Perhaps you’ll be touring a city, or you just moved into a neighborhood, or you’re going on a cross-country road trip. A GPS navigation app is always handy. But the map you can access through these apps is typically cluttered with a lot of data that you don’t really need. This can even make navigation even more confusing than helpful.
Fortunately, you can easily create a map with multiple locations — that is, only locations you’re interested in, including important landmarks — through Mapize’s map-generation tool. For whatever purpose you need custom maps, you can map multiple locations using location data organized in a spreadsheet. Whether you are on a desktop or using mobile devices, you can plot multiple locations using our website. Here is more information about the Mapize mapping process to create a map with multiple locations for free.
How Does Mapize Work?
Mapize uses Google Maps geocoding API, or, in simple terms, its mapping technology. The geocoding API automatically converts addresses, cities, states, zip codes, and even landmarks into coordinates and then plots these onto a map. Mapize creates customized Google Maps based on a user’s unique data set.
We make the whole process as simple and easy as copying and pasting data into our map-creation tool. Use addresses, zip codes, or latitude and longitude coordinates. Mapize also offers additional features so you can customize your points of interest map according to your needs, i.e., mapping multiple locations.
How To Create a Map With Multiple Locations Using Mapize
Mapize helps anyone with a data set to create a map with multiple locations. You can either upload a CSV or an Excel data file, drag and drop your file, or copy and paste the column data from your file into a map creation box. Let’s break down the ways you can build your own custom maps with Mapize.
Step 1: Create A Spreadsheet
First things first, organize your location data using a spreadsheet, such as Excel or Google Sheets. If you’re using Mapize’s free offer, you can input up to 150 locations into your spreadsheet. If using Pro or Pro+ accounts, up to 17,500 or 35,000 locations per map.
Your spreadsheet should have at least two columns. If you only have addresses, for example, one column can include a name for each address while the second will be for the addresses.
If you have more data, such as addresses, cities, and zip codes, then you can separate these and put them in different columns. Add extra information into separate columns like phone numbers, email addresses, and URLs to make them clickable from your map.
Using addresses with names and URLs assigned to them, you’ll generate a map similar to this one:
If you want a more dynamic look when you create a map with multiple locations, try different pin colors. Do this by assigning groups to your data in the spreadsheet.
If you only have addresses, you can use the column for names to assign letter groups to the addresses, i.e. “A” for all addresses within a specific block radius, and so on. Alternatively, you can use an additional column for the group markers next to your addresses and their names. This is especially helpful when you have other data that you want to add to your map.
Step 2: Use Your Data to Create a Map With Multiple Locations
You can start creating a map with multiple locations in three ways. Try each of the three methods to find which one you prefer, or stick to using the one that works best for you.
The first method is uploading your Microsoft Excel or CSV data file by clicking the green “Select A File” button. The second way is by dragging and dropping your spreadsheet file into the left-side map-creation box.
The third method is copying and pasting your data columns from your spreadsheet into the map-creation box. For this third way, be sure to erase the example formatting data from the box before pasting your data inside. Or, click into the box, select all, then paste your data.
Once you have pasted your location data into the appropriate box, click “Create Map.” You will then be taken to the Geo Decoding section and prompted to set your fields. These appropriate fields vary based on the type of data you are using. You can create a map with multiple locations using addresses, zip codes, or by plotting latitude and longitude coordinates.
Choose all the applicable fields for your map, e.g., address, city, and/or zip code, or all the fields that are represented in your marker description. This section is also where you’ll choose how you want your data to be grouped.
Mapize automatically sets the appropriate fields for spreadsheet data that are well organized, but you may still double-check. If you only have one type of data, you can skip this and move on to customizing the look of your map.
Step 3: Customize the Look of Your Map
Depending on the type of Mapize account you have, you may also be able to further customize your map. This includes choosing which default map to show and unique marker color options.
When you’re done, just click “Make Map.” Mapize will initiate the geocoding process to create a map with multiple locations. When it’s done, you’ll be given options on how you want it to be saved. You’re prompted to give your map a title and description and to provide your email address. Click “Save Map” to generate your customized map and get access to your map’s direct URL.
Once you have created your map, you can customize it by only displaying certain groups. With map grouping, you’ll be able to limit the data points shown on the map and hide the other groups so that your map will not be “cluttered” by any information you don’t need. Do this after opening your map’s URL and clicking on the bottom left tab for “Location Data.”
Other Advanced Options For Your Multiple Locations Map
As mentioned above, you can further customize the appearance of your multiple locations map within the Map Preview and Customize Map windows. Some of these features are only available with a Pro or Pro+ account.
- Map Preview. You can choose how the data on your map will appear, such as by name, address, or group. Select marker descriptions, including or excluding a country field, URL, image URL, email, or phone number. You can also add a custom field to identify your markers if the additional information was also included in your spreadsheet.
- Customize Map. This section allows you to choose a default map view, e.g., road map, satellite, hybrid, or terrain. Select custom marker colors and change the marker icon used in your map. After customizing your pin markers, choose a map style.
Once you have created your map with multiple locations, there are additional ways that you can customize how your map data is shown. We have included heat maps, map clusters, a store locator, and a radius map tool.
Create Heat Maps or use map clustering for a custom map style. You can also create radius circles via kilometers or miles using our radius map tool. For those mapping store locations, check out our store locator tool. Instantly visualize your locations on Google Maps and add a search bar. Perform a simple search for each location on a single map.
Add directions or find the fastest route between plotting locations by clicking “Optimal Route” at the bottom right of the map. Routing Optimization uses the Google Maps website to navigate the fastest route with custom directions on your new map.
Share Your Multi-Location Map
There are a number of ways to share maps created with Mapize. You can simply send your map’s direct URL to others via email, instant messaging, or your social media page. Or, you can directly embed your map into your website. Go Pro and export your multi-location map as a PDF, KML file, an image, or print your map.
Now you know how to create a map with multiple locations using Mapize. Read more about what Mapize offers and build your first custom map for free.
