Valerie asks:
I own an RV Park in Dillon, Montana. I have been told by several customers that we are not listed on Garmin GPS. How do I be sure that we are listed on GPS systems. I have checked into Google maps etc. This park has been here for at least 10 years. I have owned it since June 2008. Please help as this is a very important issue to my business.
These days, more and more car owners are relying on their dashboard GPS receivers to guide them to your business. If you aren't listed in the GPS POI (Point of Interest) database under the appropriate category (Shopping, Restaurants, RV Parks) or if your address is wrong in the GPS listing, you're going to miss out on business.
Getting a GPS manufacturer to update your business listing can be a real pain - here are some tips to help get you listed correctly.
Start with the Data Providers
NAVTEQ provides POI data to GPS vendors, and you can update your business listing with their Map Reporter.
TeleAtlas lets you send them Map Feedback, including the ability to update or add a business listing.
InfoUSA provides business listings to all sorts of clients, including GPS manufacturers. Visit their Web site and click Update my Listing at the bottom of the home page
to add or change your business listing.Update any Specialty Data Providers
Woodall's RV park database has been used by some GPS and map vendors - make sure your RV park or campground is listed here.
There may be other definitive resources for your particular niche - Fodor's for restaurants, for example. Make sure you're listed, so that any GPS manufacturer that licenses their database will get your listing.
Add your business to downloadable POI files
Start searching for sites that list POI files for your business category: "RV Park POIs", "Antique Shop POIs Garmin", etc. There are plenty of POI trading sites out there that would be happy to have your listing added to their POI database.
Got a favorite POI site? Did I miss an important POI business link in the article above? Add your comments below!
Celeste Duncan wrote,
The old location was listed as Ivy Road, Charlottesville, VA.
The restaurant moved over 2 years ago to: 155 Seminole Trail, Charlottesville, VA 22901. Tiffany’s Seafood Restaurant
Link | March 10th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Dan Foster wrote,
Celeste, you need to submit your restaurant to the sites listed in the article above – visit the links for Navteq, TeleAtlas, and InfoUSA, and add your restaurant, or update the listing for the old location to include your new address.
Link | March 10th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Dan Foster wrote,
Here’s another “Add a Business” link you may find useful, so your customers can find you on Google Maps and in Google Earth:
https://www.google.com/local/add/login?hl=en-US&gl=us
Link | March 16th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Dan Foster wrote,
I asked Garmin’s Cartography department about the best way to update their POI business listings for Garmin GPS receivers. Garmin City Navigator uses NavTeq data, so when you report a missing or outdated business listing to Garmin, they typically check your report and then submit it to NavTeq using the form mentioned above.
Garmin customers can submit errors or omissions in Garmin’s MapSource cartography or POI business listings at http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/errorForm.jsp
Link | March 20th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Jess Owen wrote,
Mr Foster,
I had a different experience with Garmin. I asked them why my business was not listed since we have been here for 56 years and yet a local business that has been in existence for only 2 years is listed. They told me they get their information from Dunn and Bradstreet. That was about 1 year ago… and my business still isn’t listed. I will try all of the suggestions in this article as well as yours, I hope they work.
Link | March 28th, 2009 at 2:07 am
Tony Cammisa wrote,
Hi my name is Tony and I just opened a new business at 1301 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. 33411. Unfortunately the GPS on that address still shows a restaurant that is long gone. How do I change the GPS information to read Char-Hut of Royal Palm Beach. My adverting dollars are wasted showing my address if the wrong business shows up.
Thanks
Tony Cammisa
954-448-6887
Link | April 9th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Dan Foster wrote,
GPSReview.net has a related article on correcting a GPS map listing:
http://www.gpsreview.net/how-to-correct-a-gps-map-error/
Link | June 19th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Samrat wrote,
We are on 2665 cobb pkwy, atlanta,Ga 30339 from 2005. Unfourtunately,
the gps poi is not showing. How do i put our restaurant name & phone number in gps POI.
Thanks
swapna Indian Cuisine
770-956-7589
Link | July 12th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
KEISHA SEGURA wrote,
HOW DO WE GO BY PUTTING OUR SELVES INTO THE GPS WE R A HOTEL WE ARE ON MAPQUEST BUT PEOPLE CAN NOT FIND US IN THE GPS..PLEASE HELP
Link | July 22nd, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Dan Foster wrote,
Did you try following the directions in the tutorial above?
Link | July 26th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Jim Mulvey wrote,
I live in the Sugar Mill Community in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. We have two entrances to our gated Community – one is secured for Residents only with a gate and arm requiring a special decal. The other entrance for visitors has a security guard who permits people to enter who are not Residents. GPS systems route people to the Residents only entrance(Pioneer Trail) and they cannot get into the Community. How do I change the GPS info to route people to the Sugar Mill Rd entrance? elp!Thanks for the h
Link | August 14th, 2009 at 12:01 pm