Category: CRM-Map Blog

3 Ways to Embed a Google Map into Your Website

carsonCRM-Map Blog, Google MapsLeave a Comment on 3 Ways to Embed a Google Map into Your Website

3 Ways to Embed a Google Map into Your Website 

 

There are several methods to embed a Google Map into your website. The most appropriate will depend on how much you need the map to do.

 

A Single Pin A Map with Multiple Pins and Unique Icons

A Map which Automatically Updates


Just A Single Pin on a Map? 

If your looking to simply embed a store or single location Google offers an embedding tool within Google Maps itself which is great.  

However, if you have multiple locations or want any customization you will need to look elsewhere. 

Steps:

  1. Open Google Maps and search for the address/company you want to show. 
  2. Once the location has been marked by the search, go into the ‘Share’ option found directly below the locations image.  
  3. Inside share you will find two tabs, open the ‘embed a map tab’. This display should now show you a copy of what your embedded map will look like on your website. Note that you can change the size of the map by using the drop down on the left side of the box. It is default ‘Medium’.  
  4. Once your satisfied with your maps size click the ‘copy html’ button.  
  5. Now that you have the html your next step depends very heavily on what web builder program you are using.  

 

Wix and Weebly both offer a drop and drag field for embedding html/code which is a matter of dragging and placing the box where you want before pasting the html you just copied. 

 

WordPress alternatively requires a few more steps and if you don’t have any HTML coding skill you may wish to send the html code onto your web designer to finish the job off. If not the steps are: 

  1. Access your site’s WordPress backend at /admin.  
  2. Identify the page or blog post that you would like to embed your map into and go to edit the page. 
  3. Go to the ‘Text’ tab for your content section, find where in the html code of your existing content on the page you want the map and paste the html.  

 

With these steps completed you should now have a basic Google Maps embedded into your page.  

 

 

Multiple Pins, Unique Colored Icons, and Drawing?

 

 

If you are looking for customizable pins, unique pin popups, drawing, or simply the ability to have more then one pin, Google offer a system called Google My Maps.

This tool is great for maps that you are going to build once and rarely update again.

If you are looking for something that needs to be tied to your internal systems or updated regularly this is not for you.

Steps:

  1. Go to Google My Maps and login to the system with a google account, if you don’t have one just follow-up the account creation process don’t worry as there is no fees with this.
  2. Now inside the program click – Create A New Map
  3. Once created you will see a map very similar to Google Maps which a few differences, the most significant of these are the pin and three dot symbols just below the search box. These two buttons will allow you to add as many pins and drawings as you would like. There is little more to the system which you can learn about here.
  4. Once your map has been created you need to position your view to be what you would like your embedded map to show.
  5. When your positioned, click the share button found on the left side bar. Look for the section stating who has access to your map and change it from private to public before pressing done.
  6. Now press the 3 dots at the top of the left box and choose the ‘embed on my site’ option that appears. This will provide you with a html code to copy.
  7. With the html copied your next step depends very heavily on what web builder program you are using but it follows the exact same logic as your basic google maps.

Wix and Weebly both offer a drop and drag field for embedding html/code which is a matter of dragging and placing the box where you want before pasting the html you just copied.

WordPress alternatively requires a few more steps and if you don’t have any HTML coding skill you may wish to send the html code onto your web designer to finish the job off. If not the steps are:

      1. Access your site’s WordPress backend at /admin.
      2. Identify the page or blog post that you would like to embed your map into and go to edit the page.
      3. Go to the ‘Text’ tab for your content section, find where in the html code of your existing content on the page you want the map and paste the html.

A Map Integrated Directly with your System

 

 

If you need a map that provide live updates, such as the status of your meters or which region your team is serving today there is a product called Accede Maps.

This tool allows you to tie your database into it so that pins and drawings can pull information from your other systems. This means that when a change occurs in your main system it can automatically push through to your map or if you want changes made on the map can push through to your other systems.

Steps

  1. Sign up for Accede Maps here. The product is free for displays under 20 pins. Over that there is a monthly charged based on how many users need to be able to enter/edit information within it.
  2. Once signed up you will need to decide what type of information you want the product to show. There are some base templates available or you can make one from scratch. Note the product offers integration with a few accounting products as well as other systems through Zapier but if you have a custom system you want plugged in Accede, the company that developed it, offers services to get them setup for a fee.
  3. Once your map has been setup you will need to get something called a Google API Key which can be done here, just click ‘get started’ and follow the prompts and when asked which features you want simply tick maps.

This key allow for many of googles more advance systems to be directly integrated into your website. If you’re a large organization that gets over 25,000 hits on your website a month there a cost to this otherwise its completely free.

  1. With your key sourced, return to Accede Maps and go into ‘Map Settings’ –> ‘API and Embedding’.
  2. Select the button that says ‘Create New API Key’, this will load you into a page which shows a copy of your main Accede Map but that can be edited and filtered according to what you want soon on your embedded.
  3. Once your embedded map has been designed copy the HTML code at the bottom of the screen and paste it into a word document.
  4. From here slightly modify the html by replacing the section “your google API Key” with your actual google key and copying the new html.
  5. With the html copied your next step depends very heavily on what web builder program you are using but it follows the exact same logic as your basic google maps.

