Zip Code Maps: Get Deep Insights From Numeric Identifiers

Generally, zip codes improve the efficiency of mail delivery. However, you can do a lot more with these government-issued numbers. You can create zip code maps, which have a lot of use cases. For example, businesses rely on these charts to make various important decisions. 

If you’re new to cartography or familiar with various mapping techniques, there’s a lot you should know about zip codes. You don’t have to spend time going through countless blogs to find all the information you need about this topic. This article is your one-stop shop for everything related to zip codes.

What Is a Zip Code Map?

A zip code map is a data visualization technique for creating a chart using zip codes. These codes are for specific regions and help locate counties, cities, and addresses. The United States Postal Service (USPS) created this convention in 1963 as part of its effort to streamline mail delivery.

What Can You Learn From a Zip Code Map?

A zip code chart isn’t only to map out different regions in the United States. Businesses use these maps to improve their marketing efforts and learn about their operations and competitors. Here’s what you can uncover from these charts:

1. Find the best sites for your business.
   As your business grows, you’ll want to expand to new regions. This is where a postal code map is handy. Let’s assume you have various demographic data about your target audience in different areas. You’ll know where to set up your next store by associating these datasets with zip code boundaries. A map with this information will show you the best locations for your business. You can find areas where your competitors have minimal or non-existent presence.
   
   For example, you are running a store that sells premium riding gear to bikers. With a map containing zip codes and data like income range, you can identify regions with your target audience. Also, you can check if other stores sell premium riding gear nearby. You’ll know where to set up your next outlet so your customers can easily reach your store.
2. Map sales territories and manage them easily.
   Sales territory management is essential to survive in today’s highly competitive market. With zip code mapping, you can divide the regions and assign them to sales representatives. As your staff have clarity on which areas to manage, they can put their undivided attention on increasing sales. You can ensure there are no overlapping sales territories, boosting the morale of your employees.
3. Discover areas with low or no service.
   With these maps, you will see your business’s service areas. It helps you identify gaps in your coverage and optimize your operations to cover these regions. In the long run, this increases customer satisfaction and your business’s reach.

How Do You Pick the Best Zip Code Mapping Software?

There are tons of zip code mapping software to choose from, making it challenging to pick the best solution. This is a vital decision, as the right tool can help you easily identify patterns and visualize your datasets. Below are two tips to help you find the right mapping software:

1. Try tools that offer a free plan or trial period.
   There’s no way of knowing whether a mapping tool is for you without using it. There is software that provides free plans or trial periods. It gives you time to test the various features and services without financial commitments. Some tools offer basic functionality, while others provide specialized features for industry-specific use cases.
   
   For example, after going through a specific mapping software’s glowing online reviews, you subscribe to it. However, on the first day, you realize it’s hard to use this tool as its features are for cartography experts. Not only is it a waste of your money, but also your time as you must look for an alternative. Mapping tools that provide a free plan or trial period will help you avoid these situations.
2. Look for a user-friendly and intuitive interface.
   It’s essential to evaluate the user interface of mapping software. Why? Well, what if you’re the only one using this tool, or there are no experts on your team? Surely, you don’t want to spend hours learning to navigate the interface just to make a simple zip code chart. An intuitive and user-friendly interface means anyone can use the tool, regardless of their expertise.

Postal Code vs. Zip Code: What’s the Difference?

When learning about mapping software, you’ll come across postal and zip codes. At first, they seem similar, as they are both for mail delivery. However, there are significant differences between the two. The section below compares postal code vs. zip code to show you when it makes sense to use these terminologies:

• When talking about the zip code, it only refers to regions within the United States. As highlighted earlier, it was USPS’s brainchild. On the other hand, almost every other country uses postal codes. However, they tend to vary depending on the nation.
• If you look at a zip code, you’ll notice it consists of only numbers. Initially, the USPC used five digits before adding an optional four numerals to increase accuracy. Postal codes contain alphabets and numbers, but the format depends on the region. For example, the United Kingdom uses a mix of both. However, in Spain, the postal codes only contain numbers.

Despite the differences, both codes are vital in accurate and efficient delivery. They divide regions into multiple zones, making it easier to pinpoint locations. Without these protocols, local and international shipping becomes extremely challenging and complex.

How Do You Map Zip Codes From Excel?

Spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel are incredible, as you can use them for managing zip codes. However, finding patterns or outliers by looking at all the cells is next to impossible. The best solution is to visualize your zip codes, which makes analysis and drawing conclusions easier. With this guide, you’ll learn how to map zip codes from Excel:

1. Open the Excel sheet containing zip codes and other data sets.
2. Select the zip code column. In the ribbon menu, click the Data tab and go to Data Types. Out of all the options, select Geography. This isn’t necessary, but doing so will allow you to get more geographic information from the zip codes.
   If this step is successful, you’ll see a symbol on the zip code column. You can get data like region, county, area, image, population, income, official language, tax revenue, and more.
3. Select which cells you want to include in your map. 
4. Click the Insert tab and look for the Charts section. Here, you’ll find the Maps option, which has a globe as its icon. Click it to see all the charts you can make with Excel.
5. Select Filled Map, and the software creates a map from your data.

If you want to customize the chart, double-click it. It opens a Format Data Series tab on the right side of your screen. 

You can change its colors to improve readability. Select the Diverging (3-color) option under Series Color if you want to make it a heat map. Choose different colors for the lowest, middle, and highest values. 

Go to the Chart Design tab and click Add Chart Element to add labels. Select Data Labels and choose Show to make them visible on your map.

How Do You Make a Zip Code Map Using Google Maps?

Although Google Maps is a wonderful mapping tool, it doesn’t allow you to create custom interactive maps. Instead, you’ll have to use Google My Maps. It is quite easy to use this online map builder. Once you make your custom map, you can view it on Google Maps. If you want to learn how to do this, follow the instructions below:

1. Create a spreadsheet and paste the zip codes into a single column. You can also include other datasets if necessary.
2. Export the spreadsheet as a .csv, xls, or xlsx file and save it to your device.
3. Go to Google My Maps and select + Create a New Map.
4. There’s a box on the left side showing the name of the chart and its layers. Click Import under Untitled Layer. 
5. Select the .csv file containing all the zip codes.
6. Google My Maps will ask you to select the column to use for placing the pins. Select the zip codes column and click Continue.
7. You need to pick the column that will be the markers’ title. Click Finish to import the zip codes to the map.

After placing the pins, go to Google Maps and follow these instructions:

1. Tap Saved from the bottom navigation bar if you’re using the mobile app. Otherwise, desktop users must click the hamburger or three horizontal lines icon and select Saved.
2. Go to the Maps tab and select the map you created.

And there you go; you have a zip code map on Google Maps. If you want to customize it, go back to Google My Maps. You can map driving routes to these locations and change the marker icons and their colors.

How Do You Create a Zip Code Map With Mapize?

Mapize, an online map builder, can help you create a zip code map. You don’t need any technical expertise to use this tool. This guide explains how to use Mapize to visualize a map using zip codes:

1. You need a .csv, xls, or xlsx file where at least one column contains all the zip codes.
2. Open www.mapize.com on a desktop browser.
3. On the website, you’ll see the button to Select a File. Click it and choose the file you want to visualize.
4. Wait until the map configuration tool appears on the website. This may take a while if you’re importing a file with large volumes of data.
5. There are multiple configuration options to customize your map:
   • The Map Fields section lets you choose the columns to add to the chart.
   • Under Map Preview, you can add a title, description, email, URL, phone number, and image URL. If these categories aren’t enough, you can add more custom fields. You can label the markers with numbers or letters or skip them entirely. If you include links, you can choose if it should open in the same or different tab on the browser.
   • In Customize Map, you get to change the chart’s appearance. You can switch between different layers, custom colors for groups, markers, and map styles. Here, you can also convert your chart into a heat map.
6. After you provide all the necessary details, select Make Map.

If you want a copy of this chart:

1. Click Save Map + Continue.
2. Choose between public and unlisted, as these settings determine the visibility of your chart.
3. Provide a title and description for the map and share your email ID.

Mapize will send you the link to your chart.

Use Mapize to Customize Your Zip Code Maps

Mapize makes creating a postal code map from any desktop browser easy. Every chart you make can consist of up to 150 pins. Don’t worry if you find this limiting, as the mapping software allows you to create up to 20 maps daily.

You can choose seven unique colors when you group your datasets on the chart. There are different map styles and zoom levels to choose from. In other words, you can create a unique postal code map and embed it on your website. If you want to show your team what’s possible with mapping software, you can share the link with them.

The best part about using this tool is that all these features are available in the free tier. Also, you don’t have to create an account for this software. It ensures you can try out the mapping tool to determine if it is the best option for you.

Join Mapize for free and start creating custom zip code maps today!