{"id":756,"date":"2025-12-19T11:06:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T08:06:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/?p=756"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:06:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T08:06:44","slug":"map-tool-to-plot-multiple-locations-2025-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/?p=756","title":{"rendered":"Map Tool to Plot Multiple Locations (2025 Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Map Tool to Plot Multiple Locations: Build Your Own vs. The Professional Solution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Need a tool to plot 10, 100, or 1,000 locations on a map for your website? You essentially have two paths: build a basic tool using Google&#8217;s free &#8220;My Maps&#8221; and then hack it onto your site, or use dedicated software. This guide walks you through the first method and shows you why the second is better for professional use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Method 1: The &#8220;DIY Tool&#8221; Using Google My Maps &amp; Custom Code<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google My Maps is a great free tool for personal planning. With some technical work, you can attempt to turn it into a public-facing map tool. Here&#8217;s how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Step 1: Create Your Map and Plot Locations<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1.\u00a0 Go to [Google My Maps](<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/\">https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-191-1024x520.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-795\" style=\"width:585px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-191-1024x520.png 1024w, https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-191-300x152.png 300w, https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-191-768x390.png 768w, https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-191-1536x780.png 1536w, https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-191.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2.&nbsp; Click <strong>&#8220;Create a New Map.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3.&nbsp; Use the search bar or the marker tool to plot your first location. Click the pin, then <strong>&#8220;Add to map.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"745\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-192.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-796\" style=\"width:505px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-192.png 745w, https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-192-300x269.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4.&nbsp; For multiple locations, use the import feature: <\/strong>Click &#8220;Import&#8221; and upload a CSV file with your addresses in one column. My Maps will attempt to geocode them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>csv<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-1\" data-shcb-language-name=\"PHP\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"php\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-php\">Name,Address,Type\nStore Central,<span class=\"hljs-number\">123<\/span> Main St, <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">New<\/span> York, NY,Retail\nWarehouse West,<span class=\"hljs-number\">456<\/span> Industrial Blvd, Brooklyn, NY,Warehouse\nOffice Park,<span class=\"hljs-number\">789<\/span> Business Ave, Jersey City, NJ,Office\n<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-1\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">PHP<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">php<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"637\" height=\"271\" src=\"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-173.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-757\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-173.png 637w, https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-173-300x128.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>5.&nbsp; Style your layers and markers by color or icon based on the &#8220;Type&#8221; column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Step 2: Attempt to Embed It on Your Website<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where the &#8220;free tool&#8221; becomes a technical project. The standard embed from My Maps is limited and often visually clunky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>1.&nbsp; In My Maps, click &#8220;Share&#8221; and set the map to <strong>&#8220;Public on the web.&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2.&nbsp; Click the three-dot menu next to the map title, then <strong>&#8220;Embed on my site.&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3.&nbsp; You&#8217;ll get an `&lt;iframe&gt;` code snippet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>html<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-2\" data-shcb-language-name=\"HTML, XML\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"xml\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-xml\"><span class=\"hljs-tag\">&lt;<span class=\"hljs-name\">iframe<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-attr\">src<\/span>=<span class=\"hljs-string\">\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=YOUR_UNIQUE_MAP_ID&amp;ehbc=2E312F\"<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-attr\">width<\/span>=<span class=\"hljs-string\">\"640\"<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-attr\">height<\/span>=<span class=\"hljs-string\">\"480\"<\/span>&gt;<\/span><span class=\"hljs-tag\">&lt;\/<span class=\"hljs-name\">iframe<\/span>&gt;<\/span><\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-2\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">HTML, XML<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">xml<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>4.&nbsp; Paste this into an HTML block on your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>The Immediate Problems You&#8217;ll Encounter:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Branding &amp; Clutter: <\/strong>The embedded map shows a large &#8220;Google My Maps&#8221; title bar, layer toggles, and a default UI that you cannot remove.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited Control: <\/strong>Styling options are minimal. You cannot truly customize the look to match your site.