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Google Maps Channel Configuration

7 min read

1. Introduction #

The Google Maps widget allows visitors to your website to find your business location with a single click. When a visitor clicks the Google Maps button on your site, they will be taken directly to Google Maps showing your business address — ready for them to get directions or save your location. You can add one or more locations, assign them labels such as branch names, set their display hours, and customise how the widget appears to your visitors.

This guide will walk you through every step of the setup process in plain, simple language — no technical knowledge required.

2. Adding the Google Maps Channel to Your Widget #

When you first open the widget settings, you will land on the Channel Selection screen. This is where you choose which contact channels you want to display on your website — such as Google Maps, Phone, WhatsApp, Email, and others.

To add the Google Maps channel:

  1. Click on Google Maps to add it to your widget.
  2. Once selected, it will appear in your active channels list at the bottom of the screen.
  3. You will know it has been added when you see a map pin icon with the label Google Maps in the list.

Note: You can add multiple channels at the same time. The Google Maps channel is just one of several options available to you.

3. Entering Your Location and Contact Details #

After adding the Google Maps channel, a row of fields will appear for you to fill in. Here is what each field means:

  • Location — Enter your business location so visitors can open it directly in Google Maps. You can enter this in either of two ways:
    • Google Maps link — Paste the short or full link to your business on Google Maps, for example https://maps.app.goo.gl/yourlink. This is the most reliable option and is recommended.
    • Full business address — Type in your complete business address, for example 123 Main Street, New York, NY 10001, USA. Google Maps will search for this address when the visitor clicks the button.
    When a visitor clicks the Google Maps button on your website, they will be taken directly to your location on Google Maps.
  • Channel label — This is the text shown to your website visitors next to the Google Maps button. By default it says “Google Maps” but you can change it to something like “Find Us”, “Get Directions”, or your branch name.
  • Custom image — If you would like to use your own icon instead of the default map pin icon, click Choose file and upload your image.
  • Channel color — Click the colour box to pick a colour for your Google Maps button. Choose a colour that matches your website’s branding.
  • Show on — Select whether the Google Maps button should appear on Desktop, Mobile, or both by clicking the relevant icons.

3.1 How to Get Your Google Maps Link #

The easiest way to get your Google Maps link is to follow these steps:

  1. Open Google Maps in your browser and search for your business name or address.
  2. Click on your business listing to open it.
  3. Click the Share button (the icon that looks like an arrow pointing upward).
  4. Click Copy link.
  5. Paste this link into the Location field in your widget settings.

Tip: Using the Google Maps share link (the short maps.app.goo.gl link) is the most reliable method. It always points to the exact listing you copied it from, even if the address changes slightly over time.

Tip: If you have more than one business location — for example, multiple branches or offices — click the Add new contact button at the top right to add another row and enter each location individually.

4. Editing Individual Location Settings #

Each location you add has its own individual settings panel. These allow you to personalise each location further and make it easier for visitors to identify which branch or address they are looking for.

To open a location’s settings:

  1. Find the location row you want to edit.
  2. Click the Schedule button on the right-hand side of that row to access the full location settings.
  3. A panel called Google Maps contact settings will open.

4.1 Role and Contact Avatar #

  • Role — Enter a label for this location, for example “Head Office”, “City Centre Branch”, or “Warehouse”. This will be shown to visitors so they can quickly identify which location they want directions to.
  • Contact avatar — Upload a photo or image for this location by clicking Choose file. You could use a photo of the building, your company logo, or a branch-specific image to help visitors recognise the location.

Once you have made your changes, click Update contact to save them.

5. Setting Your Availability Schedule #

You may want to control when your Google Maps button is visible — for example, only showing it during your opening hours so visitors do not attempt to visit when you are closed. The Date Scheduling section lets you control exactly when each location appears on your website, down to specific hours on specific days of the week.

5.1 Choosing Availability Per Day #

You will see a grid showing all seven days of the week — Monday through to Sunday. For each day, click the dropdown menu and select one of the following options:

  • All day — The location button will be visible to visitors throughout the entire day. This is the default setting.
  • Scheduled — Choose this option to set specific hours. For example, you may want the Google Maps button to appear only between 9:00am and 5:00pm on weekdays to reflect your opening hours.
  • Unavailable — Choose this to hide the location button completely on that day, for example on days when the location is closed.

5.2 Copying a Schedule to Multiple Days #

If your opening hours are the same across several days, you do not need to set each one individually. You can copy one day’s schedule to other days quickly:

  1. Click the copy icon (the two overlapping squares) next to the day you want to copy from.
  2. A small menu will appear listing all the other days of the week.
  3. Tick the days you want to apply the same schedule to.
  4. Click Apply.

The schedule will be copied across to all the days you selected automatically.

5.3 Setting Your Time Zone #

At the bottom of the scheduling section you will find a Time zone dropdown. Make sure this is set to the correct time zone for the location so that your opening hours display accurately to visitors regardless of where they are in the world. By default, it is set to match your website’s time zone.

When you are happy with all the settings, click Update contact to save.

6. Customising the Multi-Location Pop-Up Message #

If you have added more than one location — for example, multiple branches — visitors will see a small pop-up when they click the widget button, showing all available locations for them to choose from. You can customise the text shown in this pop-up to make it feel more welcoming and on-brand.

To customise the pop-up message:

  1. Click the Multi-contact settings button at the top of the Google Maps channel panel.
  2. A window will appear with two fields to fill in:
  • Headline — This is the bold title text shown at the top of the pop-up. For example: “Find Your Nearest Branch”
  • Welcome message text — This is the smaller description text shown below the headline. For example: “Select a location to get directions.”

Type in whatever text feels right for your business, then click Update to save your changes.

7. Final Notes #

Your Google Maps widget is now fully set up. Visitors to your website will be able to click your location button and be taken directly to Google Maps — during the hours you have specified.

If you ever need to make changes — such as updating your location link, adding a new branch, or adjusting your opening hours — simply return to the widget settings area and follow the same steps outlined in this guide.

Reminder: Always click Update contact or Update after making any changes to ensure your settings are saved correctly.