Wix and Weebly both offer a drop and drag field for embedding html/code which is a matter of dragging and placing the box where you want before pasting the html you just copied.

WordPress alternatively requires a few more steps and if you don’t have any HTML coding skill you may wish to send the html code onto your web designer to finish the job off. If not the steps are:

      1. Access your site’s WordPress backend at /admin.
      2. Identify the page or blog post that you would like to embed your map into and go to edit the page.
      3. Go to the ‘Text’ tab for your content section, find where in the html code of your existing content on the page you want the map and paste the html.

Wage and Labour demands in the B&C Industry

Cate SchafingCRM-Map BlogLeave a Comment on Wage and Labour demands in the B&C Industry

The latest wage Rider Levett Bucknall’s Oceania Report – RLB

has found that “All sectors of the building and construction industry are reporting increased demands for wage increases of up to 5 per cent per annum,” the report said. These wage increase are being passed on to the consumer by way of steeper construction costs.

“Further, the Sydney market is now experiencing a labour shortage in some fields. These include reinforcement fixers, form workers, bricklayers, carpenter/joiner and fire protection trades. These trades are reporting full order books and unable to accept new opportunities.”

Melbourne has seen the residential boom slowing down and contractors have found wages less of a burden, the report said.

“On detached housing sites, labour is inching up slightly in the ‘hard’ trades – bricklayers and carpenters,” it said. “Within the large commercial and residential projects, even though labour rates are coming under ever more pressure due to constant EBA rate increases, the volume of overtime being worked is diminishing, causing a net constant pricing of labour within the project.”

The Oceania report also stated that “Head contractors are asking subcontractors to increase labour rather than approve overtime.” This is a further effort to try and reduce labour costs.

From all accounts it appears that Brisbane has likely peaked and construction will slow. This is reflected in the skew of commercial projects completing in 2016/17. This has boosted CBD and fringe office vacancy rates.

The report forecasts “Construction cost increases appear to have peaked and we expect some softening of construction costs during 2017/18, however  “there is still a large pipeline of work under construction”. The report expects this will be a gradual process with structural trades being affected first.

All in all wages and labour costs on building projects continues to challenge B&C companies ever seeking to be competitive and profitable and reputable.

Henry Schafing: henry@crm-map.com

Workplace Safety

Cate SchafingCRM-Map BlogLeave a Comment on Workplace Safety

Workplace safety

It doesn’t matter whether you are on a building site or in a school or in an office on the 10th floor of a multi-storey building creating a safe and secure work environment leads to a more productive environment. No matter the size or type of the business, workplace safety procedures are a necessity for all staff. Safety measures protect employees as well as equipment and business property. The bottom line is this: by avoiding or minimizing worker injuries and damage to equipment and facilities results in fewer expenses and more profit for a business.

Change is inevitable, especially when conditions can change significantly within the day-to-day operations of a work site. Where there is change, the need to continually monitor conditions is paramount in reducing risk.

Undertaking a JSA (Job Safety Analysis) prompts those involved in the work task  or activity to consider their work environment carefully. They need to assess the risks of the job prior to starting any work. A JSA inspection should be completed prior to commencing works on site and upon arrival to the site each day.  The main aim is to identify site-specific hazards that weren’t present the day before. Read More

IOT – To Fear or not To Fear – Has Big Brother taken Over?

Cate SchafingBusiness Management, CRM-Map Blog, Media ReleasesLeave a Comment on IOT – To Fear or not To Fear – Has Big Brother taken Over?

IOT – Is big brother here?

IOT – Every day in every way, we are giving data to Big Brother.  This occurs when you shop at your supermarket, purchase on line, search on a browser or drive using your iAuto or Google Maps.  The list is really never ending as to how data is being gathered and used. The question is: Should we Fear or not Fear this current situation?

Read More

MYOB – 3 Ways to Increase Profits

Cate SchafingBusiness Management, CRM-Map Blog, Media ReleasesLeave a Comment on MYOB – 3 Ways to Increase Profits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are 3 simple methods to actually increase your profits.

Option 1 – Improve your Sales technique.

Sales is a topic that I could spend hours talking about. As a novice I thought sales was a dirty word, but once you have been in business a long time you will see this differently.  For those who stay in business, the reason they do, is that they have good sales people. So what is a good sales person?

A good Salesperson can:

  • say No to a wrong/bad sale.
  • select the right fit/product for the client
  • endear confidence and a desire to repeat purchase
  • sell the product not just the price

These dot points mean that as a business you need to have quality, well educated, empathetic, intelligent sales people. It does not matter what the product is. What matters is the customers experience.

With this in mind, sales people need to be able to offer the right product, at the right price in a timely and professional manner. This involves a lot of skills. The application of these skills involves Sales Techniques.

