• Data visualization

How to Create a Map for PowerPoint

Liam Costello by Liam Costello on April 3, 202310 minute read
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Quick answer

Learning how to create a map for PowerPoint lets you bring your slides to life and allows you to tell a story with your data. From the text, icons, and images to flowcharts, videos, and heat maps, PowerPoint can help you communicate a concept, a process, or a data set in an easy-to-understand and exciting way.

Whether you need heat maps, pin maps, or territory charts, the right mapping approach helps communicate complex geographic data clearly and effectively. Here's how you can make the most of adding maps to your PowerPoint presentations:

  • Insert static maps: Upload data to a map creator tool, export as images, and insert directly into PowerPoint slides
  • Embed interactive maps: Use web-hosted maps with add-ins like Web Viewer for live, clickable presentations (Windows only)
  • Choose the right map type for your use case: Select heat maps for sales territories, pin maps for client locations, or bubble maps for multi-dimensional data
  • Apply to key business scenarios: Enhance sales planning, logistics optimization, and market analysis presentations
  • Leverage mapping software benefits: Include custom data, access third-party datasets, and create professional maps in minutes

1. Insert a Map Chart

A map chart is a static, visual representation of data that links information to specific geographic locations. Here’s how to create it and insert the map in PowerPoint:

Step 1

Upload your data from Excel, a CSV file, or an existing dataset saved in the eSpatial data library using the Add Data button to map your Excel data. Once uploaded, our powerful mapping software does all the heavy lifting for you and automatically creates a map from your data points.

A map you want to embed in your PowerPoint software

Step 2

Click on the Export icon in the control panel:

Location of the export icon in eSpatial

Step 3

Select Image and click the Download button:

Location of the image download button in eSpatial

Your image will be saved to your Downloads folder with the default title "export.png".

Step 4

Open the page in your PowerPoint document where you want to insert your map.

Step 5

Click the Insert tab in PowerPoint, then Picture. Choose Insert Picture From This Device and select the image from your Downloads folder.

Use insert picture to place your map inside PowerPoint

You'll then insert the map in PowerPoint using the JPEG format.

Click and hold on the map to reposition it or grab the corners to resize. You can also add explanatory text to the slide. Or, annotate it with PowerPoint tools (text boxes, arrows, etc.).

A map created for PowerPoint

2. Embed an Interactive Map in PowerPoint

When you're building a presentation, you might want more than just a static image. You may want to show your audience a live, clickable, zoomable map right inside PowerPoint. While you can't create an interactive map in PowerPoint, you can embed one created with eSpatial, so it's interactive during your presentation.

Step 1

Import your dataset and choose your map type. This could be a pin map, a territory map, or a heat map. Create a color-coded map or customize the map with filters and labels as needed.

Step 2

Once your map is finalized, get the URL of your eSpatial map by clicking the share button on the control panel. Then, choose the option Shared Publicly. eSpatial creates a web-hosted interactive map that updates dynamically if your data changes.

Step 3

Windows PowerPoint users can use add-ins like Web Viewer or LiveWeb to embed their eSpatial interactive map, allowing them to interact with the map inside PowerPoint. However, these add-ins are not available for Mac users. In Windows, open PowerPoint, go to Insert, and then Get Add-ins, click Add, and insert your map URL.

Step 4

If embedding is not an option, take a static screenshot of the map to display on the slide. You can then link the image to the interactive URL. Linking to the interactive version gives viewers access outside the slide deck.

Use Cases for PowerPoint Maps in Business

Adding a map to your PowerPoint slides provides an easy way to visualize and display your unique data within an engaging presentation. Instead of just listing client locations or sales territories, you can use your eSpatial map and add a striking visual element to your PowerPoint slides. Here are some popular use cases for our territory management software:

  • Showing the locations of your highest volume or highest priority client accounts.
  • Using heat maps in sales strategies by displaying your current sales territories based on region or individual sales rep.
  • Mapping out the locations of your supply chain partners from end-to-end for the best visual representation.
  • Highlighting the regions that include your highest concentrations of customers using heat maps.
  • Identifying areas of potential expansion for your business.

For more tips on how to create a map for PowerPoint, check out our success stories to see how other businesses are using eSpatial.

Territory map, USA

Sales and Territory Planning

Using eSpatial's easy-to-use mapping software to build sales territory maps for PowerPoint makes it much easier to communicate complex sales data visually.

  • Show reps their territories clearly, helping to reduce overlaps and gaps
  • Visualize sales performance by region with heat maps, making it obvious where to focus effort
  • Use radius maps to identify areas around key accounts for targeted outreach
Route map, Oyster Bay

Logistics and Delivery Optimization

For logistics teams, visual maps may help plan and explain delivery routes, distribution points, and service areas.

  • Build route maps in eSpatial to optimize delivery sequences and reduce travel time
  • Use proximity (radius) maps to visualize coverage around warehouses or depots
Pin map, USA

Market Analysis and Expansion

When evaluating new markets or planning expansion, visual data tells the story better than spreadsheets ever could.

  • Create heat maps to show demand density or customer distribution
  • Use pin maps to plot competitor locations or potential new sites
  • Present these maps in PowerPoint to help executives see opportunities and risks at a glance, leading to faster, better-informed decisions

Benefits of Using Mapping Software
for Creating Maps in PowerPoint

While there are many ways to add a map to PowerPoint slides, there are some significant advantages to using a mapping software tool like eSpatial. For example, you can:

  • Include your unique data: A map that includes your sales team, client location, or other unique data makes a statement. And with eSpatial, you can select the individual color, icon, and details associated with each pin on the map.
  • Fill in gaps with eSpatial's data library: In addition to knowing how to create a map for PowerPoint from your own Excel spreadsheets or CSV file, you can also incorporate third-party data that eSpatial acquires from accurate and trusted sources.
  • Automatic and streamlined map creation: One of the advantages of using eSpatial's mapping software for PowerPoint is its ease of use. In just a few clicks, you have a custom regional or world map showing essential data points for your business.

For More eSpatial Mapping Tutorials

View our knowledge center

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