Most agency owners spend hours manually browsing Google Maps, copying business names into spreadsheets, then separately researching websites before writing cold emails. MapScout compresses that entire workflow into three clicks.
This guide walks you through installation, first-time setup, and capturing your first batch of leads — from zero to a scored, audited pipeline in under five minutes.
Step 1 — Install the Extension
MapScout is distributed as an unpacked Chrome extension while the Chrome Web Store listing is being finalised.
- Download the extension ZIP from the link in your purchase confirmation email.
- Unzip to a permanent folder (e.g.
Documents/mapscout-extension). - Open Chrome and navigate to
chrome://extensions. - Enable Developer mode (toggle in the top-right corner).
- Click Load unpacked and select the folder containing
manifest.json. - Pin MapScout to your toolbar via the puzzle-piece icon.
Navigate to google.com/maps — the extension activates automatically on any Google Maps page.
Step 2 — Set Up Your Profile
Before capturing leads, fill in your agency profile. This is what personalises the AI-generated outreach.
Open Settings (click the MapScout icon → Settings tab) and fill in:
- Your name and agency name
- What you sell — be specific: "I build Webflow sites that convert visitors into booked appointments for cosmetic dentists, in under 3 weeks."
- Unique angle — your hook: "I send a fully built live mockup before you commit — zero risk."
- Price range — helps the AI set the right tone
- Target customer — who you're emailing (e.g. med spas and cosmetic dentists)
Add your OpenRouter API key (free account at openrouter.ai) to enable AI outreach generation.
Step 3 — Capture Your First Leads
The fastest way to start is passive capture mode — the recommended approach for new users.
- Make sure Auto-scrape mode is OFF in Settings
- Open Google Maps and search for your target — e.g. "cosmetic dentist Austin TX"
- Click into listings one by one
- Each listing is automatically captured, scored 1–10, and queued for website audit
After clicking 10–15 listings, switch to the MapScout side panel. You'll see a ranked list of leads with scores. Focus on scores 7 and above — these are businesses with strong signals: good review volume, premium category, no chain detection, and typically an outdated or weak website.
Step 4 — Run a Website Audit
Click 🌐 Audit in the controls bar. MapScout opens each lead's website in a hidden background tab and collects 25 data points — platform (WordPress, Wix, etc.), copyright year, SSL status, mobile responsiveness, booking form presence, and more.
This takes about 15 seconds per site. While it runs, you can keep browsing Maps and capturing more leads.
Step 5 — Generate AI Outreach
Expand any lead card and click ✨ Generate AI Outreach. MapScout sends the lead's data and your profile to the AI model and returns:
- 3 subject line options
- A primary cold email (under 150 words, referencing specific weaknesses found on their site)
- A 3-day follow-up email
- A LinkedIn message (under 300 characters)
- An SMS (under 160 characters)
Click any element to copy it. The outreach is stored locally so you can access it again without re-generating.
What's Next
Once you're comfortable with passive capture, explore auto-scrape mode for processing a full search result (up to 40 listings) automatically, and batch search mode for running multiple city/niche queries unattended overnight.
For a full reference on every feature, scoring signal, and setting, see the Documentation.