How to make an interactive map.

Looking for a way to visualize information or data in a fun and engaging way? An interactive map could be just what you need. Whether you’re looking to present audience data for a specific region, or you’re trying to showcase store locations on your website, interactive maps can be a useful tool for your business.

So, how do you bring it to life? In this guide, we’ll explore how to make an interactive map and share some interactive map ideas to suit a range of businesses and marketers.

What is an interactive map?

An interactive map is a digital tool that lets users explore locations or key data spots in greater detail. You can also get an in-depth visualisation of the data, which can be useful for presentations or business decisions. For example, if you’re sending your sales team out to certain areas, you can gauge the demographics of an area and present it to them via an interactive map.

Interactive maps can vary based on design and purpose. Here are some of the main types and features:

• Heatmaps: Visualise data density and interaction by colour, showing hotspots like high traffic areas on a webpage or spots where there is minimal engagement.
• Pop-ups: Display information when a user clicks on a specific location, great for adding context to specific points on the map.
• Real-time data: Shows live updates, perfect for tracking weather changes, traffic status, or social media trends.
• Choropleth maps: Colour-code or shade regions of a geographic map, based on a specific data value. This can be useful in demographic or economic maps to show distribution and variations..
• 3D terrain maps: Allow users to view an area in three-dimensional detail, useful for hikers or urban developers looking at elevation details.
• Layered maps: Let users toggle layers on and off to explore multiple data sets simultaneously, often used in environmental studies and city planning.

Examples of interactive map data.

What if there was a way to visualise different data types and provide engaging insights into different customer demographics, regional market trends, and competitive analysis? Interactive maps let you do just that. Take a closer look at some of the different data variables you can feature in your own interactive map.

• Regional trends: Displays patterns like product demand, seasonal preferences, and economic indicators within specific regions, helping identify promising areas for expansion or targeted campaigns.
• Social trends: By tracking social media interactions and hashtags, these maps reveal local consumer interests, preferences and trending topics, allowing your business to adjust its social strategy based on regional interests.
• Demographic trends: Highlight population age, income and education levels, to help your marketing team build out their audience segments and tailor future campaigns based on their characteristics.
• Comparative data: Enables businesses to compare their performance with competitors, showing market share or customer reach in various areas to identify underserved markets. You could include a chart of your data to support this map for easy comparison and analysis.
• Sales density: Highlights areas with the highest product sales or services, providing valuable insights for inventory and staffing.
• Traffic patterns: Useful for brick-and-mortar locations, mapping high-traffic areas, commuter paths, and accessibility, allowing better site selection and advertising placement.

How to make an interactive map in 5 steps.

Want to create an interactive map for your next pitch or presentation? Check out the steps involved to help you build an interactive map, so you can use one in your own field.

1. Collect your data.

When creating interactive maps, collecting the right types of data is key for building useful, engaging, and accurate insights. Here are some examples of data that can enhance interactive maps, with tips on how to gather each:

• Surveys: Direct data collection which asks for specifics around certain preferences, such as location-based needs, for example. You can collect them directly from people online via forms, or in-person questionnaires.
• Public datasets: These are datasets from the government, universities, and NGOs, from studies or research they’ve carried out. You can usually access these from their websites or dedicated market research tools.
• Crowdsourcing: Allows users to contribute data to the map directly, enabling the collection of real-time, location-based information. An example is traffic conditions. Integrate crowdsourcing features into the map that allow users to submit reports or rate places.
• Web analytics: Web analytics track user behaviour on the interactive map itself, providing insight into which areas or features attract the most interest. An example is Adobe Analytics.
• Social media feeds: Check-ins, reviews and user photos can add a real-time layer to maps.

2. Choose your tools.

Choosing the right tools is a key part of the creation process. For instance, you can use the Adobe Express Map Creator tool to build out a world map or a specific geographic region. You can then edit the colours and branding, add in animated icons and photos, and create labels containing the key data – to make it more interactive for other members of your team.

Other tools may also offer additional functionality and data integration options. Ensure whatever tool you choose caters to your needs, budget, and expertise level to get the most out of it.

3. Pick your template.

You don’t have to re-invent the wheel – we’ve got a library of map templates to help you get started. It’s important to choose the right template for the right purpose.

Say you’re trying to pitch an upcoming PR campaign. It might make sense to use a choropleth map template to showcase your demographic insights for key regions, to help inform which areas your campaign should focus on.

4. Input the data and create your map.

Don’t get too set in your ways when it comes to data with interactive maps. Staying flexible is key, in case an issue arises, or a template doesn’t work. Be open to making changes. Always keep the target audience and intent in mind, there’s no point creating something that won’t resonate with them.

And keep the overall vision consistent. Look at other examples to pique your creativity, and use this inspiration as motivation, adding your own touch to it too. This blended approach will create something new altogether.

5. Share your map.

There’s no point creating one if nobody else can see it. Build your map into your chosen Adobe Express project – whether it’s a presentation, pitch deck, webpage or social media post.

Make sure the map visually aligns with your business branding, then share or present it to your wider team for them to interact with and analyse for their own data insights.

Free interactive map ideas from Adobe Express.

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Good to know.

Are interactive maps better than traditional maps?

Interactive maps offer many advantages over traditional maps, but it will depend on what you’re using them for. Interactive maps can help bring your data to life and encourage other users to take a closer look at the information provided – rather than just skating past it.

Are interactive maps accessible?

Interactive maps can pose a challenge to people with visual, motor, or cognitive impairments. It’s important to consider this when designing them. Having accessibility options such as zoom, screen-readers, and high contrast colours can help a wider audience use them.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free Adobe Express plan offers many core features including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5GB of storage. See our  pricing page for details and to compare plans.