Interactive maps created with Mapme have a “map home,” which is similar to a website’s home page. It’s the first thing users see on your map and greatly impacts their experience. The map home consists of three elements:
1. Map Title: The map title appears at the top of the map content panel. It also serves as the <title> tag, which is displayed in the browser tab and used as the search result title if your map is indexed by search engines.
2. Map Description: The map description is displayed below the map title. You can include links and formatting like bold, italic, and bullet points. It’s also used as the <description> tag, which is important for SEO purposes and appears in search engine results.
3. Branding Image: You can add a branding image to the map content panel, often used for displaying a company logo or explaining the map’s purpose.
Why Hide the Map Title or Description?
You have the option to hide the map title and description if they are redundant or take up too much space on your map. For instance, if your branding image already includes the map title, there’s no need to repeat it. Similarly, if your map is embedded in a webpage with context, a description may not be necessary.
However, even if you hide these fields, they are still used for SEO optimization and search engine results, so you don’t want to leave them empty.
How to Craft Your Map Title and Description
Here are some recommendations for creating effective map titles and descriptions:
- Keep them concise and meaningful, aiming for under 60 characters for the title and under 200 characters for the description.
- Avoid repeating information already available to users, such as your company name if your map is on your website.
- Focus on the map’s purpose so users can quickly understand its value.
Tip: You can split the map title into multiple lines using the HTML <br> tag. For example: Historic Warehouse District<br>Self-Guided Tour
Map Branding Image
The map branding image allows you to add a prominent visual element to the map content panel, typically used for displaying a company logo or visually reinforcing the map’s purpose. We recommend a banner-style format with dimensions of 200px in height and 400px in width for the best display.
Our advanced image editor lets you optimize the branding image by:
- Rotating the image
- Removing unnecessary empty space from the top or bottom
- Cropping to highlight the most relevant part and achieve a clean banner look
- Adding text or visual annotations for additional context
Adding a branding image is optional. If your map is embedded in your website and already includes your company logo, a separate branding image may not be necessary.
In summary, the map home, comprising the title, description, and branding image, plays a crucial role in users’ map experience, SEO optimization, and search engine visibility. Customize these elements thoughtfully to enhance your map’s effectiveness.