Google Maps Integration
The Store Locator integrates with Google Maps to display your stores on Google Maps and provide other important features such as driving directions on your store locator page. The use of Google Maps is provided through Google (the owner of Google Maps) instead of directly from the Store Locator app. So you'll need to setup the integration to Google Maps with Google.
In order to use Google Maps on your store locator page without any service interruption Google requires that you create your own Google Maps API Key for your website. Once created, you'll add this key to your Store Locator account so that Google Maps can display on your store locator page.
Important Note: Google also requires that you have payment information added to your Google account in order to fully use the Google Maps on your website. Make sure to follow the instructions under Part 2: Setup Payment Information in Your Google Account section below.
Part 1: Setup Google Maps API Key
Click on the Get Google API Key button below to start the process or use this link: https://console.cloud.google.com/projectcreate?previousPage=%2Fapis%2Fcredentials
If prompted login to your Google account or create a new one. Hint: If you have a Gmail account you can login to that account.
On the New Project page give your project a name in the Project Name field. We recommend naming your project Lifter Store Locator in order to more easily identify it later. Then click on the Create button.
You should be redirected to the Credentials page but if not use this link: https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials
Be sure that your new project is selected in the project drop down on the Credentials page and click on the Create Credentials link.
Select the API key option.
Copy your new API key that's shown under Your API key.
In your Store Locator account go to the Display Settings page and paste your API key in the Google Maps API Key field. You can get to the Display Settings page by clicking on the Setup link from the top horizontal navigation.
Click the Save button.
In order to fully activate your Google Maps API Key follow the instructions under Part 2: Setup Payment Information in Your Google Account below.
Part 2: Setup Payment Information in Your Google Account
Google also requires billing information to be added to your Google account in order to fully use Google Maps on your store locator page. For more information please read our Important Changes to the Google Maps Service announcement.
Although billing information is required, Google provides $200 of free Google Maps usage every month. While the exact number can differ, that's typically enough for around 10,000 customer visits to your store locator page each month (that's visits specifically to your store locator page and not total website visitors). For reference, most Store Locator users stay under 2,000 customer visits per month to their store locator page and 99% of Store Locator users stay under 10,000 visits per month to their store locator page.
So it's extremely unlikely you'll be required to pay anything to use Google Maps on your website. However, even accounts that don't exceed the free usage threshold are still required by Google to add payment information in their Google account in order to fully use Google Maps. Unfortuntely since Google Maps is owned and run by Google we don't have any control over this policy.
If you haven't already done so, make sure you've created your Google Maps API Key and added it to your Store Locator account.
Go to the Google Maps Plaform billing page here: https://console.developers.google.com/billing
Login to your Google / Gmail account that you used when creating your Google Maps API Key.
Click on Add billing account.
Tick the Terms of service checkbox and click on Agree and continue.
Fill out out your name and address information and add your payment information. Then click on Start my free trial.
Go back to the billing page here: https://console.developers.google.com/billing and click on My projects.
Find the project that you created when creating your API Key for the Store Locator. Click on the Actions icon and then select Change billing.
Select your billing account and then click on the Set Account button.
To ensure uninterrupted service after your free trial period ends click on the Upgrade button on the top banner. Note: Google continues to provides $200 worth of free Google Maps usage every month even after your free trial period ends.
Then click on the Upgrade button again that appears in the modal window and you're all setup!
Manually Enabling Services
If any of the four required services: Maps Javascript API, Places API, Geocoding and Directions API are not automatically enabled and appear on your Google API Dashboard page you'll need to follow these instructions to manually enable them.
First check to see if the required services are enabled by going to the Google API Dashboard page here: https://console.developers.google.com/apis/dashboard/. You should see Maps Javascript API, Places API, Geocoding and Directions API listed. If any of them aren't listed you'll need to enable them.
To enable a service click on the Library link.
In the Maps section click on the View All link to view all of the available services.
Find and select one of the services that is not yet enabled for your account.
Click the Enable button to active the service.
Go back to the Google API Dashboard page: https://console.developers.google.com/apis/dashboard.
Make sure theMaps Javascript API, Places API, Geocoding and Directions API and are all now listed otherwise repeat the steps to enable the missing services.
Common Issues
Error Message on Google Maps
Google Maps shows a warning message that says "This page can't load Google Maps correctly" and the "For development purposes only" watermark on the map if you haven't properly configured billing in your Google account. Google requires that you have payment information in your Google account in order to use Google Maps on your website without any restrictions. Follow the instructions under Part 2: Setup Payment Information in Your Google Account. Be sure that you have a valid billing account and it's linked to your project that contains the Google Maps API Key that you've added to the app.