SimplyMap: A Powerful New Marketing Tool

What Can I Do With SimplyMap?

SimplyMap allows you to create thematic maps or reports

using demographic information from the census and

consumer surveys.

As an example, I just created a data set that ranks the ZIP

codes in the Chicago area that have the highest

percentage of new car owners. (60043 in Kenilworth is the

highest). I can change that variable to show the ZIP codes

with the highest ownership of foreign cars, or people who

visit fast food restaurants, or any of a number of variables. I

can highlight a location and focus down to the block level.

For instance, I can find which block in Skokie has the

highest percentage of people with graduate degrees (south

of Golf, north of Church, between Harding and Central).

You can create customizable maps showing this data and

add it to a marketing report or business plan, or you can

download the data into a spreadsheet comparing different

variables across regions. This can be useful when finding

the best location for a new store or when focusing on a

location for your next business mailing.

There is a learning curve involved in using SimplyMap, but

it's easier than you might expect. The maps are similar to

those found on GoogleMaps (maps.google.com) and are

easy to navigate. Linking data to the maps is a little trickier

but can be mastered with a few trials. Some short

informative video tutorials are available. 

SimplyMap is available for anyone to use on one of the

many computers at Skokie Public Library. If you have a

Skokie Public Library card, you also can access SimplyMap

from the library website via the databases page at

databases.skokielibrary.info. SimplyMap is free, since the

library has covered the cost and is offering it to the

business community. 

For more information on using SimplyMap, on obtaining a

library card or using other business resources at Skokie

Public Library, contact Mike Buhmann, Business Librarian,

at mbuhmann@skokielibrary.info or 847.324.3176.

using demographic information from the census and consumer surveys. 

SimplyMap allows you to create thematic maps or reports

As an example, I just created a data set that ranks the ZIP

codes in the Chicago area that have the highest

percentage of new car owners. (60043 in Kenilworth is the

highest). I can change that variable to show the ZIP codes

with the highest ownership of foreign cars, or people who

visit fast food restaurants, or any of a number of variables.

I can highlight a location and focus down to the block level.

For instance, I can find which block in Skokie has the

highest percentage of people with graduate degrees (south

of Golf, north of Church, between Harding and Central). 

You can create customizable maps showing this data and

add it to a marketing report or business plan, or you can

download the data into a spreadsheet comparing different

variables across regions. This can be useful when finding

the best location for a new store or when focusing on a

location for your next business mailing. 

There is a revolution going on in the development of

marketing tools for small business. Tools such as

SimplyMap allow small businesses to inexpensively

research the make-up and buying habits of current and

potential customers.

Research like this would have cost

thousands of dollars and was available only to the "big

guys" a few years ago. Now, small businesses can do it

themselves by using tools such as SimplyMap via Skokie

Public Library.