How Companies Can Utilize Dropped Pins for Navigating Customers

Kanika BhardwajKanika Bhardwaj
6 min read

Customer experience in today's speedy, digitally connected world isn't merely about great service—it begins before they step in your door. Perhaps one of the easiest yet most effective tools you have access to is utilizing Dropped Pins within Google Maps. Whether you have a small retail storefront, a pop-up food cart, or a service-oriented business, having customers easily find you can be that differentiator.

In this guide, we’ll explore how businesses can use dropped pins to improve customer navigation, increase foot traffic, and enhance local SEO—all with just a few taps.

What Are Dropped Pins in Google Maps?

Why should businesses care about dropped pins?

A dropped pin is a hand-placed marker on Google Maps that indicates an exact physical location. Unlike standard search-based navigation, Google Maps' Dropped Pins enable you to direct customers to locations with no formal address or difficult-to-find entrances.

This is particularly useful for:

  • Pop-up shops

  • Market stalls

  • Event spaces

  • Warehouses

  • Large complexes or isolated properties

By using them properly, dropped pins connect digital discovery with physical arrival.

How Do Dropped Pins Enhance Customer Experience?

Can a pin improve customer support?

Yes. Among the most aggravating issues customers struggle with is bad navigation—ending up in the wrong place or being lost in transit. By sharing a Dropped Pin on Google Maps, you guarantee:

  • Pinpoint precision for deliveries, pickups, and in-store visits

  • Clear instructions even when the GPS is unreliable

  • Less frustration when your store is based within a mall or a complex

At the end of the day, making it easier for customers to locate you diminishes frustration, establishes trust, and enhances the likelihood of follow-up visits.

How Do You Drop a Pin for Your Business?

What's the procedure for creating and sharing a dropped pin?

Here's how you can drop and share a pin for your business address:

On Mobile (Android/iPhone):

Open Google Maps and find your business location.

  • Tap and hold exactly where your entry or stall is situated.

  • A red pin with an address or coordinates will be displayed.

  • Tap on the info card at the bottom and choose "Share".

  • Share the link through WhatsApp, email, SMS, or insert it in your website.

On Desktop:

  • Go to Google Maps.

  • Zoom in and left-click your preferred place.

  • A gray pin pops up with a pop-up.

  • Press "Share" and paste the link.

You can send this link to customers, delivery personnel, or suppliers to confirm right arrival.

When Do You Use Dropped Pins Rather Than Your Business Address?

Isn't a normal address sufficient?
Yes, sometimes—but not always. Here are instances where dropped pins are more convenient:

Unregistered businesses: New businesses or temporary stores might not be listed yet on Google Maps.

  • Inside malls or complexes: An address may lead to the main entrance, but not your exact shop.

  • Events and exhibitions: Locations change frequently or lack official addresses.

  • Remote or rural areas: Some places don’t have accurate Google Maps data.

In these situations, Dropped Pins in Google Maps give customers the clearest path.

How to Share a Dropped Pin with Customers

What are the most effective ways to share your pinned location?

Once your pin is dropped, consider these options for easy sharing:

  • Website: Add the pin link to your contact page with a CTA like “Find Us Here.”

  • Email Campaigns: Include the dropped pin in event invites or order confirmation emails.

  • Social Media: Share the pin in posts, stories, or bios with captions like “Come visit us here!”

  • QR Codes: Turn the link of Google Maps into a QR code on banners, flyers, or packaging.

  • WhatsApp Business or Chatbot: Send the pin automatically when a customer asks for directions.

All these combined make it possible for your customers to gain easy access to your accurate location.

How Do Dropped Pins Assist in Deliveries and Logistics?

What is the function of pins in last-mile delivery?

Whether you're dropping off food, flowers, or papers, sharing a dropped pin facilitates:

  • Reduced delivery time

  • Less confusion in finding buildings or apartments

  • Fewer missed or returned packages

Particularly in urban areas where building numbers are variable or duplicate, Google Maps' Dropped Pins cut down on guesswork for delivery personnel.

Can Local SEO be Improved with Dropped Pins?

Do dropped pins affect your online presence?

Directly—no. Indirectly—yes.
Sharing and using dropped pins can:

  • Drive additional clicks to your website or Google Business Profile

  • Boost "Get Directions" and "Map Views" numbers

  • Focus on excellent customer experience and reviews

All of these signals contribute to local SEO rankings on Google Maps and search results. So, whereas the pin itself does not rank, its use does contribute to improved visibility and reputation.

Are Dropped Pins Secure to Share?

Yes. Dropped pins are merely location indicators. They don't carry any personal or private details unless you manually add them.

  • Be careful when publishing home-based business addresses

  • Post only links that you are okay making publicly available

  • Don't put confidential tags on saved locations

For the majority of businesses, particularly those in commercial property, dropped pins are a professional and secure means of directing customers.

Can You Tag or Bookmark Dropped Pins for Internal Use?

How do businesses coordinate multiple locations or work sites?

If you have multiple locations to work out of—such as service areas, warehouses, or delivery stations—you can:

  • Save each dropped pin to an individual list in Google Maps

  • Give them names for internal reference (e.g., "North Hub," "Weekend Market Stall")

  • Share selectively with staff or delivery personnel

  • This keeps your internal navigation tidy and efficient.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can I drop multiple pins for one business?

Not in one map on mobile, but you can have a few saved locations. For several visible pins, use Google My Maps to make a custom map with all your locations.

  1. Do I have to be listed on Google My Business to use dropped pins?

No. Dropped Pins on Google Maps operate independently. However, getting your business listed builds trust and enhances search visibility.

  1. What if Google Maps doesn't pick up my street?

Just scroll to your real location and drop the pin manually. The pin utilizes GPS, not merely the street information.

  1. Are customers able to use dropped pins without the Google Maps app?

Yes! When you share a dropped pin link, it loads in any browser, even if the user doesn't have the app.

Final Thoughts

Companies that fully leverage Dropped Pins on Google Maps have a powerful tool to communicate better with customers. From assisting individuals in locating a difficult entrance to ensuring delivery precision and enhancing SEO, dropped pins provide an improved customer experience from end to end.

They're free, simple to use, and are compatible with every device. By incorporating dropped pins in your online strategy—website, social media, support channels—you make it extremely easy for individuals to discover and locate you.

Where location is more important than ever before, a strategically placed pin could be your most valuable digital asset.

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Written by

Kanika Bhardwaj
Kanika Bhardwaj