Make meet-ups interesting using Google Maps to create your own customizable Maps!

[Globe_trotter_Ish]

Many times we want to use Google Maps for educational purposes or conducting meet-ups which look more interesting !

Here is one of the amazing ways to do so…

We can use the Google Maps feature and customize and create our own customized Maps with the base layer of Google Maps…

The best thing thing is that these customized maps are free to use , comes very handy when telling about a particular place on Maps(No need of notepads! ), easy to customize and you can keep them private or even easily share its link with others !

Below is the snapshot of the map I created using Google Maps for the virtual music meet-up hosted by me to help Local Guides know about various music instruments around the world :

Below are the steps you can follow to create your own Map :

1. Go to Google Maps ‘Your places’ as seen in the below picture :

2. When the ‘Your places’ opens, go to ‘MAPS’ tab and click the ‘CREATE MAP’ link as seen in the below picture :

3. You can now add your info layer on top of the existing Google Maps as seen below. You can add information , photos, even videos or Youtube video links here. They also have customizable icon options. You can even choose from different base layers available in Google Maps here :

4. Below is the sample of the Map I customized using Google Maps for the music meet-up. As you can see , I have added customized Icons/pointers on each country and when I click on a particular pin/icon, I have added description and image of the instrument :

In this manner, you can add/edit any number of places you want to show. This makes the meet-up interesting as well as interactive one !

You can also create a similar one for educational purposes too !

Do give it a try… It’s one of the amazing feature of Google Maps we all should use !

Thanks !

[Ewaade_3A]

Wow! This is great, Isha. I am coming for classes @Globe_trotter_Ish

[Globe_trotter_Ish]

@Ewaade_3A Thank you dear! Many of them wanted to know how I created the interactive maps for the meetup so thought of posting it here…

[Nageh]

@Globe_trotter_Ish

That is nice, I don’t know that before you share , I will try to make my map

[Globe_trotter_Ish]

@Nageh Thank you… Yes sure…you can try!

[MashaPS]

Hey @Globe_trotter_Ish .

Thank you for creating this useful post and sharing your tips with us.

I am sure that using this feature made your meet-up even more entertaining.

[Globe_trotter_Ish]

@MashaPS It made my meet-up so much interactive and interesting that I thought of sharing it with others too so they make their meet-ups amazing too! Again one of the amazing feature given free of cost by the Google Maps Team ! This is another reason I love Google Maps!

[MashaPS]

Hi @Globe_trotter_Ish ,

It is always pleasant and motivating to read how other Local Guides enjoy the variety of the Local Guides program and Google Maps and sharing their knowledge and experience.

Thank you.

[ErmesT]

Thank you for sharing about my Maps, @Globe_trotter_Ish

I am making a My Maps for everyone of my physical meet-ups, helping the Local Guides who attended to know how the group will move, during a photowalk.

I am tagging here @DavidTito , to share the whole set of lessons he made for using My Maps

[Globe_trotter_Ish]

@ErmesT I love this feature by Google Maps… Its very convinient and useful feature… Even I had make one for one of my photo walks scheduled in Feb 2020 but had to cancel due to lockdown ! But I still have its customised map! Happy to know you make one too! Thanks for tagging David… Looking forward to him sharing amazing lessons here!

[NareshDarji]

That’s really great @Globe_trotter_Ish

Thanks for sharing with us.

[ErmesT]

@Globe_trotter_Ish

Let me share with you the most exciting maps we made together in connect: the worldwide “Mymaps of plastic pollution”

In there you will find (updated to the last clean-up a few months ago) all the activities of the Local Guides about the “Local Guides Clean the World” initiative.

Have a great day ahead

[Globe_trotter_Ish]

@NareshDarji bhai , I am glad you liked it… i really love this Google Maps feature… It makes the meet-ups interesting , interactive and everyone gets to use / re-use the maps as per their own meet-up subject !

[Globe_trotter_Ish]

@ErmesT Thanks for sharing ! I am sure the use of ‘MyMaps’ feature indeed made your meet-up interesting, interactive and informative to all the participants! I see that you have even mapped activities there! Amazing use of this feature ! Thanks again for sharing !

[TusharSuradkar]

Thanks for a very informative article @Globe_trotter_Ish

I am going to try this for a future purpose most likely a meet-up.

~Greetings from New Delhi

[Globe_trotter_Ish]

@TusharSuradkar I am glad you found the post useful… Indeed, the ‘MyMaps’ feature is one of the useful features of Google Maps ! Surely do use it in your next meet-up and see the difference the makes !

[NareshDarji]

@Globe_trotter_Ish I’m creating my maps since long time and it’s very important and useful . I also like this.

[Globe_trotter_Ish]

@NareshDarji bhai… that’s great ! I know this is a very old feature given my Google Maps but I think the customized maps took my meet-up presentation to the next level !

In love with this feature !

This post is a reminder to the amazing free feature Google Map team has been giving us for so long , a thank you to Google team members like @laurenmae , Rajiv and many others who constantly work to make the Maps better and better ! Kudos to all !

[DavidTito]

@ErmesT Thank you for this surprising effort @Globe_trotter_Ish I would like to express a similar fashion that I have been updating Local Guides Clean The World - The Map customizing youtube, animation, photo, etc. this is a very good platform,

[Globe_trotter_Ish]

This indeed is an amazing platform @DavidTito … Thanks for sharing !