If you thought that only big companies or corporate giants needed to make their own maps, you are mistaken. Regardless of the size of your business, you can build your very own custom maps by using store locator software like LocateStore. Not only can you add your store locations, you can include details like working hours, directions to your store, contact details, and so on.
Don’t worry, you don’t need any coding skills to make your own map; it will be done for you by the store locator tool. In fact, businesses across the GCC region are already doing it, so why should you be left behind?
In this guide, we will see how you can make a professional map using the map creator feature in store locator tools and deliver added convenience to your customers.
What Is A Store Locator Map?
A store locator map is an interactive map that can show visitors the location of your physical stores, outlets, branches, or service centres. This simplifies their search, and they can avoid manually searching in Google and typing addresses. Once customers open your website, they can just search for the nearest location and get directions immediately.
Google tells us that 74% of Smartphone users depend on location-based searches and maps to make decisions about buying goods and services.
We also know that mobile penetration is very high in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf nations.
This should tell you that having your own map is no longer a luxury or option, but a pressing need.
How can Gulf companies make their own store locator?
Consumers in the Gulf countries are used to professionalism, speed, and convenience, having been exposed to global brands for years. You may be operating a retail chain in Abu Dhabi, a pharmacy in Jeddah, or a café chain in Doha; all your customers will want to know whether you have an outlet that’s near them, in other words, a branch that is closest to their location.
76% of people who search for a nearby business on their phone usually go there within 24 hours, and 28% of such searches end in a purchase.
by Think with Google
What this means for businesses in the Gulf is that a simple store map for customers can help you drive more foot traffic to your brick-and-mortar stores and improve sales and revenues.
How Do You Make Your Own Custom Map?
If the thought of creating your own map feels overwhelming, relax. With a user-friendly tool like LocateStore that is based on Google Sheets, you can do it quickly and easily, in just a few minutes.
- Create a LocateStore account Sign up on LocateStore. As soon as you create your account, a Google Sheet will be automatically generated for you. This sheet will stay connected to your store locator.
- Add your locations Open the Google Sheet and start listing your store locations. You can add details like name, address, phone number, website, and any other useful information.
- Customize the map Use LocateStore’s dashboard to adjust the look and feel of your map. You can change colors, styles, filters, and even add search options so customers can easily find the nearest store.
- Embed on your website Once your map looks the way you want, just copy the embed code and paste it into your website. The custom map will instantly appear, ready for your visitors to use.
- Embed on Your WebsiteAll that’s left to do is to copy the embed code and paste it into your site. And there you have it, customers will be able to see your store map and locations!
Isn’t this super simple? That’s the best part about LocateStore. Why this is important is that most businesses don’t have dedicated IT staff to manage all these complicated tools. In fact, Clutch Research says that at least 46% of small businesses don’t have tech staff.
With a tool like LocateStore, anyone can create the map, you don’t need to have coding skills.
How Does A Store Locator Help Customers Find Stores Easily?
Today’s customers are in a hurry and want answers quickly; they don’t have the time to keep scrolling through lengthy lists of addresses. This is where a store locator is valuable.
It provides convenience in the following ways:
- Shows the nearest store automatically by accessing the customer’s GPS location.
- Provides directions to the stores via Google Maps with just a click
- Allows customers to use filters, either by city, postcode, current location etc., by services like “Open 24/7”, “drive-through available”, or product availability.
- Displays the contact details, allowing customers to call before they visit.
In a survey by Zendesk, it was found that, 69% of customers felt that quick and easy navigation is essential to have a good online experience.
Implementing a store locator like LocateStore makes it easy, quick, and hassle-free for customers to find you.
Which platforms support store locator maps?
Store locators can be used across numerous website platforms:
According to a GoDaddy MENA survey, over 65% of SMEs in the GCC region use WordPress and Shopify to run their e-commerce stores; LocateStore is compatible with them, and other platforms as well.
Why Is Google Sheets Integration A Game-Changer With LocateStore?
Conventional store locators need to be updated manually; this means, any time you open a new outlet, close one, or change contact information, you need to edit the map. However, LocateStore is based on Google Sheets, so you simply modify the details on the sheet itself.
- When you add a new store, enter the details on the sheet, and it is instantly updated in the map
- When you update contact details, the map gets updated automatically in real time
- The sheet can be updated by anyone in your team and by multiple members simultaneously from different locations.
McKinsey reports that businesses spend about 20–30% of their admin hours on repetitive manual updates. A store locator tool can bring this time down drastically, to just a few minutes.
What Features Should I Look For In A Store Locator Software?
Your store locator software must be user-friendly, easy to set up and manage.
- User-friendly, no-code software
- Integration with Mapbox
- Responsive design for mobile users.
- Adequate search and filter options.
- Customizable map design.
- Support for multiple languages, especially Arabic; this is important for GCC
- Analytics and reports that show the stores with the most footfall
93% of customers in the Gulf use mobile devices for local searches it is imperative to have mobile-friendly design. LocateStore is a responsive tool that ensures maps look perfect on phones.
How Do Store Locators Improve Customer Experience?
A store map helps customers by saving them the trouble of searching and reducing travel time, delivers useful information like business hours and contact details, and minimizes confusion. It also gives the impression of professionalism.
As per a PwC study, 73% of customers believe that customer experience influences their buying decisions. Having a store locator on your website lends credibility and trust to your brand.
In fact, Deloitte Middle East research shows that 50% of millennials in the GCC are unwilling to visit a store if they can’t see location details online.
Can I Measure ROI From Adding A Store Locator To My Website?
Yes, you can; the most important metrics you can track are:
- Increase in the footfalls to stores: Compare visits before and after adding the store map.
- Reduction in customer calls: Fewer customers calling to ask for directions saves employees’ time
- Increased conversion of online visitors; they find you online and personally visit to buy
- Customer retention percentage; the number of customers who purchase repeatedly
A BIA/Kelsey research shows that businesses who use robust store locators are likely to get 2.5x higher conversion rate on average from online searches.
Also read: Discover the Best Store Locator Plugin for WordPress Site
Conclusion
Adding a store locator like LocateStore to your business in the Gulf is one of the best and most economical ways to boost sales. No matter what size your business is, LocateStore allows you to create professional, responsive, and accurate maps with just a few clicks and a few minutes.
The question you need to ask yourself is how many customers you lose if you don’t add store locator to website, and not whether you need a store locator! Contact us for a demo now.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make your own custom map?
You can use a simple map creator like LocateStore. You only need to add your locations in Google Sheets and connect it to LocateStore. If required, you can customize the design and embed it on your site without coding.
How does a store locator help customers find stores easily?
Store locators show the nearest store to their location and provide clear and instant directions that enable customers to reach you faster.
Do I need coding skills to make my own store locator map?
As LocateStore is built on Google Sheets, you don’t need any coding knowledge.
Which platforms support store locator maps?
The most popular e-commerce platforms like WordPress store locator, Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, etc., all support store locator maps.
