Mashups are something that I have started to realize I use more than I know. I have often used mashups to locate places near where I live, events going on etc. Google Maps are often a part of these mashups and they are a very helpful resource. This got me thinking… how could I make my own mashup?

A little research has shown me that the first and most important step to making a mashup is picking a topic. What do you want to accomplish with your mashup? To start out easily, using maps seems like the easiest type of mashup since a tool like Google Maps is very easy to use. You will also need to consider how good your coding skills are, if you have them. What types of programming language do you know and which will you use?

Once you’ve picked a topic and brushed up on coding skills, you will need to sign up for an API. This can be done directly through Google and will only take a few minutes to set up and create.

Then, you are on your way to having an original mashup! Start coding and post to the web or a local server!