How to Embed Google Map on Website – Step-by-Step Process

With our step-by-step guide, you can easily embed a Google Map on your site. This will enhance user interaction and navigation seamlessly. Click to discover how.

Google Maps is the most popular mapping app, with over one billion monthly active users and users covering over 621 million miles on Google Maps daily.

Considering this, integrating Google Maps into your website makes it convenient for customers to find your location, which helps increase foot traffic to your premises.

This article provides an overview of how to embed Google Maps on your site, including the expected benefits and best practices.

Need a quick way to add your business’s location to your website? Use our SociableKIT widget to embed your Google Business Profile. It has a ‘View on Google’ button that links directly to Google Maps.

Create a widget today and share your business location on your website!

Key Benefits of Adding Google Maps to Your Website

Below are the main incentives for embedding Google Maps into your website:

Credibility and Social Proof

Verifying your physical location on Google Maps provides authenticity for your business. It instills trust in potential customers, encouraging them to visit your premises.

Google Maps also highlights your recent customer testimonials and average star rating, which can influence customers’ decision to contact your business.

Visitor Engagement

Embedding Google Maps into your website means visitors don’t have to switch browser tabs to search your business on Google.

Additionally, the map’s interactive features help keep visitors engaged on your site. They can zoom in and out or switch to street view to explore your location visually.

This immersive experience creates opportunities for leading site visitors into a sales funnel.

Improved Local SEO

Integrating Google Maps into your website signals search engines that your business has a physical store.

This helps search engines like Google tag your website on relevant queries, especially where users are looking for local businesses.

Mobile-Friendly

Mobile users rely significantly on Google Maps to find services ‘near me.’

Adding Google Maps to your website makes it easy for such users to access directions to your location on the go. This helps increase lead generation and conversion from mobile traffic.

How to Embed Google Maps on a Website

There are two main ways to add Google Maps to a website: link and widget methods. 

Let’s discuss each option below:

Using the Link Method

Follow these steps to integrate Google Maps into your website using the link method:

1. Go to Google Maps
2. Search the business location you want to embed
3. Click on Share and select the option to Embed a Map
4. Choose your preferred embed size or select to customize the dimensions
5. Copy the HTML embed code
6. Sign in to your website builder
7. Create a new page or open the one you want to edit
8. Select where you want to place the map and paste the embed code
9. Save the changes and refresh the web page

Using a Website Widget

Here’s a simple guide for embedding Google Maps on your website using our SociableKIT widget:

1. Sign up for SociableKIT
2. Create a Google Maps website widget
3. Provide the required data source (location address or coordinates)
4. Customize widget appearance
5. Click on Embed On Website and specify your website type
6. Copy the script from the embed code generator
7. Log in to your website builder
8. Open the web page where you want to add the Google Map
9. Create an HTML block and paste the embed code
10. Save the changes and preview the Google Maps feed

Embed Google Map with API Integration

Connecting Google Maps to your website using API requires basic developer skills. 

However, we have simplified the process for you:

1. Go to the Google Maps Platform and select Maps
2. Create a Google Cloud project or open one you are currently working on
3. Provide the required information, including your billing details
4. Enable the map APIs you want to use
5. Go to the Credentials section and select Create Credentials
6. Select the API Key option to generate a JavaScript code
7. Restrict the API Key to specific HTTP referrers
8. Copy the API Key
9. Log in to your web builder
10. Open the page where you want to embed the Google Map
11. Paste the API JavaScript code and save the changes

Embed Google Map with Multiple Locations

Below is a step-by-step guide for embedding Google Maps with multiple locations:

1. Go to Google My Maps
2. Select to create a new map and add the locations
3. Customize the map, including adding names, descriptions, and colors for each marker
4. Click on Share and permit anyone with the link to view the map
5. Click on the three dots next to the map’s title and select Embed On My Site
6. Copy the generated embed code
7. Sign in to your web admin panel
8. Select the web page where you want the Google Map to appear
9. Paste the embed code and save the changes.

Do you find these integration methods complex?

Pick the easier option and embed a Google Business Profile (GBP) on your website. Use our no-code SociableKIT widget to embed and style the GBP feed for maximum visitor engagement.

Create a SociableKIT Google Business Profile widget today!

How to Style and Customize the Embedded Google Map 

Google recently released new styling customization features for their Google Maps platform. 

Here are some features to consider when embedding Google Maps on your website:

Cloud-Based Map Styling

This feature lets you control your Google Maps’ appearance and feel to enhance user experience.

You can incorporate 100+ stylable elements, including icons, labels, and visibility levels. 

Additionally, you can highlight points of interest, such as gas stations, banks, and local stores, to provide more context for your location.

Boundary Styling

As a local business owner, you can create and style boundary polygons on your Google Maps to highlight the area(s) you serve.

You can demarcate areas using custom boundaries or leverage administrative units like counties, towns, and school districts.

