Why You Should Embed a Google Map on Your Website
Embedding a Google Map on Your Website
You can include a Google map of your business, location, and reviews on your website. The map will show a Google pin with a view of your business location, address, reviews, review stars, and directions. If embedded correctly, this map can be a great addition to your website. It is a tool that allows visitors to your website to get an overview of your business in a matter of seconds. Here is an example of what it looks like:
Adding a Google map to your website is a simple process which does not require much technical work, and only a minor bit of coding by adding an embed iframe to your site. It suits people with beginner or intermediate knowledge of HTML, and a little knowledge of JavaScript. If you are working with a WordPress website, adding a Google map to your website is a breeze.
Why Add A Google Map to Your Website?
There are a few main reasons to add a Google map to your website:
- It helps customers or website visitors get directions to your business and saves customers the steps of opening a new browser window, leaving your website, and finding directions. Customers can simply use the map on your website.
- Your business contact information is easy to find. The data an embedded Google Map provides is your business address, phone number, website, directions, reviews, and review stars.
- A Google map can highlight nearby points of interest, parking areas, restaurants, theaters, parks, etc. Visitors can reference nearby areas if they are not exactly sure where your business is located.
- The Map can also keep visitors on your site for a longer period of time.
How Do I Embed a Google Map on my Website?
Here are the steps to embed a Google Map to your website:
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- Open Google Maps
- Type in the business or location in the Search Bar in the top left
- When the business populates, you will see a Share button under the name of the business. Click “Share”.
- You will see a new pop-up window to share the map. Select “Embed a Map”.
- Determine the size of the map you want on your site. Your options are “Small, Medium, Large, Custom Size”.
- Copy the HTML code which is an <iframe>
- Go to the webpage you want to embed the Map on.
- Paste the HTML code in the “text” version of your website where you want the Map to live.
The end result should look like this:
That’s it. It’s a fairly simple process to complete. Our map looks a bit different as we have a hidden address for Sterling Sky. The hidden address will only show a service area, rather than the exact location of the business.
Google Maps FAQ
- Is a Google Maps embedded map free?
- Yes, the maps embed is free. You simply copy the <iframe> code from Google and paste it to your website
- Can I make the embed map code responsive?
- Yes, the code to make the embed responsive is:
- <style>iframe {width:100%;height:100%;}</style>
- Can I center the embed map on my website?
- Yes, simply use the “align center” on your WordPress website and the map will center on your page.
How do you feel about using a map image and linking that image to the Map. I feel embedding the map may slow down my website heavily, but I’m also curious if using an image works just as well as embedding the map.
I’ve used both methods. An embedded Google Map may slow down the site slightly, but shouldn’t do much to make a difference, especially if it is on a Contact page. We have not tested results or speed one method vs. the other but would be a good test.
I like using the embedded Google map as it provides more local signals than an image. If you choose to use an image, try to mark the image up with as many local signals as possible.
Would this slow down the website speed if using the map on multiple location pages? Would it have the same impact as using an image and linking to the map? I’m definitely curious to see if embedding has more value than linking to an image.
Nice post, Brian. Look-ups of driving directions are always worth encouraging: https://www.seobythesea.com/2013/09/driving-directions-reviews-ranking-signals-google-maps/
this is a terrible idea. Embedded maps are incredibly slow, which will harm you significantly when Web Vitals ranking goes live next year. And secondly, the maps are filled with the pins of your competitors! You really want to give users a window, on your own website, into finding competing businesses? Even if there isn’t a competitor pin popping up right next to yours, there’s plenty of other distractions. Whenever I see an embedded map I immediately start scrolling, looking for ponds and other fishing spots. Definitely not a good way to get a conversion. DO NOT EMBED GOOGLE MAPS!
Hi Matthew,
While we recognize that an embedded Google Map may slow down the site a bit, the embed should not cause enough harm to your website to drop it in rankings. We do not recommend embedding the map on every page, mainly a contact page (which probably won’t show up in the SERPs anyway). Embedding a map gives potential customers all of the information they need to make a decision on your business. If the worry is that someone will come to your contact page and begin scrolling on your embedded Google Map to find competitors or restaurants in the area, perhaps they are not a good fit for your services anyhow.
Overall, an embedded Google map on your website will produce more net positive effects than negative. This is why we recommend adding an embed.
Is this the best practice even for a service area business? Thanks
Hey RJ,
Yeah I would do it for a service area business too because it shows the Google reviews.
Do you think there’s any value in 2022 to embedding a Google Map? Or is it just something good to have for quick driving directions for a store?
I haven’t tested to see if it impacts ranking but I would always say yes because it has your review count updated in real time.