Getting a Google Maps API Key For Buying Buddy

Our mapping features require a Google Maps API Key to function properly. This guide will walk you through setting up your key and adding it to your Buying Buddy account, ensuring all map features display correctly on your website.

This Google API Key will come from your own Google account.
You must add your Google API Key to your Buying Buddy account for each authorized domain in your account.

Why You Need a Google Maps API Key

The Buying Buddy Plugin uses Google Maps to display properties on maps and provide location-based features. Without this key, map components in your widgets won't work properly.

If you have a trial or staging site you should still go ahead and get a key.
When you change your domain name, just update the settings on your Google Map Key!

Understanding Google Maps Billing
Note: Google requires payment information to use their Maps API, but don't worry - we'll show you how to avoid charges.
Google provides a generous $200 of free credit every month with your account. This translates to approximately 28,000 map loads, which is more than enough for most real estate websites.
Even though you likely won't incur any actual costs, Google still requires a valid credit card on file - this is simply part of their terms of service and can't be avoided.
With the quota limits we'll help you set up, you'll stay safely within the free usage threshold. If your website ever approaches these limits, Google will notify you in advance, giving you complete control over your usage.
For perspective, if you somehow exceeded the free monthly allowance, additional map views are reasonably priced - around $7 for an extra 1,000 map loads based on Google's pricing structure (May 2020).

1. Get Started

1. Make sure you're logged into a Google account (Gmail or any Google account)
2. Go to the Google Maps Platform: https://mapsplatform.google.com/
   
3. Click the Get Started button in the top-right corner
4. Accept Google's terms and conditions
5. Click the blue Finish Account Setup button

2. Create Payments Profile

Google requires billing information, but with proper settings, you can avoid charges:

1. Click Create new payments profile
2. Choose Individual account for simpler setup
   
3. Add a payment method (credit card required by Google)
4. Click Start free
5. If you see a welcome survey, click Skip for Now
6. Your API Key will appear on screen (we'll use this later)
7. Keep Enable all Google Maps APIs checked
8. Click the button to continue to Google Maps Platform
9. When asked to protect your key, click Maybe later

3. Rename Your Project

Creating a memorable project name will help you manage your key in the future:

1. In the search bar at the top, type "manage resources"
2. Click the Manage Resources option in the results
   
3. Find "My First Project" in the Resources table (use this one because your billing details are already connected to it)
   
4. Click the 3 dots (⋮) menu on the right and select Settings
5. Enter a name you'll remember (like your website name)
   e.g "charliesmithrealty IDX website"
6. Click Save

4. Upgrade to a Full Account

This important step prevents your maps from stopping after 30 days:

1. In the search bar at the top, type "billing accounts"
   
2. Click Billing Accounts in the search results
3. On the Billing Overview page, find the Free Trial Credit panel
4. Click the blue Activate button and confirm
   
5. This upgrade ensures continuous operation but still keeps you in Google's free tier

5. Protect Your API Key

Setting proper restrictions helps secure your key:

1. Return to Google Maps Platform by searching for "maps" in the top search bar, and selecting Google Maps Platform
2. Verify your new project name appears at the top
3. In the left menu, click Keys and Credentials
4. Find your API key in the table and click its name.
   You don't need to change this name, and remember that this API Key name is different from the Project Name you just created
5. Under Application Restrictions, select Websites.
6. You will now see Website Restrictions. You need to add two formatted website addresses for each domain you have authorized in Buying Buddy.
   
   • Open your Buying Buddy dashboard in a new tab
   • Go to Widgets > Installation and Setup > Google Map Key tab
   • You'll see two correctly formatted website addresses
   • Copy each address using the blue Copy button
     
   • Return to Google Maps Platform
   • Click the blue + ADD under Website restrictions
   • Paste the value and click Done
     
   • Repeat for the second address (it will be similar but starts with "*.")
7. If you have sandbox domains, repeat this process for all domains.
   You should now have two entries for each site, like this:
   
8. Next, under API Restrictions, select Don't restrict key
9. Click Save

6. Set Quotas

Setting quotas helps you stay within Google's free usage limits:

1. In the left menu, click Quotas
2. At the top of the page, select Maps JavaScript API
   
3. Scroll to the Quotas table
4. Check the boxes for these three items:
   • 3-d Map Loads Per Day
   • Map Loads Per Day
   • Map Loads Per Minute
5. Click Edit at the top of the table
   
6. Uncheck the Unlimited boxes
7. Set all three quotas to 1000
8. Submit your request and confirm the quota reduction

7. Add API Key to Buying Buddy

The final step is adding your key to your Buying Buddy account:

1. Go back to Keys and Credentials
2. Find your API key in the table
3. Click Show Key and copy it
   
4. In your Buying Buddy account, go to Installation and Setup > Google Map Key tab
5. Paste your key in the Map API Key field
   
6. Add your Google account email for future reference
7. If you have a Wix website: Go to your Wix Editor and then add the key to your Wix Buying Buddy dashboard.
8. If you use WordPress: Open the Plugin settings in your WordPress website admin and add the key to the plugin settings.
   NOTE: If your WordPress theme is already loading Google Maps then you should still add the Map API Key to the Required Settings in the Buying Buddy WordPress plugin. However, on the Settings panel, scroll down to see the "Optional Settings" and set "Buying Buddy Loads Google Maps Library?" to be "NO". See WordPress compatibility notes.
9. For other websites: For all other websites that use the JavaScript plugin, you must now update the plugin on your website with the new plugin script from the "Add Plugin" tab that now includes your API Key.

Important Notes

• Google provides $200 of free credit monthly (approximately 28,000 map loads)
• With the quotas we've set, you'll stay within the free usage limits
• Setting these quotas protects you from unexpected charges
• If you have a trial or staging site, you can add those domains to your key
• If you change domains later, just update your settings in Google Maps Platform

Need help? Submit a support ticket and we'll be happy to assist you.

Useful direct links for Google Maps Platform

• Direct Link to the Google Maps Platform:
  https://console.cloud.google.com/google/maps-apis/home
• Link to set budgets - https://console.cloud.google.com/billing/budgets
  (only important if you have very high use and need to manage costs)