2022
Introduction to Categories in Maps
This is the first article in a series about categories in Maps. In this introductory article, we learn something about the function and importance of categories, and why Local Guides should see categories as their ABC in becoming a skilled Map Editor. In following articles of this series, we shall look at categories from different perspectives and how categories in Maps evolved and could be further exploited and developed.
The aim of this series of articles is to promote best practice and to kick-start discussions on this topic. Please don’t hesitate to comment and join the discussion.
Why Categories
Adding category labels to places on maps is necessary to classify the listings and allow both people and search engines to quickly understand what the core ‘function’ is of a place.
Since not all names of places are explanatory, a taxonomy like a category label will help users to identify what they are looking at and find what they are looking for. It is therefore important that an accurate category is selected when adding a new place to Maps. Using an inaccurate category will lead to misunderstandings and could mean a place does not show up in the search results when people look for it.
Another bad result of using categories incorrectly is that places on Maps end up on the wrong layer or shouldn’t be on the Base Map in the first place.
This brings us to a very common misunderstanding triggered by some ambiguous advice that often leads to bad practice:
“If you cannot find the category you are looking for, select something close to it.”
This sounds a little like: “no matter what, come up with something”.
A better advice would be to widen your definition as explained in the following example and to accept that the absence of a category might mean it is not mappable (by you).
For example, if you cannot find “Turkish pizzeria”, use “Turkish Restaurant” instead. The example uses a wider definition, a place to eat Turkish food, but not just pizza.
The Basics
The classification goes from wide to narrow. For example Restaurant > Sushi Restaurant > Conveyer Belt Sushi Restaurant.
So, if you found a restaurant in Spain that only serves croquetas (a type of tapas) and you conclude that there is no category for Croquetas Restaurant, you go for Tapas Restaurant, which is the wider definition in the category tree.
Best practice is that you always select the most specific category. So, if you are trying to add a “Pizza Take-Away” restaurant and you find both categories “Take-Away” and “Pizza-Take-Away”, you select the latter, which is the most specific available category in the list.
Coming up next:
Categories from a Maps perspective
Categories from a Point of Interest perspective
Categories from a Local Guides perspective
Categories Evolving and Product Development
About the Author:
I am a Local Guides that spent many hours reading every post I could find on Connect on this topic, studying the Google help pages and related forums, including those of Map Maker and the Google My Business program. This does not guarantee that all I write is correct. I trust however that when indeed I did misunderstand something, that fellow Local Guides and Moderators will correct me in the comments.
