Google Maps API Key: How To Implement One On Your Site?

Businesses and website owners must improve their local SEO, especially with the rising local search marketing trends. Nowadays, a new trend is emerging as more and more local SEO experts build location pages with advanced mapping features to improve their local search.

These pages usually contain maps that show potential customers where the location is, as well as the nearby streets and prominent landmarks. This information helps users find the location more easily and improves the brand’s conversion rate.

Local SEO experts should start being familiar with the many mapping options available and learn how to implement them. And one of the most famous mapping features is none other than Google Maps, and this requires a Google Maps API Key.

What Is A Google Maps API Key?

Google has three useful features – Maps, Places, and Routes – that create an immersive location experience and provide real-world insights to customers who visit a webpage or an app.

Maps allow businesses to share static and dynamic maps, 360-degree views of their establishment’s location, and Street View imagery. On the other hand, Places allow searchers to find specific places just by using addresses, phone numbers, and real-time signals. Lastly, Routes allow companies to give customers easy-to-navigate directions to their business locations, alongside real-time traffic updates.

All these three features can be integrated into a website by using a Google Maps API Key.

How To Create API Keys

To create an API key, one can access the APIs & Service then clicking Credentials in the dropdown. It then redirects the user to a page where they can create the API key. Once created, businesses can add restrictions to their key to keep it safe and secure. If they have old API keys that they do not use anymore, they can delete them and regenerate a new one.

Once the key has been created, the only thing left to do is to place it on the website using a script tag, which can be added either to a JavaScript file or an HTML file. Before proceeding with either one of the options, Google recommends that businesses review both methods to determine the best approach for their site’s code structure.

Static Versus Dynamic Maps

Businesses can also choose between static and dynamic maps when setting up Google Maps on their site. The former shows their location map as an image, while the latter is not only customisable and interactive but also allows businesses to pin their branded logo. Dynamic maps, however, cost more than static maps.

With more and more buyers turning to the Internet to look for products and services near them, providing an excellent user experience has become mandatory for local SEO efforts. Moreover, having an optimised user experience will give businesses a chance to stand out from their competitors.

With this in mind, businesses are advised to optimise their local listings by making the most of Google’s tools, such as the Google Maps API key. Doing so will help potential customers find one’s storefront in the easiest and fastest way possible, which can earn their loyalty at the end of the day.

Improve Your Local SEO Today!

Position1SEO is committed to helping you achieve the best Google rankings possible by taking a no-stone unturned approach with your website. You don’t have to pay a ludicrous amount of money for advertising; all you need is our team of experts doing high-quality SEO work to attract customers into buying your products and services.

We don’t just make sure that your webpages are well-optimised and in their best condition to be crawled by Googlebot; we also work hard to provide your users with the optimal browsing experience. Some of our offered services include Google Local setup, website performance and load speed improvement, Google Search Console management, and many more!

Email us today at office@position1seo.co.uk or call us on 0141 404 7515.