What is an interactive pinpoint store locator map? Picture a map image of an US suburb or state map with a little transparency to allow the image to just peek through. A set of icons to pinpoint stores, warehouses and sales offices. Move the cursor over an icon and a snippet of descriptive but factual text appears beside the cursor in a callout. This is a Store locator map.

An interactive store pinpoint locator map can be used for many things; however their primary purpose is to pinpoint a location and specialty of a store.

In the past, webmasters use HTML and Java Scripts to create pinpoint locator maps. Which is difficult for most users and the function is limited.

With the increasing popularity of Flash and easy to use map creation software such as iMapBuilder, you can easily create an interactive, clickable store locator maps, and easily pinpoint locations with clickable points and icons, with interactive features such as mouseover tooltips, hint boxes and many other features.

Example of how a pinpoint locator map can be used:

We are a video outlet and have 20 shopfronts in a city, the ability to show the shop nearest a potential customer on our website would be a big plus and help our customers to find our shop online easier.

And as few the stores specialise in certain genre of titles, this would be worthwhile showing on our Store locator map using special icons.

There are 2 stores in the CBD. One is for general movies but the other specialises in the old silent movies and has a large list of stock. It is good to make this known to the buying public.

The specialty shops would have a star beside them or be in a different color on the Store locator map. Move the cursor over the icon and a callout shows the address of the store and the number of titles in each genre as well as a short description of the shop with parking instructions.

To do this, we simply need a map of the city (either by using a template, or export a static JPG image from Google Map), a database of titles, and then create the interactive flash locator map using iMapBuilder. We can add icons to pinpoint our stores with different specialities, with mouseover tooltips to display its full address and even a storefront image.

When people visit our website online, they can easily use the store locator map to see the distribution of our shops, and then select the nearest shop and see the full contact details with simple mouse rollover. When they click on a shop icon, we will redirect a search query with a set of parameters, and then display the corresponding search result.

This level of visual navigation is comparatively easy for visitors than a traditional search-form based website. And combine the best of online database, interactive flash locator map and the Internet. The trick to getting it right is to determine closely just what your clients want and deliver it in the simplest possible way.

That is a Store locator map on steroids. Download iMapBuilder to create your own store locator map today.

Other possible application of an interactive locator map:

Buyer / Seller / Branch office by countries (or states / counties)

You can use a clickable interactive world map to keep track of buyers and sellers by countries. Your visitors can see buyers and sellers (with quantities and prices) by country AND then find further details via hover-mouse as to who the buyers and sellers are.

World energy map with oilfields

If you are an energy company, you can create an interactive world energy map, showing oilfields in the middle east, map of offshore oil drilling, or map of labor network in the region.

You can then add clickable points, icons, regions, and display additional notes on mouse over to make it a lot easier for your visitors to find specific information in just a few clicks.

US property searching tool

Create a interactive map for the properties that are listed for sale by your company in different states or counties in the United States. Your visitors can choose a territory by clicking on it, for example, click on their desired state or county on your property map, and then see the list of properties as search results, with link to their corresponding web page.

You can also use this clickable interactive map to provide specific details about the properties such as nearest schools,public services, financial centers, and places of entertainment.

A surveillance Department

Can make an interactive map by importing the floorplan image of a Casino/Complex/Campus/Hotel, and then convert it to a flash interactive map. Clickable custom icons and hotspots can be added to reference surveillance cameras, and display details about the camera on mouseover.

An academic librarian

Use iMapBuilder to create a interactive world map with clickable links, and using dots to pinpoint important cities and towns. Students can click on a region, or a point which links to a list of "hot news topics" for the country selected in mouse-click (or a city/town)

iMapBuilder interactive map software can help you to create interactive maps, clickable world map easily, it is simple enough to use by anyone who are already using MS-Windows for word processing or web surfing.

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More About iMapBuilder Interactive Map Software

What is iMapBuilder - Interactive Map Software?



iMapBuilder interactive maps software is an user-friendly, interactive map making software for MS-Windows. You can use iMapbuilder to create an interactive flash map for websites, multimedia presentaions, or as a branch office locator. Map editing is easy using iMapbuilder, no any programming skills or additional flash editing software is required.


 

What maps does iMapBuilder interactive map software support?



In current version, iMapbuilder includes the following maps:

• Interactive World Map
• Interactive US Map
• Interactive UK Map
• Interactive Canada Map


You can also import your own map image in JPG/PNG format, to create an interactive map easily.

For additional flash maps of more countries, please visit our flash maps gallery. You might also like to checkout some custom flash map we have developed which are used for real estate websites, travel agencies, and as branch offices locators.


 

How to create map with flash using iMapbuilder? Do I need any programming knowledge?

One of the greatest advantages of iMapBuilder is that you don't need to have any technical knowledge what so ever. You will be able create your customized Flash maps in a matter of few clicks. No programming or Actionscript knowledge is required. Simply use the iMapBuilder map wizard to select a flash map template, edit the map using few mouse clicks, and you will have a interactive map ready to use with your color settings, text, and links. It is as easy as using your word processor software programs.


 

Check FAQ section for more questions related to map design and usage >>>>>