Embedding Google Reviews on your website can enhance your credibility and attract more customers. This guide will walk you through the steps to achieve this using PHP 8.
Step 1: Get Your Google Place ID
To embed Google Reviews, you first need your Google Place ID. Here’s how to find it:
- Go to the Google Place ID Finder.
- Enter your business name in the search bar.
- Click on your business in the dropdown, and your Place ID will be displayed.
Step 2: Create a Google API Key
You will need a Google API key to access the Google Places API. Follow these steps:
- Go to the Google Cloud Console.
- Create a new project or select an existing one.
- Navigate to the “APIs & Services” > “Library”.
- Search for “Places API” and enable it.
- Go to “APIs & Services” > “Credentials” and click on “Create Credentials”.
- Choose “API Key” and copy the generated key.
Step 3: Fetch Google Reviews Using PHP
Now, you can use PHP to fetch the reviews. Here’s a simple example:
<?php
$placeId = 'YOUR_PLACE_ID'; // Replace with your Place ID
$apiKey = 'YOUR_API_KEY'; // Replace with your API Key
$url = "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/details/json?place_id={$placeId}&key={$apiKey}";
$response = file_get_contents($url);
$data = json_decode($response, true);
if (isset($data['result']['reviews'])) {
foreach ($data['result']['reviews'] as $review) {
echo "<div class='review'>";
echo "<h3>" . htmlspecialchars($review['author_name']) . "</h3>";
echo "<p>" . htmlspecialchars($review['text']) . "</p>";
echo "<p>Rating: " . htmlspecialchars($review['rating']) . "</p>";
echo "</div>";
}
} else {
echo "No reviews found.";
}
?>
Step 4: Style Your Reviews
To make your reviews visually appealing, you can add some CSS. Here’s a simple example:
.review {
border: 1px solid #ccc;
padding: 10px;
margin: 10px 0;
border-radius: 5px;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
}
.review h3 {
margin: 0;
color: #333;
}
.review p {
margin: 5px 0;
}
Step 5: Test Your Implementation
After adding the PHP code and CSS to your website, make sure to test it. Open your webpage and check if the Google Reviews are displayed correctly. If you encounter any issues, double-check your Place ID and API Key.
Embedding Google Reviews on your website is a straightforward process that can significantly boost your online presence. By following these steps, you can easily display customer feedback and enhance your business’s credibility. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!
Happy coding… 🙂
I’ve been designing web applications—on and off—since 2001, back when animated GIFs were all the rage and ‘responsive design’ meant answering your client’s emails. Over the past 14 years, I’ve kept pace with the ever-evolving trends in PHP development, successfully delivering a variety of projects that made my clients happy (and kept me caffeinated).
This website serves as my soapbox—a place to share the insights I’ve picked up along the way with anyone curious enough to dive in. Welcome aboard!
Need some custom work done? Or, just want to reach out? Email: dan@danoriordan.com