Unfolding Google Maps

Google Maps set the benchmark for online mapping technologies. And in opening up its code to user customisation and adaptation, Google Maps has redefined the information delivery model.

At G&C we’ve recently taken the opportunity to harness these ‘Styled Maps’  capabilities for a couple of our clients – Aquila and Australand.

For Aquila, our approach was simply to ensure their store location maps became a part of their website, rather than seeming ‘bolted on.’

By utilising Google Maps’ ability to be reconfigured and recoloured, we brought the appearance of the maps in line with Aquila’s brand palette. A customised marker for each store again reinforces the brand within the mapping content itself, and integrates the resulting maps seemlessly into the look and feel of the rest of the online store. The result is a more fluid store location search experience, and a website that is coherent and clean.

For Australand, the challenge was to encourage sales of remaining lots at their successful Torquay estate, The Quay. We decided an interactive map, packed with images, videos and information regarding the estate and Torquay area was the way to go. So we headed down on location with video and stills photographers to gather rich and inspiring content.

Using this we populated a customised Google Map, adding intuitive icons and an Australand branded skin. YouTube hosted videos and locally hosted imagery pop up from icons dotted around the estate map, giving an immersive overview of this unique location, whilst a simple zoom out and drag shows clearly the estate’s position within Victoria.

Finally, integration of Google’s direction capabilities also adds relevant value, with our postcode field providing directions to The Quay at the click of a button. The result is a colourful and engaging microsite that could not be easier to use.

We’re finding more innovative ways to customise Google Maps for all of our clients. We think it’s an exciting direction.

As shown on the Google Developers Blog and The Quay Website