How to Get a Google API Key

To fully take advantage of Google maps and to integrate it into a blog or website, you’ll have to sign up to receive a Google API Key. This allows you to insert Google maps into your own web pages on your own domains. The only requirement is that you must have a Google account, as your API key will be connected to your account.

Even though there are many plugins and scripts that require an API Key to work, developers often overlook explaining just exactly how to sign up for a Google API Key. Today we’ll walk you through that process.

Start with this link to sign up for a Google API Key.

It’s always a good idea to look over the terms and conditions, this is especially true about the terms for your API Key. Google is very serious about the terms of use. Here’s some highlights:

• There is a limit to the number of geocode requests per day, 15,000,
• There is no limit to the number of page views you can generate per day.
• Advertising (Adsense/Adwords) is not included in Google API Key Maps
• You are required to offer Google mapping as a free service to your users.

Accept the terms and conditions. Next type in the actual domain of the site that you’ll be using Google Maps on. If you have more than one site, you will need to get a separate API key for each site. Click “Generate API Key.”

The next window will provide a Google API key. Your key can be used for inserting maps into your website as well as for a variety of Google-Map related WordPress plugins. Just remember this key is only valid on the domain you provided.

Google also provides sample code for javascript and flash that show you where to insert the API key for your Google map. You’ll essentially be inserting it after you see the term “key=”.

If you’re using WordPress, inserting your custom map may be easier depending on the map plugin you choose. Now that you have your Google API Key, you can successfully start adding Google maps to your website or blog.

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