Instructions for getting a Google Places API Key?

Hi there,

Sorry about that. Google just updated their whole interface and made our detailed documentation very much obsolete. We’ll be updating it very soon, and I’ll update this ticket when that’s done. Thanks!

Thanks for the fast reply. I may have done it… can’t be sure because the plugin displays the following:
“Sorry, this business does not have a proper Place ID Set”

Here is a link to the test site so you can see for yourself:
https://www.test.alwaystrimmingtree.com/

Note: The business is found in the settings under Widget.

Thanks again.

OK, that is a different error. When you configured your widget, were you able to find your exact Business Profile in the list of suggestions? Can you provide me with a link to your G+ Business profile so I can test that out?

Yes. It appears to have found the business exactly. If you do a search for this, you will find links to everything:
“always trimming tree specialists ocala fl”

The name of the business is “Always Trimming Tree Specialists”.

Here’s the G+ page: https://plus.google.com/+Alwaystrimmingtree/posts?hl=en

And the reviews: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=always%20trimming%20tree%20specialists%20ocala%20fl&lrd=0x88e8784bd1dc0f1d:0x8bff7b71d32d9558,1

Thanks.

Hi matt,

I also didn’t have any trouble finding your G+ profile through our widget. You can see it loading perfectly on our demo site here:
https://googleplacesreviews.wordimpress.com/sidebar-widget/

So perhaps this is related to your API key. I’d go through the settings again and make sure the API is configured to be used with your domain name correctly, make sure it’s actually LIVE and published. These are items that users often get tripped up on. Their interface really makes it difficult, that’s why we spend time on our documentation.

I expect to have it updated on Monday or Tuesday. Thanks!

Thanks again for your help. And you’re right, their documentation is terrible. Heck, I don’t even know the proper format of the Google API key.

I entered: (for example) abc-defgh-123456 (#123456789101)

Am I supposed to enter only a section of that? Maybe this is where I went wrong?

Matt

Hi Matt,

I updated the documentation just now. Let me know how it goes:

https://wordimpress.com/documentation/google-places-reviews/creating-your-google-places-api-key/

Hi Matt.

Since I had already had the API that I set up on Friday, the process was a bit different from the instructions. I did, however, create a new API key and enabled Browser Key Credentials. Once that was done, I deleted the first key.

Here is a screenshot of the setup (secure info blurred)

I then copied/pasted the new key into the WP site’s Settings/Google Reviews field and saved. I also double-checked that the Place ID was still showing up under Widgets (where I added your plugin to my sidebar).

Unfortunately, I’m still getting the Request Denied Error at https://www.test.alwaystrimmingtree.com.

Any ideas?

Thank you.

P.S. By the way, “Browser” is spelled incorrectly in the documentation.

Matt

The referrers field is totally optional, so maybe just pull both of those out completely.

I also noted when I just re-tried everything right now that the new API keys have a dash and more numbers at the end. Make sure you are pasting in the entire key into the settings.

Let me know how that goes.

Thanks!

Thanks again. I’m not sure what I was doing incorrectly, but your help made the difference. I just removed and re-installed the widget and it worked. I’m live now. Thanks again!

Matt

My API key is not working at all. I’ve followed all of the documentation and when I try to type my address into the widget nothing happens. Same if we try to type anything in the widget – we really want this to work!

Hi Leanne,

There must be a problem with another plugin or your theme if you can’t type anything into the widget. That doesn’t have anything to do with the API key.

Can you try disabling all other plugins and see if it works then? If so, re-enable each one, one at a time until you see the problem again. Then let us know which one that was and we’ll look into it.

Thanks!

Custom Sidebars Pro by WPMU DEV

REQUEST_DENIED: This IP, site or mobile application is not authorized to use this API key. Request received from IP address 2600:3c00::f03c:91ff:fe26:985d, with empty referer

REQUEST_DENIED: The provided API key is expired