GEarthHacks has a new online tool called YourMap that simplifies the job of creating embeddable Google Maps. Enter the name, address (or lat/long), zoom level, desired map dimensions, and other information into an online form, and YourMap automatically generates the code to embed it in your website; you don’t even need your own Google Maps API key. Here’s an example for a great hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant in Flagstaff, AZ:
View in Google Earth — Download Google Earth
Powered by YourMap from Google Earth Hacks.
Addendum: Just noticed that the location plotted above for the restaurant about 500 yards south of the actual location. Double-checked the address used for geocoding, and it was entered correctly, so you may want to check the results of YourMap’s geocoder to make sure it’s right.
Did you know in Google Maps you can now correct the geocoding location by clicking on the placemarks, choosing “Edit” and “Move Marker”? If you move more the 200 meters, it takes a while to correct (someone has to check it). But, if you move it less than that, it corrects immediately.
Google is using crowd sourcing to get corrections made to geocode/search results in Maps now.
Here’s a link to the announcement at Google:
http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2007/11/think-globally-mark-locally.html
The error in this case doesn’t appear to come from Google’s end – if I enter the restaurant’s address directly into Google Maps, it plots it in the right location. YourMap is likely using a different geocoding service.