UMapper

UMapper is one of the easiest to use mapping tools out there, but it also offers some pretty powerful features.

If you're just looking to put a point or two on a map to create something simple to embed on your site, though, this might be a little over the top. Try simple solutions like Google's MyMaps for that.

Features

UMapper works off of several mapping solutions, including the popular ones from Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! so you can get exactly the look you're going for.

It also has a powerful feature to create map "wikis" where users can help build your map for you.

You can place all the traditional things on your UMapper maps, including lines and points. But you can also insert directions, which Google's solutions doesn't have yet.

Integration

The embedding tool for inserting a UMapper map into your site is easy-to-use and has plenty of options to customize the size, which can be pretty helpful. There are also plug-ins out there for common content management systems like Wordpress and Drupal (our favorite).

You also don't have to register with UMapper to be able to embed the map, which is uncommon among similar products.

If your site's RSS feed has geocoding in it, you can also import that onto a map and generate a UMapper map with all of your stories from your feed mapped out.

Example

Here's a quick and easy map I did that shows the Texas Center for Community Journalism's office in Fort Worth so you can see what the embedded version looks like.