Hello, I created a list and followed directions to make it viewable in “explore” section of Maps. How can I be reassured its really there to be “found”? Is there any view count metric we can see?
I followed all the suggestions below to make sure my list meets the criteria to be found in “explore”
Complete your list
Lists that have the attributes below are eligible to be featured (featured lists can appear in the Google Maps Explore tab and other places across Maps & Search). To complete your list:
Make a new list with your own title.
Add description about the list.
Add at least 4 places.
Add descriptions about each place on the list.
What do you mean by Group List? Maybe you mean Public list? I took a look at your profile and could see you have 2 public lists.
Good lists are sometimes featured on your city. And you can share the link to them on your social media. I have never tested if my lists are searchable on Google, but they should be. But it might take a few days before they show up. So please try again.
Also I have seen that # of views and followers are available so you can keep updated on the popularity of your lists. Here is a link to a list where views and followers are listed.
@MortenCopenhagen Thank you for the reply. On Android the new Public list I created called Lancaster gluten-free menus and shared is listed under “Group lists” . That is the list I am questioning. The other list with 4 places was something I created 2 years ago and forgot about. I just deleted it so there’s no confusion. Interestingly though it didn’t end up under “group lists”. I noticed the Lancaster gluten-free menu list on Maps in Chrome doesn’t show as a “group list”, so it must just be a difference of android maps vs computer maps.
Yes I can share the link to my Facebook group and friends but I was hoping for some confirmation that I met all the requirements that this list could potentially be one that’s listed automatically when someone is in the “Explore” section of Google maps on their phone. Ideally I hope its found when someone is in my area and does a search for gluten-free.
I uploaded a photo to show the view from android of my list. I checked out the link you sent but oddly can’t see views or followers
@MortenCopenhagen oops. One update, I used the link u sent on android and yes i see the followers and views. That seems like what I am expecting from my list. Interestingly I see they have a custom Photo for their cover photo, yet when I try to update my cover photo I can only select stock theme photos.
@ryane_pa I can see your Public Saved List in your profile.
According to Maps, we need to try to complete our Public Saved List as best as we can, to increase the chance of it being featured. (There is no guarantee though), which is fair, because anyone can create multiple lists and there is no real way to feature everyone’s list in a single area.
From the criteria…
Relevant List name
Good and information description
At least 4 places, I would think possibly between 8-15 would be a good number (my opinion only)
Your notes for each place, ie we really should have visited each place.
Photos for each place, ie, photos we shared to Google Maps, which still means, we should have been there, since this is sharing our own experience.
I have shared many lists, but I have not been to some of the places in my list. So I will also go and close up those gaps, so my list can have more chance of being featured as well.
And thanks to @MortenCopenhagen for extra notes he has shared above.
I’m unsure what a group list actually is. From @ryane_pa question is sounds like a positive label you earn if you are clever and/or lucky.
From https://support.google.com/maps/answer/7546473?hl=en# it is not even mentioned. I interpret the support text as group is the same as a shared list = one that can only be found if you have the direct link to it.
I would love to learn what the Group list entails. Please help if you can and include links if possible.
@MortenCopenhagen I am not sure what Group list is either, it just appeared after I made what I thought was a group list. That’s my concern, somehow this group list I created won’t be the right type to be found automatically in “explore” area of maps. I might delete the whole thing and recreate it following the directions.
@StephenAbraham Thanks for the suggestions and link. I will have to try and add photos of these places as I visit them. I was using the list idea in a different way. My list was to show people what restaurants they could eat at with gluten-free menus so its easier to eat out.
Do you know how I ended up with a “group list” as seen in the screenshot i posted?
My understanding so far is that shared and group are synonymous. And that shared lists are not public (hence won’t be featured under explore a city) while only public lists can be found under explore a city.
But I feel I’m on shaky grounds here. I will therefore and hereby suggest that @sonnyNg steps in and help us out.
I do believe that when creating a new list, users may choose between options of having privacy option from Private, Group (Only invited individuals may view, edit, vote) and Public (I do think in case it may allow to be viewed publicly and eligible for any possibility of being featured)
Indeed that is correct @MortenCopenhagen , Shared is to be understood as Group type of lists.
I do believe what was mentioned by @StephenAbraham is towards that direction.
Indeed, as in the context of the instructions page for creating/sharing Lists, it would mention option Shared which would be as intended for Group sharing settings. : ]
We will make sure to check if there would be any further correction needed.
Based on @sonnyNg 's input I don’t think you would need to redo your list. In the settings try changing it from shared to public. That might do the trick. And also forget about Group as something better than Public. Public is best.
It’s odd, the list on android maps app doesn’t agree with the computer maps list. One shows Group and the other Public. I believe you all are saying “group = shared” but I have “group = Public”
I went to my android and clicked “new list” and have the options shown in screenshot. Here you can see the distinction between “group” and “public”.
If I use my existing list on android as an example its a “group” list but not “public”
However if I go to my computer maps the list is clearly Public and the options don’t exactly match the android types of lists.
I’m going to test making a new Public list strictly from my android and see if I notice any difference in feature or functions. If I remember correctly I was flipping back and forth when I created the list between computer and android. There are features like changing the photo for the list, changing order that I am missing.
Thanks for your persistence in documenting this, @ryane_pa .
@sonnyNg , I think we got somewhere on this. The pictures above prove that the terminology is not the same across platforms. That needs to be fixed. Do you need a separate idea to move on getting that fixed?
Just to be a bit sure, that another list was created, correct? (If it could also be checked as MortenCopenhagen shared, to have the Sharing option changed, in order to become Public)
