Often, when we build a business map, we create it from a location-based dataset describing our business in some way. But even after our map is complete, we may want to add new data to our project – business data that didn’t exist when the map was created.
Here are a few suggestions around adding data to an already existing business map.
Append the New Data to a Label
If the additional data you’ve got has a location component – an address, a state, a ZIP code – it can be imported into MapBusinessOnline. From there you can append columns of that data to map layer labels and territory labels in your map.
A common example of this would be adding sales activity by street address to an existing sales territory map. All those sales records can be aggregated by county, state, ZIP code or even across an entire territory.
Expanded label functionality related to map layers will allow up to five columns of data to be reflected in a label. In other words, your label can be expanded to reflect five fields of additional data. It could be a phone number, sales figures, a sales rep, or a product name.
Import a Point Layer
Sometimes the additional imported data has a location component, but the data isn’t appropriate for a map layer label. You can always import the new data to your map and leave the point visible and the labels associated with those points turned off. Then a map viewer can hover over or click on the point to get more information.
There are a few ways to do this subtly. You could make your point layer symbols very small so that the data points have minimal impact on the map view but are still barely visible. The data is still there to click on, but it is only utilized when that particular data is needed. You’re always able to select a point and then view the associated data in the Data Window. Try it – click a point on the map and notice that data is now highlighted in the data window view. Ultimately this lets the user reference more than just five field options of a label – if you select the point you’ve got the Data Window record highlighted. This means all the data in your imported spreadsheet is there for viewing – up to 64 columns of it.
Above and beyond simple labeling options and Data Window views, by importing additional data layers you can pull columns of the new data into your Territory Analysis and data Summarizations by geography.
Read About MapBusinessOnline Pro
Remember: imported data is always accessible in MapBusinessOnline for analysis. You’ll see it in data drop-downs in the following places:
- The Data Window – view your entire imported data file within MapBusinessOnline
- Color Code Map Layers and Points – Color shade a map layer based on data you’ve imported
- Territory Analysis – That’s the Data Window view of your territory. This would be a place to use sales numbers to balance territories
- Summary Buttons – Whenever you see that sideways W that’s a summary option, and your imported data is one option for summarizing, which creates an exportable spreadsheet
- Market Analysis (Requires MapBusinessOnline Pro)– Compare two different imported data layers or a query result. Derive distances between locations or appended demographic data to imported data. Define an addressable market. Enrich an imported dataset with demographic and geographic data
- Calculate Data Columns – Combine data columns or multiply and divide data columns. Create ratios between your imported data and MapBusinessOnline demographic data, then access the results in all the above places
Use the Unique ID Feature
You can be proactive about future data if the data you add is simply more of what you originally imported. MapBusinessOnline offers a Unique ID field in the import process. If you provide a Unique ID field in your imported data that field enables a data update function. In this way, you’ll be able to semi-automate data updates. Simply follow the update path to update your MapBusinessOnline imported data layer. See this blog.
If you do decide to use the Unique ID process for updates, consider adding a few extra columns to your initial dataset. This will give you the flexibility to add columns to future updates. Just a suggestion.
Business mapping is all about your location data. Even if your map is complete or months old, it can still be updated and improved.
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MapBusinessOnline access has officially transitioned from Web Browser (Adobe Flash Player) access to the Map App download access.
- Please download the Map App from the website – https://www.mapbusinessonline.com/App-Download.aspx.
- After installing the Map App, the MapBusinessOnline launch button will be in the Windows’ Start Menu or Mac Application folder. Find the MapBusinessOnline folder in the Start Menu scrollbar. Click the folder’s dropdown arrow and choose the MapBusinessOnline option. You can drag the Icon to the task bar for a quick launch button.
- All saved maps will be available through your Map Library Folder, the second button in from the left on the Master Toolbar. (Green File Folder icon.)
Map App access to MapBusinessOnline.com provides enhanced features and a better user experience.
The Map App includes the new Map Viewer app for free non-subscriber map sharing.
Value-Added Resellers – Offer the tool to your customers as a reseller. Make money on training and consulting. Contact us with further interest in reselling MapBusinessOnline.
Find out why over 25,000 business users log into www.MapBusinessOnline.com for their business mapping software and advanced sales territory mapping solution. The best replacement for Microsoft MapPoint happens to be the most affordable.
Contact: Geoffrey Ives geoffives@spatialteq.com or Jason Henderson jhenderson@spatialteq.com
