I finally found an awesome mapping solution that uses Google Maps, but takes all of the hassle out of the process. It's called the GeoMashup Plugin. You'll need the free Google Map API Key. Once you get the key and install the plugin, you'll actually have fun creating really detailed maps of your coverage area.
When you are creating a new post, this plugin provides a map and search to pinpoint the location by address or even GPS coordinates. Once you select the spot and save the post, it will appear as a map pin on your general overview area map. You can also easily place a link in the post to the map location. When the visitor reads the post and clicks on the link, they are taken to the map, and an expanded window shows the post headline and points to the location pin.
Even better, when a visitor goes to the map first, mousing over the pins gives a brief single line of text which is the title of the post. If they click on the pin, a window pops up with a post excerpt and link to read the whole post.
But wait, there's more! The plugin is set up to color code the pins based on the category of the post. This gives you the ability to create individual category maps, as well as help the visitor to differentiate between the types of location on the overview map with all the pins. Here's how I've set up my real estate site mapping:
- Main overview map has all the pins for all categories
- They are color coded with a color legend below the map
- Links at the top direct the visitor to specific category maps
- Lodging, MLS Areas, Day Trips, Outdoors, Shopping, etc.
- Visitors can zero in on the type of locations they want to find
- Zoom for each map is set to best show the category locations
Remember, you only need to do the geo location once when you write the post. Even if you have a post in more than one category, it will show up on the main map, and each category map to which it belongs. An example is a restaurant in a hotel. I place that post in both "Eating Out" and "Lodging" categories. It shows on both maps. I set up a page for each category map.
