Here are some tips and suggestions to locate and add new places on Google Maps. These are ones that worked for me to obtain my Master Trailblazer badge.
What worked for me was to look for categories of places that are missing most frequently from Google maps. I will also provide suggestions for correctly adding them.
Here we go!
- Small shopping malls (typically under 10 shops) and smaller business centers. If you see a sign that gives a name for the center and often lists the major tenants, google it. So many of these centers are missing on Google Maps.
a) pick the correct “Category”. Typically "business center"s have busineses, services, medical etc. "Shopping Center"s have retail shops and restaurants.
b) Take a picture of the sign to use when you add the place. It often has other relevant information like address, phone number, etc.
c) depending on the addresses of the individual businesses in the center, I found that Google Maps will accept a range of addresses - for example, 6704-6722 Odana Rd, Madison, WI 53719 - New or changed tenants in large and small shopping malls. I recently visited my local mall in my home town and saw many changes!
a) Google to see if place is new. If it is, try adding it with the minimum required fields - place name, category, address, photo - there is a less chance of it getting rejected (per a Google Moderator I chatted with)
b) add additional details once the place is accepted (these edits will count towards your Factfinder Badge)
c) then add photo, video and “first review”. These count towards your Trailblazer Badge.
d) if the place is found on Google, but is relatively new, there may not be photos/videos or reviews yet. Add them! - "Medical Center"s or Clinics are composed of different Specialties or Disciplines. With the help of the Clinic websites you can locate and differentiate these as the own “Place” and add them to Google (for example Pediatrics, Lab, Radiology). People appreciate finding these in their google searches and I have thousands of views in the places I have added.
- If your “place” you are adding is taking over the space of a business that closed or moved, your add may be rejected. You may need to submit a Correction Edit to indicate the previous business is closed, moved or not found. Once that is accepted, try your new place addition again!
- Busineses inside of other busineses. I have successfully added Garden Centers (inside Home Depot) and Opticians inside Optical Centers successfully. One step further is to add the eye doctors or physicians at the clinic (if they are missing from Google)
- Look for special places to add like tourist attractions, statues, nature preserves, hiking trails, food banks, thrift shops, guest services at a mall). If there is something you can take a picture of that has a sign or plaque identifying (naming) it, you can probably add it (Of course, Google it first to see if some else has already adde it!l
a) To get the Category correct I google other similar places to see what Category would work. "Tourist attraction"s are easy to add and get accepted.
b) Address is needed and can be tricky. If there is no true street address you can place a map marker instead and Google will determine the latitude and longitude of your marker. If you have an Apple phone, you can capture the lat/long address and use this as your address. This is very helpful for remote cabins, trails and tourist attractions! - Don’t bother trying to add ATM locations. They are protected and cannot be added.
- I have had trouble adding or extending roads. I did find out from a Google moderator that road changes do need to be supported by “official maps” and can remain in pending status for extended durations before being accepted or denied. Anyone have any tips!
Feel free to comment or share your best practices, tips and additonal suggestions in the comments! I look forward to hear what works for you!