Map settings you shouldn’t miss
We talk about all individual settings that could be applied to your map in the map settings documentation. Some settings however, can easily be overlooked. In this article, we’ve lined up a number of map settings that could potentially require your second thought.
Map name
First, it is important to name the map correctly. Mapotic works best on narrowly specialised maps. The more specific problems you solve, the better. It’s also more likely that the map will live longer and serve a community of specific people.
The name should have a maximum of 30 characters, and should resemble your map’s use at first glance. It is not necessary to use the word “map” in the title. This name will appear in the page header, in Google search results, and when sharing the map on Facebook.
The Map name can be set in the Basic settings.
Short name
The short name of your map will appear in the header of your map. Hence, it’s a good idea to keep this one as brief as possible. If possible, shorter than the Map name.
The map Short name can be set in the Basic settings.
Your map’s main image
The main map image is displayed on the home page. It will act as a thumbnail on the discover page on Mapotic.com. It will also represent the map when sharing it via Facebook and other services. We recommend selecting an image that will illustrate the topic of your map clearly and comprehensively. The photo size is 1300x500px. If you do not have your own photo, you can choose from http://stocksnap.io/ for example, or use the image search on Google Images with the “Free usage” filter.
The Main image can be set or changed in the Design settings.
About us text
Sometimes you just have to use one sentence in the text box, but it’s better to describe and explain the purpose of the map to the user. You can describe who manages the map and what places users can add. Search engines will also interact with this piece of text. We recommend taking some time to compile a description that contains keywords that might help people find your map and will clearly explain the purpose of your project and mention.
The About us text can be set or changed in the Basic settings.
Default map position
It is important for your visitors to understand the context of the information. To do this, use the introductory text and your map’s initial zoom. The initial zoom displays your map’s key area and its centre. We recommend that you experiment with the centre and zoom settings for a while and try to refresh it in a new window (in Chrome CTRL+Shift+N) until you reach the optimal view for your project.
The Default map position of your map can be set in the Design settings.
Public or private map
Mapotic can be used for both public and private maps. A public map is accessible by URL everyone and visible on the Mapotic.com/discover page. However, it’s also possible to grant limited access to your map. In this case, only selected users will be able to visit your map. This could be an option for internal business projects or a map used amongst your friend group.
Map status can be set in the Basic settings.
Key for success? Straightforward data structure and useful content
In order for your map to attract visitors and get the attention it deserves, it’s important to create a clear general topic for your map. Also, having a large number of interesting or usable places will increase the likelihood of user interaction.
What is being mapped? How do I use the filters to find what I’m looking for? These questions should be clear to your users within seconds of browsing your map. Hence, it’s important to set up a straightforward data structure.
Read more on how to set your data structure just right in our other help article.
Embed the map on your own website
If you have your own website or blog, you can add the map to it. This feature is called embedding, which means inserting a live interactive map into any website. It works similar to inserting a YouTube video. We offer a free to use embed feature, as well as a premium version that has all the features you are familiar with on your full-sized Mapotic map.
To add a map to your website, select “Embedded map” in the bar on the left, set the optimal zoom and size of the map, and copy the generated source code. You can just paste it into your website’s code on the page, or through its content management system.
Read more about embedded map options in our other help article.
Premium features
For larger projects and maps used in a business environment, Mapotic offers a number of premium features. These features will allow you to run the map on your own domain, customise your map’s design to your brand’s needs (custom header, logo, colours), Google Analytics tracking code and more.
In the premium version, you can also send branded emails (notifications, user registration, etc.), see detailed statistics, and interact with the map users in a more sophisticated way.
Mobile map application
We can create a custom mobile application dedicated to your map and place it on the App Store or Google Play, where people can download it on their mobile devices. Thanks to our established technology and tried and tested procedures, the application can be created in a short period of time. It would be a more cost and time-efficient way compared to ordering it from a traditional software company.
Table of Contents
You might be also interested
Time-limited events visualization & filtering by date
Visualize time-limited events in your Mapotic custom map.
New option: “include in filters”
Decide if given attribute in your custom interactive map should be displayed in advanced filters
Introducing Dynamic markers (BETA)!
We’re excited to introduce a new feature – Dynamic Markers! This feature brings a smoother map browsing experience as well as expanded options for customising