EDITORIAL PUBLISHING
How to plan a branded interactive map for your website
You do not need map software or a list of coordinates to begin. A clear editorial purpose and a well-prepared list of places are the useful starting points.
The ideaThe map is only as helpful as the selection behind it. Decide who the guide serves and what each place should help that reader do.
Start with the reader’s question
Is the reader choosing dinner, planning a weekend, exploring a hotel neighborhood, or comparing the area around a property? One purpose keeps a map focused. A long directory of every possible place can be harder to use than a smaller selection with a clear point of view.
Write a short sentence describing the audience and what they should be able to decide after using the map. This becomes a guide for which places to include and what each place card needs to show.
Prepare the place list
A document or spreadsheet is enough. Give each place a name and enough location detail to identify it, such as an address, town, or official website. Add your own description, any photo you have permission to use, and links that help the reader act: the official site, a booking page, directions, or a related article on your website.
Flag uncertain entrances, seasonal locations, and places with similar names. MapEdition checks locations with you before publication; an ambiguous pin is better resolved during the build than discovered by a reader.
Place name; address or location clue; why it belongs; permitted photo; official link; your related article; any note about hours, access, or an entrance that needs checking.
Decide where the map belongs
Some guides work best embedded alongside an article. Others deserve a dedicated, evergreen page that new articles and newsletters can link to. Your web platform and the reading experience help decide which approach fits. A map should also work on a phone and provide a clear list of places when the map view is unavailable.
MapEdition designs, hosts, and helps integrate a finished branded map. We can work with your existing developer and agree on the content, placement, and any extra features before work begins. If the collection changes later, send corrections and additions so the map and its links remain useful.
Plan for honest maintenance
Choose who owns each factual detail. Official links, hours, addresses, and availability can change. If your guide promises “new” or “recent,” explain when you last checked it. Interaction gives readers a way to explore; real editorial updates give them a reason to trust the result.
See how maps support editorial stories or send us your place list.
Ready to make your map?
Tell us what you want readers to explore and where the map should live. We’ll help define the right editorial map for your site.
Let’s build your map