Mind Maps, sometimes referred to as concept maps, spider charts, or simple cluster diagramming, help professionals and students visualize complex information. A typical mind map lays out a nonlinear representation for the viewers that helps them make connections between different elements.
A few benefits of creating a mind map are:
- With mind maps, it becomes easier for project managers to create cause-and-effect or Fishbone diagrams.
- Mind maps provide a great layout for the teams to brainstorm on difficult topics.
- With mind maps, students can quickly revise their syllabus.
- A mind map also helps professionals identify the bottlenecks or unnecessary delays that might occur when they start working on their projects.
In this detailed guide from EdrawMind, we will discuss Bubbl.us mind map software and provide a detailed step-by-step process to make a mind map using Bubbl.us. Additionally, we will provide an alternative software that helps in creating free mind maps with the best in class customization options.
In this article
What is a Mind Map
A mind map is a graphical method that helps students and professionals organize their thoughts in a way that helps them understand the complexities of any subject. With the help of a nonlinear mind map, professionals can even find the connections between different categories -- something that they might miss out on during the traditional note-taking methods.
Some of the most prominent areas where you can use mind maps are:
- Summarizing large informations
- Taking down notes during classes or meetings
- Finding loopholes in any project plans
- Studying complex topics like biology or organic chemistry
- Thinking and analyzing through complex situations.
These days, there are several mind mapping tools and one of the prominent ones is Bubbl.us mind map software. Bubbl.us is a web-based mind-mapping tool that lets you create mind maps as an individual and as a team. With Bubbl.us mind map software, you can easily share your work with your team by creating a URL.
How to Make a Mind Map in Bubbl.us
Check out the following step-by-step guide to learn how to use Bubble.us mind map software:
Step 1: Open Bubbl.us
The first step that you need to do is to head to the official website of Bubbl.us mind map software and register using your email address. The free version of Bubbl.us allows you to create three mind maps.
Step 2: Access Templates
From the homepage of Bubbl.us, click on the drop-down of “+Create” to access the templates.
In the free version of Bubbl.us, you will find a couple of default templates that will let you create the basic layout of your mind map. Select the one that you would like to work on for your project.
Step 3: Edit Content
Once you opt for the default theme, you can now start editing the content of your mind map. Double-click inside any of the elements to add the relevant text.
Click on the “+” sign next to the shapes to further enhance that particular category.
Double-clicking on any empty space allows you to create another floating box that would work as a fresh mind map.
Step 4: Add Connections
Select one element > choose arrow from the top context bar > click on the different box. This way, you can easily make connections between two objects.
You can even add images, cliparts, links, comments, and mathematical formulas by simply checking the top context bar.
Step 5: Download or Share
Once your mind map is fully customized, you can download it in modern formats, like JPG, PNG, HTML, and Plain Text.
Bubbl.us also lets you share your mind map on different social media platforms. That being said, in order to enable real-time collaboration, you will need to upgrade your Bubbl.us account.
On one hand, Bubbl.us mind map maker is a great tool for beginners, but the tool has a few limitations. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of Bubbl.us are:
- It comes with default template layouts.
- Allows only 3 mind maps in the free version.
- It comes with “Generate Ideas,” a feature that is based on ChatGPT.
- The creation of custom templates is a paid feature.
- It lets you change the background color or image of your mind map.
- The downloaded images bear the Bubbl.us watermark.
How to Make a Mind Map in EdrawMind for a Beginner
EdrawMind is a mind mapping software that helps beginners create some amazing mind maps and that is for free.
In order to create a mind map using EdrawMind, you will first need to download and install this tool in your system. Head to the official website and download the latest version to avail all the premium features. Once you have installed EdrawMind, check out the following step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Access Mind Map Templates
EdrawMind offers 1500+ templates ranging from different domains. Head to the Gallery section from the homepage, and you will find the free templates that you can use directly.
Choose one of the templates that come closest to your vision > click on Duplicate to access the entire content of the mind map.
Step 2: Edraw AI Assistance
EdrawMind is now equipped with AI assistance that helps in creating wonderful mind maps. From the homepage itself, type the prompt in the AI search bar or head to Inspiration Space to get inspired by the AI assistance.
Step 3: Edit Data & Customize
Whether you have duplicated some free mind map templates or chosen AI assistance to create a mind map, you will need to edit the data. In your mind map software, double-click on any element to edit the text.
You can further elaborate the mind map by pressing the TAB key (shortcut) or clicking on the “-” icon next to your elements. Upon right-clicking on any element, you can access a context bar that would let you add different topics, mark/tag elements, add EdrawMath Formula, add cliparts, Hyperlinks, Attachment, and more.
Once the data is edited, you can check the right toolbar to access customization options. Play around with different premium features and enhance the creativity of your mind maps.
Step 4: Export & Share
After customizing your mind map, you can export and share it in different formats. Head to the homepage > Export and select different exporting formats as required.
Select the sharing icon on the canvas board to share the URL of your mind map with your peers. You can even share it on social media platforms or embed it as an SVG format image to your website or email bodies.
Why Choose EdrawMind as a Mind Map Tool
When it comes to mind mapping for beginners and professionals, EdrawMind provides a ton of features that make it the best alternative to Bubbl.us mind map software. Some of the most prominent features that distinguish EdrawMind from its contemporaries are:
- With EdrawMind’s AI assistance, you can create any complex mind map with just one click.
- EdrawMind offers real-time remote collaboration for smoother brainstorming sessions.
- This free mind mapping software lets you export the mind map in multiple Microsoft formats, including Word, Excel, and PPT.
- Every EdrawMind account comes with free cloud storage that allows you to access your mind map files from anywhere.
- WonderShare AI Painting lets you directly import AI-generated images for your mind maps.
Start Mind Mapping With EdrawMind
Bubbl.us mind map software is a great tool for creating detailed mind maps. The upgraded version of this mind-mapping tool offers a wide range of premium features, like templates, revision history, guest editing, priority support, and more. However, if you are looking for alternative ways where you can get inspired from the user-generated mind maps, we recommend checking out EdrawMind. The tool has the latest AI features that not only let you generate mind maps but also ensure that you get some unique images for your personal and professional usage. This mind-mapping software provides some of the best customization features that come in handy when creating complex mind maps.
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