How to Use the Map Block in UniLink (Add a Location Map to Your Page)
How to Use the Map Block in UniLink (Add a Location Map to Your Page)
The Map block embeds an interactive Google Maps pin on your UniLink page so visitors can see exactly where you are and get directions in one tap — no copy-pasting addresses, no app-switching.
- The Map block geocodes a text address into a map pin — always enter a full street address, not a zip code or neighborhood name.
- Enable the "Get Directions" button. It is the primary reason local businesses add a map to their page.
- Zoom level 15 is street-level and correct for most use cases. Lower values show a city or country view.
- One Map block per location. For multiple locations, stack separate Map blocks or use a Text block with linked addresses.
If you have a physical location visitors need to find — a studio, a shop, a restaurant, an event venue — the Map block removes the biggest friction point in that journey. Instead of copying an address and switching to a maps app, visitors see your pin directly on the page and tap one button to get directions. This guide covers every setting, the mistakes that send pins to the wrong place, and how to position the block for maximum impact.
What the Map block does
The Map block takes a text address you enter, geocodes it using Google Maps, and renders an interactive map tile embedded on your UniLink page. Visitors see a pin at your location. They can pinch-zoom to orient themselves, and if the "Get Directions" button is enabled, they can tap it to open turn-by-turn navigation in their preferred maps app without ever leaving your page.
UniLink uses its own Google Maps API key — you do not need a Google Cloud account or any developer setup. You enter an address and the map renders. Map type can be set to Roadmap (standard street view), Satellite (aerial photography), Hybrid (satellite with street labels), or Terrain. Roadmap is correct for most use cases.
One important constraint: the Map block shows a single location. For two or more locations, add one Map block per location. For five or more, a Text block with linked Google Maps URLs is more practical than stacking many map tiles.
Before you start
- Confirm your full street address: You need the complete address — street number, street name, city, state or region, country. Zip codes alone, neighborhood names, and landmarks without a street number produce imprecise pins. Pull the address from your Google Business Profile to ensure it matches what Google already has geocoded.
- Verify your address in Google Maps first: Search your address in Google Maps and confirm the pin lands at your actual entrance. If Google Maps gets it wrong, so will your UniLink map. Newly opened businesses, rural addresses, and shared building entrances are common culprits.
- Decide what action you want the visitor to take: If you want walk-in traffic, enable the "Get Directions" button and place the Map block where it is visible without excessive scrolling. If you are showing an event venue, pair the Map block with an Event block above it.
- Think mobile: Most visitors are on phones. A map height of 250–300px is readable without pushing other content too far below the fold.
How to add the Map block
- Open the page editor: Log in to your UniLink dashboard, select the page you want to edit, and click Edit.
- Add the Map block: Click + Add Block, find Map in the block list, and click it.
- Enter your address: In the block settings panel, type or paste your full street address in the Address field. The map tile updates with a pin. Verify the pin is correct before continuing.
- Set the zoom level: The scale runs 1–20. Use 15 for a standard street address. Try 16–17 for building-level detail. Avoid anything below 12 — it renders a city or regional view that is not useful for a specific location.
- Choose a map type: Select Roadmap for most locations. Use Satellite or Hybrid for outdoor venues, parks, or campuses where the aerial view provides more spatial context.
- Set map height: 250px is compact and works alongside other content. 350–400px is appropriate when the map is the primary focus. Do not go below 200px.
- Toggle "Show info window on load": This displays a popup with your location name and address when the map first renders. Enable it — it confirms to visitors that the pin is intentional.
- Add a custom marker label (optional): A short text label attached to the pin — your business name or "Studio entrance" — makes it immediately clear what the pin marks.
- Enable the "Get Directions" button: Turn this on. It is the most important toggle in the block. The button opens the visitor's default maps app with your address pre-loaded as the destination.
- Save and test on your phone: Save, then tap the "Get Directions" button on your actual phone. Confirm the route leads to your real entrance — not a side door, parking garage exit, or wrong street.
