. Choose the "Remove this listing from my Google Places account" option
These changes can take several weeks to appear in search results
If there are multiple results for your business in Google’s search results, follow the instructions above.

2009-05-05T13:56:00.000-07:00

We wanted to hear what our users are thinking about Google Maps so we posted a short questionnaire on our Help Forum. Here's a look at what one user, Brian S, had to say:

What is your favorite Google Maps Feature?

Door to door directions, for convenience, and Street View, so I can see where businesses are in relation to intersections etc, and what to look for when finding them. But I really LOVE the "drag to change route" feature. Probably my favorite of all. So convenient and awesome -- if it's not showing the exact route that I want to take, I can just drag it! (Yes I know I can also type it in if I want to be super precise, but this is quick & easy.)

How did you first discover Google Maps?

[I was] using google then I saw the link for Maps and realized it was much better than what I was already using. I just instinctively started typing in locations and driving directions or landmarks ("near") after that.

Please describe how Google Maps helped you in a specific situation.

Many times it has given me door to door that got me there faster than I could have figured on my own. It helps identify shortcuts or alternate routes. And it's helped me identify problem traffic bottlenecks for commutes or getting to special events.

If you could make your own Google Maps dream feature, what would it be?

A playback feature to automatically view an entire route (or directions) on Street View . [And] comprehensive traffic information.

What is your least favorite Google Maps feature?

Missing major streets on Street View (Baker St. in Costa Mesa, CA). Inaccurate intersections (like Trask Ave. & Magnolia St. in Garden Grove, CA) that give bizarre/inaccurate results, like "not found."

What are some of your other favorite Google products?

Gmail and a few others (I just discovered Sites). Mostly through word of mouth or via invites from friends.

We love hearing this kind of feedback from our users (good or bad). For any issues you're experiencing, check out our Known Issues page. For any feature requests you'd like to see happen, be sure to visit our Suggest a Feature page page and vote!

Maps Guide Brianna

Welcome to the Google Maps Water Cooler!

2009-04-30T14:26:00.001-07:00

The Maps team is excited to announce the official arrival of the Google Maps Water Cooler. We'll be gathering here to share our favorite tricks and helpful tips about using Google Maps, as well as announce changes or update you on major issues. Both Google guides and Google users will be making regular appearances at the Water Cooler.

At the bottom of every entry, we'll provide a link to a Maps Help Forum thread. Click on it to take a break from your day and discuss with other Google Maps users.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,
The Google Maps Team

Is your business being incorrectly lumped with another? We're listening.

2009-04-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

A business listing in Google Maps is a bundle of information from lots of sources, including web pages, various phonebook makers, and review sites. The way this information appears is determined by an algorithm that decides which information from each source should be clustered together as a single business.

Some of the Localsearch quality folks recently launched a shiny new algorithm for exactly this purpose. I was really psyched, because a bunch of duplicate businesses got consolidated properly after this change. However, I've been seeing some user feedback in the forum about businesses that are still being lumped together improperly, so it looks like the algorithm needs tinkering. The team is now working on a fix that aims to solve this problem for the users who are hurting, without taking a step backward in terms of our overall quality. Joel asked me to post a brief note to let you folks know that we're listening to you on this issue. You should also know that these sorts of changes typically take several weeks to go live, so please bear with us. Thanks.

Nina Kang, Software Engineer

Removing a 'Place Closed' Label

2009-03-06T17:24:00.000-08:00

Update: Initial timing wasn't quite right. It can take up to two weeks in some cases.

There was a recent change that displays the label 'Place Closed' on some businesses. If the label has been applied incorrectly, it can be corrected with just a few steps.

For listings that have been claimed and verified through the Google Local Business Center, please sign in to your account and select the Edit link. The editing wizard will appear. Click the Submit button.

For listings that aren't claimed through the Local Business Center, they're open to community edits. Please select the Edit link below the address and select Restore Place.

The listings will be updated within a week or two. If you're seeing something different, please let us know in our Help Forum, posting a link to the listing in question.

We're currently evaluating our usage of the label and appreciate the feedback received in this forum regarding the change.

Maps Guide Adam

Local Business Center for Google Maps

2009-02-13T10:55:00.000-08:00

Use Local Business Center to enhance your business information on Google Maps and www. google.com. Local Business Center allows business owners to edit the content of their existing listing, or to add a brand new listing to Google's local database. By ensuring that basic information is up-to-date and providing additional details, like photos, hours, and coupons, business owners can stand out on the map to attract more customers. To make the process even easier, we've put together a getting started video that walks through the sign up process and benefits of Local Business Center.

