How do you create a webmap in ArcGIS?

Log In: Head over to the ArcGIS Online website and sign in with your Esri account. Don’t have one? No sweat! You can snag a free public account for playing around (just remember it’s for non-commercial stuff).

New Map Time: Hit “Map” at the top. Boom! You’re in the Map Viewer, ready to create.

Set the Stage with a Basemap: Think of a basemap as the backdrop for your masterpiece. Click “Basemap” on the left and pick something that fits your map. Topographic? Imagery? Streets? Take your pick!

Pile on the Data (Layers): This is where the fun really begins. Click “Add” and choose how you want to bring in your data:

• Search the ArcGIS Online Treasure Chest: Search for publicly available data. Just be a smart cookie and check where the data came from and how accurate it is.
• Web Service Magic: Got a URL for a web service (like a feature service)? Paste it in and watch the magic happen.
• Upload from Your Computer: Got files like shapefiles or CSVs? Upload ’em! ArcGIS Online can handle zipped shapefiles, CSV, TXT, GPX, or GeoJSON.
• Doodle with Map Notes: Sometimes, simple is best. Add shapes and text directly on the map.

Style It Up (Symbology is Key): This is where your map goes from drab to fab. Good symbology makes all the difference. Select a layer, click “Styles,” and get creative:

• Symbols Galore: Pick different symbols (points, lines, polygons—you name it) and tweak their color, size, and shape.
• Color Power: Use color ramps to show off your data. Darker colors usually mean higher values, but hey, break the rules if it looks better!
• Transparency Tricks: Make layers see-through to reveal what’s underneath. It’s like magic!
• Classification Wizardry: Group your data to highlight patterns. Equal interval, quantile, natural breaks—experiment and see what works best.

Pop-up Pizzazz: Pop-ups are those little windows that appear when you click on a feature. Make ’em informative and engaging! Select a layer, click “Pop-ups,” and customize away:

• Snappy Titles: Use a field from your data to create a dynamic title.
• Content is King: Choose which fields to show and make ’em look good.
• Media Mania: Add images, charts, and anything else that makes your pop-up shine.
• Arcade Magic: Get fancy with Arcade, Esri’s scripting language, to calculate and display dynamic info.

Save the Day (and Your Map): Click “Save”! Give your map a catchy title, some relevant tags, and a short summary.

Share the Love: Click “Share” and decide who gets to see your masterpiece. Public? Your organization? Specific groups? Just remember, the layers inside the map also need to be shared correctly!

Fire Up ArcGIS Pro: Open ArcGIS Pro and start a new map project. Add your data. You know the drill.

Cartographic Awesomeness: This is where Pro shines. Tweak your symbology, add labels, and make your map look stunning.

Share as Web Map: On the “Share” tab, click “Web Map.” The “Share As Web Map” pane pops up.

Configure for the Web:

• Name, Summary, and Tags: Give your web map a name, a quick summary, and some tags.
• Configuration: Choose how to share your data. “Copy all data” is a safe bet—it creates new web layers.
• Sharing: Decide who gets to see your map. Your organization? The whole world?

Analyze and Publish: Click “Analyze” to check for errors. Fix ’em, then hit “Publish.” Your map is now live on ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise!