(For your convenience, the essential steps have been highlighted below in bold.)

If you’ve ever tried linking someone to a Google Maps page by copying the URL at the top of your browser you know how disappointing it is to discover that it takes them to an empty Google Maps page instead. This quick tutorial will teach you how to create a user-friendly Google Maps link for your business, so that all your customers/clients have to do to find you is simply type in their address and click “Get Directions.”

Click here for an example of what the final product will look like.

How to Create Your Custom Google Maps Link

1. Go to maps.google.com
2. Type in your address and hit “Search Maps”

   (Note: Sometimes multiple results will come up if, for example, your street has an East and a West and you didn’t specify which one. In this case, simply select the link that best matches your location. If the address seems way off, check your city listing. If your business technically resides in a neighboring city and you put the city more commonly associated with that area instead, it occasionally confuses Google Maps into bringing up the wrong location. See step 9 if you have further trouble.)

3. Once the address is correct, click the “Get Directions” tab in the upper left.
4. Making sure the address next to “A” is blank, click the “Get Directions” button below. (This step ensures that the link you create will show up under the Get Directions tab.)
5. You can control the zoom level, or re-center the map to show more of the surrounding area by using the controls in the upper left corner of the map, or clicking and dragging your mouse to re-center and using your scroll wheel to zoom.
6. Once your map looks the way you want it, click the link button in the upper right and copy the selected link. If you make any changes later, be sure to copy the new link to reflect your desired changes.
7. The link will be long and cumbersome so be sure to turn it into a friendly Get Directions link. (For Constant Contact, simply highlight the text you want to turn into a link and then select the “Link” button under “Insert” on the left hand side. A window will pop up, delete “http://” and paste the Google maps link instead.)
8. Congratulations! You now have a customized Google Maps link for easy directions to your business!
9. Consider putting your business on Google Maps to make it even easier for people to find you.

If you have any questions or other tips to add, please comment below.