Google Maps API - GeoID Locator Live

Auto Date Thursday, January 5th, 2006

After a full 10 days of tweaking and fixing the GeoID Visitor Locator is now fully functional and working. We had some friends and partners test GeoID and all has gone well with today’s final test. It’s a neat tool that uses Google Maps API for its base. The benefits are these:

1. It gives site/blog owners an easy line of HTML code to place on their site. This in turn generates a small red stylish button.
2. When a visitor clicks on the button they are taken to the GeoID page where the name of the website appears for example, if you own: www.yourname.com and you have the red button whoever clicks on it will be taken to GeoID map page where they will see a line of text displayed that says: Visitors to www.yourname.com in the last 24 hours.

Visitor locations

3. A Google world map is then displayed of the visitors to your website. Each visitor is represented by a marker.

4. Click on the marker and it will tell you the:

  • City/Country
  • Map Co-ordinates LONG/LAT
  • Country Date/Time

    • 5. Zoom function features

    6. Click on the Map and Drag

    7. Sub Menu for Continent Zoom. For example by clicking on the menu item ‘Europe’ the map will move to Europe. Then a visitor can use the zoom feature to zone in on a specific country.

    8. The GeoID visitor locator is completely free to use.

    GeoID website visitor locator

    In building this Google mash-up we used AJAX (Asynchronous Javascript And XML) because of the refresh time is better than when using JavaScript.

    Regardless of what some may say, we think its great idea of Google to release the API in this way. Never realised mapping could be so much fun and when it makes it fun for your visitors then the added benefit is there.

    GeoID has now been updated with new icons that are numbered which shows when the last took place.

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    Related Reading
    GeoID
    Google Maps API Blog
    Mapping Explored

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    This entry was posted on Thursday, January 5th, 2006 at 10:45 pm and is filed under Internet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

    6 Responses to “Google Maps API - GeoID Locator Live”

    1. David Frankel Says:
      January 6th, 2006 at 1:13 am

      I put this on my blog and have found out interesting info that i never would have guessed or bothered to find out. I have found that people from China, Scandinavia and even a visitor from the solomon islands have been on my site / blog in the last 24 hours.

      A clever use of google mapping that i’m happy to endorse to anyone. Try it, it becomes a little addictive checking it out so often. Thanks

    2. Vinnie Says:
      January 6th, 2006 at 1:32 am

      Yep looks real nice on blogs, you may want to try that in your sidebar, we got plans for different sized buttons and designs.

    3. Dave Beck Says:
      January 6th, 2006 at 2:39 pm

      Nice work Vinnie. Just placed it on my local blog and it works really well, and is an easy install.

      Just wondering if you going to change up the alt tag from time to time ;). I’m sure there are plenty of links heading your way.

    4. Vinnie Says:
      January 6th, 2006 at 4:23 pm

      Thanks for your comment Dave much appreciated… couldn’t find it on your blog but then again looks like your going through a re-install there so i’ll wait to check it out later.
      As for ‘Alt’ yes, this can be changed, what do you have in mind?

    5. Dave Beck Says:
      January 8th, 2006 at 7:31 am

      I actually posted the wrong URL with my name, and at the moment there is no blog on that site.

      We have just installed a blog at my Ballina info web site http://www.ballina.info/blog/.

      As for the alt tag, I was more referencing the installation code that you provide. It would be worthwhile changing the tag from time to time just to mix up your anchored text.

    6. Vinnie Says:
      January 8th, 2006 at 7:42 am

      Interesting point Dave that is food for thought and I am thinking of producing various images anyhow so will mix the alt a little.

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