Setup Configuration

1. Setting up your Google Maps API Key

To use features like fetching Google Reviews and the "Fetch Geo Coordinates" button, you need a Google Maps API Key from the Google Cloud Platform. This key allows the plugin to securely access Google’s services on your behalf.

Important: Google requires you to have a Billing Account enabled on your Google Cloud Project to use these APIs. However, the Places API and Geocoding API offer a generous free tier, so most small businesses will not incur charges for typical usage.

  1. Go to the Google Cloud Platform Console and sign in with your Google account.
  2. Create a New Project or select an existing one.

    (Usually at the top of the page, there’s a project selector dropdown).

  3. Ensure Billing is enabled for your project. If not, Google will prompt you to set it up.
  4. Navigate to "APIs & Services" > "Library" from the main navigation menu (often a hamburger menu ☰ on the left).
  5. Search for and enable the following two APIs for your project:
    • Places API (for fetching reviews, place details)
    • Geocoding API (for the "Fetch Geo Coordinates" button)
  6. Go to "APIs & Services" > "Credentials".
  7. Click on "+ CREATE CREDENTIALS" and select "API key".
  8. An API key will be generated. Copy this key immediately.
  9. Highly Recommended: Restrict your API key!

    Unrestricted API keys are a security risk. Click on the newly created key (or the "Edit API key" pencil icon next to it) to configure restrictions:

    • Under "Application restrictions": Select "HTTP referrers (web sites)". Add your website URL(s) (e.g., yourwebsite.com/*).
    • Under "API restrictions": Select "Restrict key". In the dropdown, choose the "Places API" and "Geocoding API".

    Save your restrictions.

  10. In your WordPress admin, navigate to: Business Schema > Settings.
  11. Paste your copied Google Maps API Key into the Google Maps API Key field.
  12. Click "Save Changes".


2. Finding and Using Google Place IDs

Each business location listed on Google Maps has a unique Place ID. You’ll need to add this ID to each "Location" post in WordPress to allow the plugin to fetch specific reviews for that location.

  1. Go to Google’s official Place ID Finder tool (This page includes an interactive map).
  2. In the search box on the map, enter the name and address of your business location.
  3. When the correct location appears on the map, click its marker.
  4. A small pop-up window will appear showing details, including the Place ID. It’s a long string of characters (often starting with "ChIJ…").
  5. Copy this Place ID string.
  6. In your WordPress admin, go to Locations and either edit an existing location or add a new one.
  7. Paste the copied Place ID into the Google Place ID field in the "Location Details" meta box.
  8. Save/Update the Location post.

Repeat this process for each distinct business location you want to manage and fetch reviews for.

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