Best option for location search for a directory of businesses or pinned locations?

Elizabeth_Fedak
Elizabeth_Fedak Member Posts: 106 MVP
edited May 2022 in Ask a Question

Hey everyone!!! If you are looking at a directory of businesses or other business/listing type locations on a map, how would you want to filter results when it comes to location? I'm trying to think of the best user experience in terms of showing results on a map and in a list of options. Assume tons of other filters are in the works on this, this question is ONLY about location filtering :)

Option 1: Select a dropdown to filter by state and/or by city. The map refocuses to the center of that city or state (precise center point depends on the long/lat that google gives.) Only options in that city or state are in the list of results and visible on the map. Zooming out on the map would reset the filter to show all of the results in the list, but they'd still be zoomed into that location on the map.

Option 2: Type in an address as an origin. The results are NOT filtered, BUT the map refocuses on that coordinate and the results are ordered by distance from that origin. If the user moves the map a "Search this area"/refresh results button appears and it can recalculate what businesses are the closest to that spot.

Option 3: Type in an address as an origin. The results are filtered to show results within a distance that the user selects. I.e. within 1 mile, within 5 miles, within 10 miles, within 50 miles.

Comments

  • Elizabeth_Fedak
    Elizabeth_Fedak Member Posts: 106 MVP

    I wound up making a design decision on this based off of research and feedback I got on Facebook! :)

    The widget uses the searched for location to calculate the distance from the new center point for each business/property/listing. Then it updates the list to reflect that distance, sorts them in least distance order, and centers the map on that long/lat. (Option 2)

    I'm super stoked with how this concept is turning out!!!!!


  • courtneyquaresimo
    courtneyquaresimo Member Posts: 183 Leader

    I think option 2 is best. Glad you went with that!

  • Geoff
    Geoff Member Posts: 9

    So is this a widget you've created? Is it available?

  • Elizabeth_Fedak
    Elizabeth_Fedak Member Posts: 106 MVP

    Hey @Geoff , I did make this but so far I'm using the code I built for custom widget orders specifically as I was researching through custom orders what all was popular for a default version! I'm getting a default one together this month finally as I had a few folks line up to buy it so I could finally prioritize! Feel free to reach out if you're interested in it!!:)