Mapping applications are a great way to present your contact information, particularly when your company has multiple stores or locations. However, if executed poorly they can actually add to the difficulty of you customers finding your stores. The following are some important design considerations when presenting information with a map.

Take care when starting on a map at the country level as the only way to find locations. Maps like the one below typically rely on visitors zooming and panning controls of that particular mapping application, something not all users are familiar with. Forcing visitors to use the map to drill-down from a country to suburb level can also be time consuming and error prone. When testing the example below, participants who were experienced with using online maps took an average of 19 mouse movements to locate the South Melbourne store.

Users like to be given options so they can choose a means of interaction that suits them best. Some users prefer drilling down using a map, others do not. Displaying alternatives to the map, such as a postcode search or state selection, allows users to choose the option that best meets their needs.

Below is a good example where users are given flexible choices in locating their nearest store. They can enter their postcode for an exact match, drill-down by state or interact with the map. The state selector still gives users an overview of locations, but eliminates extensive zooming on the map from the country level.

As with all features of your site; design your mapping feature so that the user can use it as they wish. Offering multiple ways to interact with the feature means users will be able to find one that best suits them.