Enjoy, and share with your entrepreneurial friends!

Maps Guide Jade

Google Maps Introduction

2009-02-04T16:10:00.000-08:00

Use Google Maps to get directions, search for a local business, and create your own custom map. Have a great idea or suggestion? Let us know! We enthusiastically read and tally all your suggestions. While we don't respond to these comments, we use them to help develop the product.

Happy Mapping!

Maps Guide Jade

Freshness, Breadth, and Innovation

2009-02-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

Google Maps have always been the leader in mapping innovation. We were the first to introduce draggable maps and the first to include satellite imagery. Through our acquisition of high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery, street-level imagery, 3D buildings, and terrain, we are building the digital atlas for the 21st century. We are continually adding to this database, increasing the coverage, quality, and resolution of our maps and imagery at a rate that is unprecedented in the industry. With our Street View imagery, we allow our users to get down to streel level and see what a place looks like as if they were walking on the street. Explore high resolution satellite imagery of Dubai’s Palm Islands, or Street View imagery of New York Times Square.

We have also taken driving directions to a whole new level by allowing users to drag a route in real-time through any intermediate waypoint. Create customizable, draggable, multipoint driving directions – San Francisco to LA to San Diego, via Highway 1. You can drag & drop the route to customize, or right-click to add more destinations.

While Google Maps is the #1 mapping destination site globally, we also make most of the features and data accessible from maps.google.com available to our Maps API developers. Tens of thousands of web developers have taken advantage of this to create unique mapping websites. We also allow developer to bring their website to maps.google.com by creating a Mapplet, which is a javascript-based map plug-in which can be searched and viewed within Google Maps. You can see how Lonely Planet uses our Maps API to share information between travelers ; or watch the precision of Swiss trains in real time.

Happy Mapping!

Maps Guide Jade

Mapping is A Community Experience

2009-01-26T09:58:00.000-08:00

Just as the web has transformed publishing and blogs have transformed media, digital maps have transformed how the world thinks of map data. Anyone can quickly and easily make a map and share it with friends and family or with the whole world. Public maps are instantly indexed and added to our local search.

You can create your own maps mashups quickly & easily using our simple drag & drop drawing tools. A poignant example was when local station KPBS created a map of the San Diego fires, to keep local residents abreast of evacuation notices and the progress of the fire.

Just moved location for your business? Or the information Yellow Page provided onlone isn't quite up-to-date? No worry! The function of the user edits of business data in real time would solve your problem in no time.

Last but not least, I'm going to share with you my upcoming birthday trip plan here, shhh...only here.

Happy Mapping!

Maps Guide Jade

Juicy Facts in Google Maps World

2009-01-20T23:36:00.000-08:00

Do you know that Google Maps is the most popular mapping site in the world?

Google Maps is truly a global product, with map data for over 167 countries and high resolution imagery coverage for over half the world’s population. Google Maps is the most popular mapping site globally, with a significant lead in most of Europe and a #2 position in the US.

Metrics as of 5 Dec 2008:

Every hour, our users make over 10,000 corrections or additions to Google Maps
Every day, Maps and Earth users spend over 1 million hours browsing geo content
Most popular mapping site in the world
Most popular mapping site in Europe
#2 mapping site in the U.S.
Provides detailed street maps in over 65 countries
Over 10 million maps have been created by users
Over 150,000 active sites using the Maps API
Over 8 million Panoramio photos (photos of places) are viewable in Maps
Nearly 40,000 transit icons (bus stops, subway stations, rail stations, etc) in the tri-state area (New York, NJ, Connecticut).

Stay tuned!

Maps Guide Jade

Do you know how many Maps features have been launched in the past 6 months?

2009-01-13T21:35:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

I hope this year is off to a lovely start for all of you. It's now time to wrap up what we have accomplished in the past six months and look forward to having a more exciting new year!

* 2X Street View coverage (12/9/08)
* Maps browse, Local Business Center, and Local Trends for China (11/27/08)
* New UI for Street View (11/25/08)
* AIR support for Maps API for Flash(11/23/08)
* Street View in Spain, Italy, and France (11/4/08)
* Reverse geocoding for Maps API (10/26/08)
* Transit for New York (9/23/08)
* Reverse business lookup (9/9/08)
* Map Maker tool for creation of map data (8/29/08)
* Street View launched in Japan and Australia (8/6/08)
* Google Maps UI redesign (8/5/08)
* Walking directions (7/22/08)

Happy Mapping!

Maps Guide Jade