The key to increased profits really can lie in getting the right technique. I met building improvement owner, and the sales technique that they employed included some very strict timing and steps. He found that the combination of timing and steps increased his sales and margins significantly.

So the key is to find the Sales Technique that matches your company and your product.

My experience shows that for each customer you need to find what matters to them, so listening is vital. A sales person that listens is over halfway home. Know if the sale is a need or a want. Know what is going to trigger your customer.

Once you know what matters, you re-enforce this with your sales script / demonstration. However with that said, Tools are vital. Ways to show off the product – Samples, Videos. Ways to confirm that the client can be confident in you – e.g. referrals. Local referrals are always best, and it is a reason that products like CRM-Map are so popular.

Finally, the sales person must close the sale. Closing is interesting. Some sales people can demonstrate, but they just can’t close – they are actually demonstrators, not sales people. Good salespeople can close a sale. There are many techniques for this, and once again this must match your company and product.

Some closing Techniques include:

Assumptive Sale : e.g. Do you want this in Red or Blue (get the client to make positive statements of ownership, and the sale is a natural)

Reason to decide today: Could be a discount, limited stock, limited stock availability etc.

3 Yes’s to close: It is physiologically suggested that if your client will agree with the sales person on 3 important points, then agreeing to purchase is a minor agreement.

 

Option 2. Repeat Sales to Existing Clients

The easiest and most profitable sale is a repeat sale. Very simply put, the client knows you, trusts you, your don’t have to find them, prove yourself, or establish a relationship. All of this has already been done.

So look after your existing clients.

Successful companies do this in a range of ways, e.g. Loyalty cards, personal service. Today, it was announced that Dick Smith Electrical has gone into voluntary receivership. Well I am not surprised. It is not to do with sales, but related to profits. They have never worked at repeat sales. They do not treasure their clients – you are just a number. Plus they are in an incredibly competitive market.

Repeat sales really do make a big difference in the bottom line.

This morning I had a personal experience. I have for 30 years purchased house paint from the same store. As a have a few properties, this is about $1000 per year minimum. So I keep going back, the staff know me, and after a few sales, they gave me a discount. I now know, that I don’t need to shop around that they will give me the best price. This morning however, a new staff member refused to discount the product I was purchasing – and the price difference was about 20{c36baba5c73b6c9a0b80d5e7ba0a8acbfd233dc9453b651cdb653391d31dba51}. I was not impressed. So I waited until a known staff member arrived and then all went well. However, I can state that this could have ruined a valuable relationship. So owners, don’t rest on your laurels. You need to have systems in place to care for these valuable clients even if staff change.

Option 3. Lower your costs

Lowering costs! Sounds easy, feels difficult. Well it is easier than you could believe.

I am the president of a large sporting association. With all the new laws brought in by the Fair Work Act, voluntary sporting associations have been really hit hard. So as the president, I was faced with 2 problems. Making sure that the association was running legally correct, and making sure that the association ran at a profit. The biggest problem was “But this is the way we have always done it”.

The only constant in life, is Change. Once that is accepted in a practical sense, then changing to be more profitable is possible.

So my next step was to review each and every account. I had the internal book keeper do this with me, and made sure that all rules were followed. We had to think outside of the square. This involved getting the association registered as a Work for the Dole option, plus creating a relationship with the local employment agencies, so that suitable volunteers could be located.

We also reviewed some of the products we had, so that we had products that clients wanted and were happy to pay for.

Technology can be a big cost saver if used well, but, poorly applied technology can also be a cost waster. The key is to know what technology is available, and what is the right decision? The difficulty is that no one has a crystal ball, and technology moves at a rapid rate. Here are my suggestions to using technology well in your company, so that you will save money.

Don’t get the latest greatest, unless necessary.

Buy the best value for now, but don’t expect technology to last longer than 2 years.

Get tools that will save you in staff time and give you the right information.

Get tools that will ensure your work is not temporary. Your data should be electronically saved and available to other sales people. Don’t just loose the data with either the sales person, or the electronic filing cabinet. Use a good database and store the data and make sure it is accessible as necessary.

Listen to wisdom in the field you are reviewing.

Consider alternative methods, e.g. Going Virtual, cloud based etc.

Use good Systems and Databases, e.g. MYOB, Xero, Salesforce, or Zoho as examples.

One of your responsibilities is to make sure that you give your staff the tools to do their job. Make sure these tools will work, and that the valuable data you gain is utilized and not lost.

Now improve your bottom Line.

I hope that these ideas will assist you to improve your bottom line. But if you are at least considering, maybe your next step is to communicate your needs and thoughts with an executive committee or mentors.

Mentors have many functions. They can make sure you see the facts, not just what you want to see. They can give you a kick or let you release when you need it. Mentors are great. If you don’t have one or some, then work on this. You can even pay for this type of service, with Executive Meetings.

A lot of mentors, are happy to Mentor, as it is often a 2 way streak. e.g. they get as much as they give. However, others are happy to just be there, as they have experience and want to share. But having a mentor is a good way to make sure you are on the right path.