Google Map embed on Contact Us page

[MonsterWeb28]

Greetings Mozzers,

When doing a website, we generally link a Google Map image of the company to the Google Maps in a new tab.  Reading other questions made us wonder.

Is it better to do the above or is it more beneficial to SEO to have a Google Map embedded on the website.  Which I guess means it links Google to the Business in one way?

Thanks for any/all responses.

[OrionGroup]

From my experience, it can be beneficial to SEO to have a Google Map embedded on the website. In that embed code, there is also a "view larger map" link.

I would recommend always finding the correct, shortest URL. It should contain a CID in the url parameters. Read the end of this blog post to understand how to find the CID of a Google Places listing:

http://www.orionweb.net/2012/03/20/gain-reviews-to-increase-your-google-places-listing-rank/

Scott O.

[pinnaclecarts]

It is highly likely that because the embedded map is more useful for a user, that it may be considered better for search rankings. I personally believe embedded maps to be an essential part of local seo or seo for anybody with a location for the very fact that it ties an address to your webpage.

Additionally, Google may be recording metrics regarding the interaction users may have with your embedded map.

While Google is a black box, I believe it is probably easier, safer, and better for users to embed maps rather than provide an image which may be completely useless or frustrating for users. I personally suck with maps and need to get the directions (using the embedded map). The embedded map is more accessible to me.

"Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful." && "#1: Focus on the user and all else will follow." - Google's "About" page.

[MonsterWeb28]

Hey Pincart,

Basically we are using https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/staticmaps/ currently.  With this in mind do you feel the embed is still the best option because of the possible interaction metrics?

The reason we like the above is because it is mobile/responsive friendly, however, if it holds more benefit for actual embed then we would consider the change.

Thanks again

[pinnaclecarts]

Im not positive, but ill always default to what is best (or less clicks) for the user and visible to google.

This may help you make the embed responsive. I tested this and I still can't really interact with it successfully on my phone.
http://niklausgerber.com/blog/responsive-google-or-bing-maps/

Here is what I know. The embedded map is very useful to me on a desktop. A link to google maps is more useful to me on mobile. Although it is not the elegant solution we would prefer, I believe it'd be optimal to deliver the embedded version to desktop users and the best responsive, useful-to-a-user version to mobile.