1. Log in to Google Cloud

1. Go to the Google Cloud Console and Sign in with your Google account.
2. If you are new to Google Cloud, you'll be asked to agree to their Terms of Service. Please check the box and click Agree and Continue.

2. Create a New Project

1. At the top of the Console, click on "Select a project", then New Project.
   

1. Enter a name for your project (e.g., "My Website Maps").
2. Click "Create" to set up your new project.
3. Once it's created, click "Select Project" in the top right corner.
   

3. Enable Google Maps APIs

1. Using the navigation menu on the left, Go to the "APIs & Services" and click "Library."
2. Select "Maps JavaScript API" and click Enable.
   

1. If you don't have a billing account with Google, you'll be redirected to set one up. Otherwise, you may skip the next step.
   

4. Set Up Your Billing Account

IMPORTANT: A billing account is required to verify that you are not a robot. Google provides free usage of up to 10,000 searches per month, which is more than enough for most websites. On average, a website uses only 10-20% of this limit, keeping you well within the free tier. Exceeding this threshold would indicate very high traffic on your website.

1. Ensure you have the correct country selected and click Agree and Continue.
2. Follow the prompts to set up your billing profile. If you are using a personal Google account, please select "Individual" for the Account Type. Enter your name, billing address, and card information, then click Start Free. 
3. Next, you'll be presented with an optional survey. Click Skip for now. This will not impact your account negatively.

5. Configure the Key

1. Copy the key and keep it handy—you'll need to add it to the website shortly.
2. Click Go to Google Maps Platform.
   
3. Next, select "Websites" from the dropdown menu and enter your website address in this format: www.mywebsite.com.
4. Click Restrict Key. This feature limits the usage of the key to your website to improve security.
   

1. Using the menu on the left, let's navigate to "APIs & Services".
   
2. Check if all Maps APIs have automatically been enabled. If not, enable the following three:
   
1. Maps Static API, Geocoding API, and Places API (New).
   

1. Now let's get back to Billing and click Activate on the right hand side. This will activate the full account and ensure that your API Key continues to work past the first 91 days.
   

1. On the same page, under "Create a Budget Alert", enter "0" and click Create. This ensures you'll receive an alert if you reach your free monthly usage limit.

6. Add the Key to Your Website

If you did not copy your key during the setup process, no worries, you can always find it in your Google Cloud Console. Simply navigate to APIs & Services > Credentials > Show Key