Introduction
This free Google Maps™ tutorial has been produced by White Rock Solutions as part of a series of complete and comprehensive step by step guides to using Google Maps™ to add a searchable interactive Google™ location map to your web site.
Overview : My Profile
When signed in to Google™ with your Google™ Account you can create and maintain a Google Maps™ profile.
Part 1 – Pre-Requisites for Using My Maps
Part 2 – Create a New Google Maps™ Profile
Part 3 – Create a New Google Maps™ Profile - Profile Form (Updated 14th Aug 2008)
Add a Google Maps™ Profile Picture
Part 8 – Example Completed Google Maps™ Profile
Pre-Requisites for Using My Maps.
1.1 – Google™ Account
To use the My Maps feature of Google Maps™ you will need an existing Google™ account. Alternatively, you can create a new Google™ account.
1.2 - Sign in to Google Maps™ with your Google™ Account
(a) Open the Google Maps™ website in your web browser.
(b) Click the Sign in link in the top right hand corner of the page to sign in to Google™ with your Google™ account.
(c) Enter your Google™ account Email and Password details and click the 
button.
Create a New Google Maps™ Profile
(a) If not already signed in, sign in to Google™ with your Google™ Account.
(b) Click the “My Profile” link to the right of your Google™ Account email address at the top right of the screen.
(c) Click the 
button.
(d) The “Profile” details are displayed.
Create a New Google Maps™ Profile
Profile Form
Edit Name
Click the “Edit Name” link to display the “First Name” and “Last Name” fields. These details are displayed ONLY for your contacts. Your “Nickname” will be displayed to everyone else as part of your public profile.
“First Name” and/or “Last Name” must be supplied in order for the profile to be saved.
Nickname
It is not recommended that you use your full name as your “Nickname”. "Nickname” must be supplied in order for the profile to be saved.
Occupation
Optional...
Location
Optional...
Add a link
Click the 
button to display the “Link URL” and “Link Name” fields. Enter the link details and click the 
button to add a link or the 
button to close the add link box.
Notes
- The “Link Name” will be the text that is displayed for the link.
- A maximum of 10 links can be added to your profile. After 10 links have been added a “Max link count reached. Delete one to be able to add another” message is displayed.
- The “Link URL” can be any valid URL link including a link to your profile page on most of the social networking sites (EG: Flickr, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc...).
- To add an "Email" URL enter the email address prefixed by mailto: (EG: mailto:kevin@whiterocksolutions.com )
- Google™ may automatically "detect" and suggest links to add to your profile. To add a "suggested" link click the check box (
) in front of the link(s) you would like to add and click the 
button to add the link(s) and save your profile.
- Only the first two links are displayed in the profile pop-up window when someone hovers over your profile name on a map that you have created. The second link actually obscures the number of maps created by your profile (bottom left corner). All links are displayed when your full profile is viewed.
About yourself
Up to a maximum of 5000 characters
Add picture
Click the “Add picture” link to display the add/change picture options: -
Click the 
button to save your Google Maps™ profile or the button to exit without saving any changes.
Create a New Google Maps™ Profile - Add a Picture or Photo
Option 1 - Upload Picture Saved on Your PC
(a) By default, the My Computer <tab> is displayed. Click the 
button and select a photo saved on your computer.
(b) When the photo is uploaded it is automatically re-sized. You MUST crop the photo that you upload. Click and hold down the left mouse button and drag the highlighted box over the area of the photo that you would like to crop and use as your profile photo. The highlighted box can be resized by using the “resize handle” on the bottom right hand corner of the highlighted box.
Click the 
button to crop the photo and save it as your profile photo.
Alternatively, click the button to close the add/change picture options or click the “< Back to upload” link to return to the previous upload screen.
Create a New Google Maps™ Profile - Add a Picture or Photo
Option 2 - Use photo from your public Picasa Web Album
(a) By default, the My Computer <tab> is displayed. Click the Picasa Web Albums link.
(b) Whilst “Loading Album List...” is displayed type the last part of your public Picasa website URL in the “Picasa Web Albums for” box.
For example
Public Picasa website URL: http://picasaweb.google.com/WhiteRockSolutions , type WhiteRockSolutions.
Note
“Loading Album List...” is only displayed for approximately 30 seconds. If you fail to correctly type the last part of your public Picasa website URL in the “Picasa Web Albums for” box during this time you may receive the message “No images found”. In this case you will need to click the
button to close the add picture options and click the “Add picture” link to start again.
(c) A list of your public Picasa Web Albums should be displayed. Click on an album to view the photos within the album.
Alternatively, click the button to close the add/change picture options.
(d) Click a photo to select the photo to use for your profile picture. You will have the opportunity to crop the photo on the next screen.
Alternatively, click the button to close the add/change picture options or click the “< Back to albums” link to select an alternative public Picasa Web Album.
(e) When the photo is loaded it is automatically re-sized. You MUST crop the photo that you select. Click and hold down the left mouse button and drag the highlighted box over the area of the photo that you would like to crop and use as your profile photo. The highlighted box can be resized by using the “resize handle” on the bottom right hand corner of the highlighted box.
Click the button to crop the photo and save it as your profile photo.
Alternatively, click the button to close the add/change picture options or click the “< Back to pictures” link to select an alternative picture.
Important Note
At the time of writing (29th May 2008), the selected picture and associated preview intermittently did not display. However, clicking the
button to crop the photo and save it as your profile photo worked correctly.
Create a New Google Maps™ Profile - Add a Picture or Photo
Option 3 - Specify an Image URL
(a) By default, the My Computer <tab> is displayed. Click the Web Address (URL) link.
(b) Type an image URL in the “Image URL” box. If the URL is correct a preview of the image will be displayed.
For example
Image URL: http://www.whiterocksolutions.com/Portals/0/WhiteRockSolutionsLogo_145x80.gif
(c) Click the 
button to select the image to use for your profile picture. You will have the opportunity to crop the image on the next screen.
Alternatively, click the button to close the add/change picture options.
(d) When the image is loaded it is automatically re-sized. You MUST crop the image that you select. Click and hold down the left mouse button and drag the highlighted box over the area of the image that you would like to crop and use as your profile photo. The highlighted box can be resized by using the “resize handle” on the bottom right hand corner of the highlighted box.
Click the button to crop the image and save it as your profile photo.
Alternatively, click the button to close the add/change picture options or click the “< Back to web address” link to enter an alternative image URL.
Create a New Google Maps™ Profile - Add a Picture or Photo
Option 4 - No Picture / Remove Picture
(a) By default, the My Computer <tab> is displayed. Click the No Picture link. Click the button to remove any previously specified profile photo.
Alternatively, click the button to close the add/change picture options.
Create a New Google Maps™ Profile
Example Completed Google Maps™ Profile