Advanced Markers

Use custom colors and icons to highlight crucial locations, such as your head office or warehouse.

Web developers can import SVG files into their projects and style them into custom markers. 

Additionally, you can add title texts, which appear when users hover over an important marker.

Tips to Improve User Experience with Embedded Google Maps 

Use these practical tips to make your Google Maps embed more user-friendly:

• Make the Map Dynamic: Ensure the embed is responsive to different devices and screen sizes, especially mobile devices.
• Use Labels and Descriptions: Style important markers with unique colors to make them stand out. Also, include relevant descriptions, such as the services offered in each location.
• Optimize Loading: Set the embed to ‘lazy loading’ to reduce the impact on your site’s performance and loading speed.
• Customize the Embed: Personalize the Google Map’s appearance to match your website theme or brand colors.
• Include Interactive Features: Allow site visitors to zoom the map or hover on markers to open pop-up information windows.
• Ensure Accessibility: To accommodate visitors with disabilities, include accessibility features like keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and alternative text.

Best Practices for SEO with Google Maps Embed

Did you know that embedding Google Maps enhances your website’s SEO?

Well, it does!

Here are proven methods for boosting SEO with Google Maps:

• Claim Your Google My Business (GMB) Profile: Claim and verify your GMB profile so that your business location appears on Google Map searches. Even better, you can embed your Google Business Profile to your website to enhance SEO further.
• Mark Your Location on the Embedded Map: Ensure the Google Map shows your exact business location. This encourages users to rate the map as ‘helpful’ when they reach your premise, which favors your SERP rank.
• Make the Embed Responsive: This helps your business rank high in relevant searches as the Google algorithm prioritizes websites with mobile-friendly layouts and content.
• Use Keywords in Map Titles: Leverage keyword-rich titles and descriptions to increase the chances of your site ranking in relevant searches, especially for local businesses.
• Encourage Visitors to Submit Reviews: Learn ways to get Google Reviews to boost engagement in the review section of your Google Maps. This signals search engines that your site contains valuable information, which could increase your SERP ranking.
• Implement Schema Markups: Leverage structure data to help search engines crawl your website and index web pages with your Google Maps and contact information.

How to Troubleshoot Google Map Embeds 

Let’s outline common issues you might encounter when embedding Google Maps on your website and how to troubleshoot them:

Google Maps Not Showing

The Google Maps feed might not display because the embed code is incorrect or you provided the wrong coordinates.

Unless you have web development skills, repeating the embedding process is the best way to solve this issue. 

To avoid this issue altogether, we recommend using our SociableKIT embed code generator to ensure the script is correct.

API Key Errors

Common causes of Google Maps API key errors include:

• Invalid API Key: Generate a new API key and repeat the embedding process.
• API Key is Disabled: Go to the API configurations on your Google Maps Platform and enable the API.
• Incomplete Billing Settings: Enable billing and provide a valid payment method.

HTTP Referer Errors

Google often rejects requests without a valid HTTP referrer to protect websites against malicious requests from unauthorized domains.

To resolve this issue, log in to your Google Cloud Console and update the domain list attributed to your API Keys. Include the primary domain and other subdomains (non-www versions).

Restricted Custom Map

Custom maps have a default privacy setting restricting unauthorized access. As such, integrating a private map results in a blank or error code.

Go to the map settings and allow anyone with the link to access the map. This makes the embedded Google Maps publicly available on your site.

Service Outage

Occasionally, Google Workspace servers might be down, resulting in a defective or static embed. 

Check your workspace dashboard to confirm the service outage.

When this happens, wait for Google to resolve the issue, after which your Google Maps embed will reset.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about integrating Google Maps into a website:

What is the Best Way to Embed Google Maps Responsively?

The API method is the best way to embed a responsive Google Maps on your website. However, the process is complex, especially for users without coding skills.

If you find the process hectic, we recommend using our SociableKIT widget to embed your Google Business Profile so visitors can use it to find your location on Google Maps.

Can You Customize Google Maps Embed Appearance?

Yes. You can personalize the appearance of your Google Maps embed.

However, customizing a Google Maps feed embedded using the link or API method is complex as you must modify your site’s CSS and HTML code.

Is Google Embed Maps Free to Use on All Websites?

Yes. You can embed Google Maps on any website for free.

However, Google requires website owners to set up billing accounts when embedding using the API Key method.

Conclusion

Integrating Google Maps into your website boosts engagement as visitors will likely spend time interacting with the maps. It also helps build credibility and social proof for your business, which is crucial for local SEO.

You might find the integration process hectic, given that you must embed it using the API method to make the map responsive and customize the feed.

If so, pick the more convenient method: Embed your Google Business Profile. Our SociableKIT Google Business Profile widget streamlines the embedding process, mitigating common integration issues. You can also personalize the embed feed to make your site stand out.

Create a SociableKIT widget to share your business location on your website and increase foot traffic to your premises!