How to add a Store Locator to WordPress?

How to add a store locator in WordPress ? It makes perfect sense to wonder how to add a store locator in WordPress. Indeed, the Store Locator is a crucial element for a website associated with a structure which has a store or professional premises open to the public. For the simple reason that this allows the Internet user to easily locate in a few clicks on a map where the sales space (or office or premises) is located in order to potentially get there. Whether to make a purchase, request a service or a benefit.

Also, given that WordPress is used to run approximately 43% of websites in the world, it is obvious that many people are looking to know how to add a store locator to WordPress. Particularly given that WordPress is frequently used to create and run professional sites such as business sites, craft sites, independent sites or other structures with a place that can accommodate the public.

So how do you add a store locator to a WordPress website ? Here is the answer! 🙂

Themes with store locator functions included

Do not hesitate to check if your current WordPress theme includes a native store locator system . Various WordPress themes include a mapping functionality, namely the ability to add a map to pages. Also, before opting to add a store locator WordPress plugin/extension, take a look at what may already be available but not yet activated via your current WP theme.

Indeed, if this is the case and you already have a store locator system embedded by the WP theme activated on your website you will undoubtedly have extensive possibilities for customizing the integrated tool. With for example the choice of the colors of the map or the choice of the size of the map…

Take the case of Flatsome for example, which is a best-selling WordPress theme . This WordPress theme includes the possibility of locating one to several stores/stores on a map. The proof in pictures:

Here is a list of themes for which, however, there is no Store locator system included (or which would come close):

• Blocksy (only includes a Contact Info block via which to add information: phone, email, fax, physical address, etc.)
• Smartmag
• 2024

Of course, your WordPress theme may also include a store locator function that does not suit you, in which case you can definitely opt for a WordPress Store Locator extension .

A store Locator like with WordPress blocks

You can also try not to add plugins for your store locator on WordPress but check if certain plugins already installed do not offer blocks that can be suitable and be part of your Store Locator page .

Jetpack Blocks

Let’s take the example of the Jetpack plugin (quite heavy) which includes 2 interesting blocks if the following is activated in the settings beforehand:

• Map : To use the map block, you need an access token on Mapbox (third-party services therefore a somewhat dissuasive system)
• Opening hours : This block is interesting because it does all the work for you, you will only have to check the opening and closing days, with the possibility of setting morning AND evening time slots.

Stackable Block Map

If you already have Stackable (a suite of blocks that extends the use of native blocks), simply type “map” in your block search field. Once added, the Stackable “Map” Block will display the following:

You can search for your business or store in the settings on the right of the screen. And have the same MAP as above without having to search, create an API key on Google. On the other hand, to customize this map, you will need to use an API key from Google . And hang on, if you’re not used to it, it’s long and boring.

Finally, you will have understood that sometimes, before resorting to a large plugin for a single functionality, you need to dig into what already exists on your WordPress site and at least test its functions. History :

• not to overload the mule 😉
• not to pay for something you can do yourself!

Which doesn’t mean that paying for a good store locator WordPress product isn’t a good thing 🙂

Create a store locator without using a WordPress plugin

The regulars know it. If we can avoid having too many plugins on a WordPress site , it’s better. Also, if you want to add a store locator to WordPress without opting to add an extension, great, and here are some solutions:

Make a simple store locator with native blocks

You can absolutely opt for a native system with WordPress blocks by working with columns:

• Take the column block with 2 50/50 columns
• Put the coordinates part of the store on the left, put your map on the right

Here is an example with a native colum block (Gutenberg) and Stackable’s Map Block on the right :

I am not displaying opening hours here because there is little interest in our example, but I could do so by making the map on the right higher, to balance the display on a desktop computer. As for the result on mobile, it would be stacked 🙂 But the proof is that you can make a (simple) store locator with the blocks, without paying for a plugin and without adding an additional plugin.

Store Locator WordPress plugins

If you do not find what you are looking for among the native Gutenberg WordPress blocks, which would be embedded by your WordPress theme/template and blocks via plugin, then yes, going through an extension dedicated to the store locator is more justified.

Among the WordPress extensions available in the official catalog, you will then have to add a WordPress store locator :

• WP Store Locator : more dedicated to businesses with multiple establishments – 60,000+ active installations – 5 stars for WP plugin rating
• WP Go Maps (formerly WP Google Maps): unfortunately mainly dedicated to displaying a dynamic map – 400,000+ active installations – 5 stars for the plugin rating

These are today the two most reliable and popular plugins for embedding an effective Store locator WordPress page.

Add or build a store locator with Elementor

Good news with Elementor. You can add a MAP for free with a free Google MAPS widget . On the other hand, for the purely display part of the business(es) with their opening hours etc. You will have to go through other Widgets like:

• Accordion to vertically display several stores or stores to the right or left of a geographic map.
• Text editor widget for the contact information and various contact details section

Put local business structured data on your store locator page

There is no need to wait until you have a store locator page on WordPress to add Schema structured data for your local business. Indeed, it is simply their presence on a professional website and/or e-commerce site that matters.

This will be the subject of a future dedicated article.

In the meantime, all the documentation on Local Business enriched data is here: Structured data specific for local business

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Of course, many would dream of simply having to embed their Google My Business page in a WordPress page, which would save a lot of time since we would only update the information on Google Business Profile once and presto, finished o/ But that is unfortunately not possible. Just like you cannot display your customer reviews on your website without code or an API key (except through a plugin).

In the meantime, a store locator on WordPress , it is possible to add one that is beautiful and effective, without opting for an additional plugin!