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Poor Mobile Experience: <\/strong>The iframe often doesn&#8217;t resize well, and the interface is not touch-optimized for visitors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No Advanced Features: <\/strong>Want visitors to filter locations by type, search within radius, or see a clean list view? Not possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Step 3: Trying to &#8220;Fix&#8221; It with the Google Maps Embed API<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To get a cleaner look, developers often turn to the <strong>Google Maps Embed API,<\/strong> but this requires manually plotting each location with coordinates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Get Coordinates for Each Location: <\/strong>You&#8217;d first need to geocode each address to get its Lat\/Lng (using another tool or API).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Construct a Complex URL:<\/strong> The Embed API supports multiple markers via a long, unwieldy URL parameter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>html<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-3\" data-shcb-language-name=\"HTML, XML\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"xml\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-xml\"><span class=\"hljs-tag\">&lt;<span class=\"hljs-name\">iframe<\/span>\n  <span class=\"hljs-attr\">width<\/span>=<span class=\"hljs-string\">\"800\"<\/span>\n  <span class=\"hljs-attr\">height<\/span>=<span class=\"hljs-string\">\"600\"<\/span>\n  <span class=\"hljs-attr\">frameborder<\/span>=<span class=\"hljs-string\">\"0\"<\/span>\n  <span class=\"hljs-attr\">src<\/span>=<span class=\"hljs-string\">\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed\/v1\/search?key=YOUR_API_KEY&amp;q=40.7128,-74.0060&amp;q=40.6782,-73.9442&amp;q=40.7489,-73.9680&amp;zoom=12\"<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-attr\">allowfullscreen<\/span>&gt;<\/span>\n<span class=\"hljs-tag\">&lt;\/<span class=\"hljs-name\">iframe<\/span>&gt;<\/span>\n<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-3\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">HTML, XML<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">xml<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;The `q=` parameter with coordinates is a hacky workaround; the official &#8220;multiple markers&#8221; feature is not straightforward in the basic Embed API.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This method is <strong>fragile and scales poorly.<\/strong> Managing 50 locations this way is a nightmare. You have no popups, no custom icons, and no clustering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>The Core Issue: You&#8217;re Using a Planning Tool, Not a Presentation Tool<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google My Maps is designed for <strong>planning<\/strong>, not for creating elegant, branded, interactive maps for website visitors. To build a true &#8220;map tool,&#8221; you&#8217;d need to move to the full Google Maps Platform and write hundreds of lines of JavaScript to handle data, clustering, styling, and controls\u2014essentially, building your own tool from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Method 2: A Dedicated Map Tool Built for the Job<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What if you could skip all the hacking, coding, and limitations? A professional map tool is designed from the ground up to <strong>plot multiple locations and share them beautifully.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/mapsfun.com\">MapsFun.com<\/a> is exactly that kind of tool. It takes the core idea of My Maps\u2014easy plotting\u2014and turns it into a powerful, clean, embeddable solution for businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>How a Real Map Tool Simplifies the Process:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1.&nbsp; Import &amp; Plot in One Step: <\/strong>Just like My Maps, you upload a CSV or Excel file. Unlike My Maps, the resulting map is automatically styled for public presentation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2.&nbsp; Full Design Control:<\/strong> Remove all unwanted branding. Choose from multiple map styles (not just Google), customize marker icons and colors by category, and design clean info windows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>3.&nbsp; Add Powerful Visitor Features with Clicks:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Live Filters:<\/strong> Let visitors filter your plotted locations by type (e.g., &#8220;Show only Warehouses&#8221;) using a sleek dropdown you add in the editor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>List + Map View:<\/strong> Provide a scrollable list of locations alongside the map.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advanced Search:<\/strong> Add a search box for addresses or names.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>4.&nbsp; Get a Clean, Professional Embed: <\/strong>The embed code you get produces a responsive, fast-loading map that looks like a native part of your website, not a bulky iframe from another tool.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/panel.mapsfun.com\/embed-map?code=668ecbcced7931f89205d1e881bb82aa&#038;lang=uk&#038;tpl=photo\" width=\"100%\" height=\"600\" style=\"border:0\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Stop using a planning tool for a presentation job.<\/strong> If you need a reliable, elegant, and feature-rich<strong> map tool to plot multiple location<\/strong>s for your clients or visitors, <a href=\"http:\/\/mapsfun.com\">MapsFun.com<\/a> turns a complex coding project into a 5-minute task. Go from a spreadsheet to a professional interactive map, ready to embed, with no technical hurdles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Map Tool to Plot Multiple Locations: Build Your Own vs. The Professional Solution Need a tool to plot 10, 100, or 1,000 locations on a map for your website? You essentially have two paths: build a basic tool using Google&#8217;s free &#8220;My Maps&#8221; and then hack it onto your site, or use dedicated software. This [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-map-tool-to-plot-multiple-locations","category-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=756"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/756\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":797,"href":"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/756\/revisions\/797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mapsfun.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}