Embed Google Map 2023
Video Updated for November 2023
Do you have a Google Business Profile location map that you would like to embed into your website?
You’re in luck! Google makes it possible for businesses to embed a link to their business profiles without any technical knowledge. Follow the steps below to embed your location map.
Just for clarification, the Google Business Profile is the new name for the Google My Business listing.
In this article, I will tell you why embedding a map is useful, what to do if you don’t have access to your Google Business Profile. I’ll also give you alternatives if you don’t want to show reviews or you are a service business and do not want to show your address.
Why would you want to embed a link to your Google Business Profile listing into your website?
The best reason for embedding a map into your website is that your potential customers have easy access to your information. For businesses that have premises, this is an excellent step towards giving your website visitors a positive user experience. Make it as easy as possible to do business with you.
Clicking through the two links on the map will either take the visitor to directions to your premises or to your business profile.
They are already on your website so they have all of the information that they need so it’s likely that it’s the directions that would be of most use.
The Google Map is a Trust Signal.
Whether your visitors use the map or not, the sight of it on your contact page provides a trust signal for local customers. It helps them to feel that you are familiar and that has benefits in achieving know, like and trust factors which will help you to convert more visitors into customers.
The know, like and trust factors will be further enhanced if you have good reviews. This is because, if you have premises, the address and reviews are shown in the top left corner.
What do you do if your reviews are poor? Jump to this section for an alternative and come back to this later.
You may not want to embed a map with directions if you run a service-based business but you can use an alternative to create trust and improve your website visitor experience. Click here to jump to ‘what to do if you run a service-based business‘,
Does embedding Google Maps affect the SEO and ranking of a landing page?
If you run a business with a physical address, it’s beneficial to embed a Google Map on your website. It is seen as a positive factor by search engine bots.
Google considers every little thing that you do, that helps your customers and is SEO friendly, to be positive. Embedding a map is a minor task and combined with other efforts, collectively help in creating a positive impact on your Local SEO.
It’s doubtful that the single act of embedding a map in the absence of any other SEO efforts would have any impact but it’s a start and may help your visitors.
Does a map embed slow down your site?
Everything your website does adds to the load and has an effect on speed. As local SEO specialists, we always embed a local map. If there is a speed problem, it is indicative of a wider problem that needs to be addressed. Speed is a factor in core web vitals which are a ranking factor so the question is valid.
You can try embedding the map and testing. If you are concerned about speed, you can always delete it.
Alternatively, you could screenshot an image of the map and link it to your Google Business Profile. I don’t think it looks quite as good but it’s an option. This can be useful if you want to put a circle on to show the area that you cover or mark out the postcodes using Simplified.
Page Speed Insights.
You can try a map embed and an image with link and test the difference in speed. You can use the page speed insights tool to test any of your pages. If you are just planning to embed the map on the contact page, it’s likely that it’s already a lightweight page so hopefully the embed will work fine.
How to Embed the Google Map.
Assuming that you have a business with physical premises and you are happy for visitors to see your reviews, let’s get on with embedding a map. It will take you just a few minutes. Follow along with the video or scroll below to find step by step instructions.
Video Instructions
Step-by-Step Instructions.
The first thing you need to do is find the embed code. There are 2 ways to do this but if you have access to your Google Business Profile, use the first option to take the link directly from Google.
There are also 2 ways to access your Google Business Profile. Google is removing the mobile app and desktop managers system unless you have more than one listing. If you still have the Google Business Profile Manager, start by accessing your business profile.
In your management admin panel, click on (1) ‘info, then (2) ‘view on maps’.
I would usually expect you to have access to your Google Business Profile. If you don’t I, first of all, recommend that you get access. If you are not making use of your GBP, you are throwing money away. In the meantime, jump to this section which will tell you how to get a link to your map when you don’t have admin access to your GMB.
How to Access the Map Embed Link Without the Admin Manager.
If you do not manage your Google Business Profile with the manager, you can access the embed link through the browser. Make sure you are logged into Google. Type your business name in the search box as it appears in your profile. You should see something like this one. If you are not seeing your own knowledge panel on the right, you are doing something wrong and are missing opportunities.
Click on ‘Maps’ and you will go to the page showing steps 3 and 4 which is up next.
When your map is open in Google, you will have the option to (3) share. Clicking on ‘share’ will open the share box. You have the option to send a link or embed a map. Sharing would give you a link that would bring you to that page showing your Google Business Profile.
In this case, you want to click on (4) ‘Embed a map’.
After you click on ’embed a map, a small map will open and you will see exactly how your map will appear for your website visitors.
Choose a size. (5). The options are small, medium and large plus a custom size. The first three will show as they appear. They will be squares. The custom size lets you choose a size. You might choose to use this if you prefer a rectangle as I do. I usually choose a custom size 1000 x 500. It will adjust for different size screens.
Copy the HTML to Your Website.
Once you have copied the link in step 6, head over to your website. Assuming you have a website where you can open up a code module, all you have to do is paste the code in.
Save and you are done. You now have an embedded map on your website.
How to Get a Link to Your Map When you Don’t Have Admin Access to Your GMB.
It will always be preferable to use the original link but if you can’t there is an alternative. The difference is that you will be providing a link back to the map generator website. You can see the code highlighted in the image.
All you need to do is visit https://google-map-generator.com/ and add your listing.
If you want to display full information with reviews, input your exact business name and you will be given a map with a card in the top left with your name and the reviews.
If you don’t want your reviews to show, you can input your address. However, although it will not show your reviews, it also will not show your name either. Alternatively, scroll to the next paragraph – What to do if your reviews are poor, where we tell you how to link an image to your profile.
Input your exact name to show the business name and reviews.
Input your address to show the map without the business name and reviews.
What to do if Your Reviews are Poor.
Bear in mind that when I make a suggestion, I have local businesses in mind. Also that the businesses I work with sell products or services for the home.
With that in mind, if your reviews are less than 4, I suggest that you do not use an embedded map. Instead use an image with a link to take them to directions.
Hopefully, you’ll work on your reviews to improve them but in the meantime, an image will serve the purpose. To find out more about the importance of reviews, visit our article Google Reviews for Local Businesses.
Create a map in Simplified and upload it to your website in place of a Google Map. You can make it look authentic, just use the map without any styling or come up with an idea of your own. The reviews won’t be on there but you’ll still create a trust signal and give your customers the convenience of clicking through to the map.
Alternative you can use the map generator as suggested in the previous paragraph which shows you how to use a free map generator.
At the end of the video, you’ll see where to get the link for directions. It’s quite easy. Just open up your own map listing, click on’ directions’ and copy the address in the URL. You can then use this as a link for the image.
How to Create a Mock Google Map with Simplified.
What if You have a Service Business and Your Customers Don’t Visit Your Premises.
Google rules are quite clear about service businesses. If you do not serve customers at your location, you should set up a service area business. Your address will not be visible. This means that you will not want to embed a Google map.
There are still ways to create trust and make your customers feel that they are dealing with a local business.
You can create a map that has the look of a Google map but is not clickable. The difficulty for businesses who use a service area is that they compete with businesses that have premises. If your customers are already on your website, the last thing you want to do is send them off to Google. Screenshot a map of your area and create a visual that shows off your reviews and highlights the area you cover.
Instead of making the image link to Google, you could link it to another part of your website. If it’s not already on your contact page, link it to that instead.
The Google Map helps your visitors to feel that you are familiar, and that has benefits in achieving know, like and trust factors which will help you to convert more visitors into customers.
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