Key settings explained
| Setting | What it controls | Best practice |
|---|---|---|
| Address | The text address geocoded to a map pin | Full street address including number, street, city, and country — never a zip code alone |
| Zoom level (1–20) | How close the map renders on load | 15 for a street address; 16–17 for building detail; 12–14 for neighborhood context |
| Map type | Roadmap, Satellite, Hybrid, or Terrain | Roadmap for most locations; Satellite or Hybrid when aerial view adds useful context |
| Map height | The pixel height of the embedded map tile | 250–350px for most pages; 400px if the map is the primary focus |
| Show info window | Popup with name and address on map load | Enable — it confirms the pin is intentional and shows the address inline |
| Custom marker label | Short text label attached to the map pin | Your business name or "Studio entrance" — short and specific |
| Get Directions button | Opens visitor's maps app with your address as destination | Always enable for any business or venue with walk-in traffic |
Why local businesses should prioritize this block
Getting directions is a high-intent action. A visitor who taps "Get Directions" has already decided to come. The Map block's job is not to persuade — it is to remove friction at that moment. Without it, the visitor has to switch apps, paste an address, and navigate back. A surprising number of people abandon that process on mobile.
For event pages, the Map block solves a specific problem: attendees do not remember the venue address on the day of the event. They return to your UniLink page on event day and use the map to navigate. The page does useful work on the day itself, not just during registration. Placement matters too — a map buried at the very bottom of a long page gets missed. For any page where the physical location is primary, put the Map block in the top third or immediately below your services section.
Troubleshooting common issues
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pin lands in the wrong location or in the middle of a zip code area | Address entered as a zip code, city name, or partial address | Enter the complete street address including house number, street, city, state, and country; verify first in Google Maps |
| Map shows a country or city view instead of street level | Zoom level is set too low (below 12) | Raise the zoom level to 15; go to 16–17 for building-level detail |
| Map does not render | Address field is empty or contains an unresolvable string | Clear the address field, re-enter a valid full address, and wait for geocoding to complete before saving |
| "Get Directions" button is missing on the live page | The button toggle is not enabled | Open block settings, enable the Get Directions toggle, and save |
| Directions lead to the wrong entrance or building side | Google Maps has an imprecise geocode — common with large buildings or recently opened businesses | Use "Suggest an edit" in Google Maps to move the pin; fix propagates to UniLink within days |
| Map tile looks blurry on Retina displays | Map height set very low, causing the tile to scale up | Increase map height to at least 250px |
| Tapping the map tile does nothing | The map tile is an embedded view, not a navigation link | The "Get Directions" button is the action CTA — ensure it is enabled |
Best fit for
- Local businesses with walk-in traffic: restaurants, cafes, salons, barbershops, yoga studios
- Service providers working from a fixed studio: tattoo artists, photographers, personal trainers
- Event pages where attendees need navigation on the day
- Retail shops and boutiques linking their location from Instagram or TikTok bios
Not the right tool if
- You are fully remote or online-only — a map with no useful location adds noise
- You have more than four locations — use a Text block with linked Google Maps URLs instead
- Your location changes frequently — a stale address sends visitors to the wrong place
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Google Maps API key to use the Map block?
No. UniLink uses its own Google Maps API key for all Map blocks on the platform. You do not need a Google Cloud account, a billing-enabled project, or any developer configuration. Enter your address and the map renders automatically.
Can I show multiple locations on a single Map block?
No. Each Map block shows a single address. For two to four locations, add one Map block per location and stack them with a label above each. For five or more locations, use a Text block with each address hyperlinked to its Google Maps URL — stacking many Map blocks becomes unwieldy on mobile.
When a visitor taps "Get Directions," which app opens?
The visitor's default maps app opens. On iPhone, this is Apple Maps unless the user has changed their default to Google Maps or Waze. On Android, it is typically Google Maps. You cannot force a specific app to open — the visitor's device settings control that.
My business recently moved. How do I update the address?
Open the Map block settings in the page editor, clear the current address, and enter the new one. Save the page. The updated pin is live immediately. Also check any Text blocks, Banner blocks, or Bio sections on the same page that mention the old address — the Map block only controls the pin, not text written elsewhere.
The pin lands in the wrong place even though my address is correct. What do I do?
This is a Google Maps geocoding issue, not a UniLink problem. UniLink passes your address to Google and displays whatever Google returns. To fix it, search your address in Google Maps, open the three-dot menu, and select "Suggest an edit" to drag the pin to the correct location. Google typically processes edits within a few days to a week, after which the Map block pin moves automatically.
- Always enter a full street address — zip codes and neighborhood names produce imprecise pins.
- Set zoom level to 15 for street-level detail; anything below 12 shows a city or regional view that is not useful.
- Enable the "Get Directions" button — it is the primary CTA of the block and the main reason local businesses add a map.
- Test directions on your phone after publishing; confirm the route leads to your actual entrance.
- For multiple locations, use one Map block per location; for five or more, switch to linked addresses in a Text block.
Ready to put your location on the map? Create your free UniLink page and add the Map block today.
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