How to Create a Service Area Locator for Your Website

Create a service area locator that shows providers based on where they actually serve, not just where they're located. Perfect for HVAC companies, installers, contractors, field technicians, and any business where providers cover a region.

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The Challenge

Standard locators sort by distance from a physical address. But field service businesses don't work that way. A technician might be based 50 miles away but serve the customer's entire county. An installer might cover three states from a single headquarters.

With Storepoint, you can define service areas for each provider. When customers search, they see providers who actually serve their location, not just whoever has the nearest office.

Before You Start

You'll need a Storepoint account on the Business plan to define service areas. Storepoint is an embeddable locator widget that works on any website: Shopify, WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, custom-built sites, and many more.

Don't have an account yet? Start a free trial and follow along. You can set up your locator on any plan, then upgrade to Business when you're ready to configure service areas.

Step 1: Add Your Providers 📍

Head to Manage Locations and add your service providers, technicians, installers, or contractors:

• 📋 Spreadsheet upload: Got a list? Upload from a CSV or Excel file
• ✏️ Add one by one: Click "Add Location" and fill in the details
• 🔄 Google Sheets sync: Connect a Google Sheet for automatic updates

For each provider, add their business address (this is where their map marker will appear), contact info, and any relevant details about services offered.

Step 2: Add It to Your Website 🌐

Before embedding, you'll need a map provider connected. Head to Map Providers to set up Mapbox or Google Maps.

1. Go to Embed in your dashboard
2. Copy the embed code
3. Paste it into your website

Your locator is now live. At this point, it shows results by distance from the provider's address. Next, you'll define service areas.

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Platform Guides

Need help embedding? Shopify · WordPress · Squarespace · Webflow · All platforms

Step 3: Define Service Areas 🗺️

This is where your locator becomes service-area aware. Using Spotlight, you'll draw coverage regions and assign providers to each one.

Open Spotlight

Create a Service Area Rule

1. Go to Spotlight in your dashboard
2. Click New Rule
3. Name it descriptively (e.g., "North County Service Area - Mike's HVAC")
4. Add a Geographic Area trigger and draw the service coverage on the map
5. Add an Include Locations action and select the providers who serve that area
6. Choose where they appear: Top (always first), Natural (mixed by distance), or Bottom
7. Save the rule

Now, when customers search within that service area, the assigned providers appear in results even if their office is far away.

Multiple Service Areas

Create a rule for each provider's coverage area. A single provider might have one large service area, or you might have multiple providers covering overlapping regions.

Exclusive vs. Inclusive Service Areas

You have two approaches:

Inclusive (recommended for most): Use "Include Locations" to add providers to results for their service area. Other providers can still appear if they're nearby. This works well when you have overlapping coverage.

Exclusive: Use "Show Only Specific Locations" to restrict results to only the assigned providers. This is useful when each area has a dedicated provider and you don't want customers seeing anyone else.

Handle Areas Without Coverage

Create a rule for areas you don't serve:

1. Add a Geographic Area trigger for the uncovered region (or use the No Results trigger)
2. Add a Message Banner action with a helpful message
3. Optionally add a link to a contact form or online support

See the full Spotlight documentation for all options.

You're Live! 🎉

Your service area locator is ready. Customers searching anywhere in your coverage regions will see the providers who actually serve their location.

Any changes you make in your dashboard automatically update on your website. Add new providers, adjust coverage areas, or update assignments anytime.

What's Next?

Now that your locator is live, explore what else you can do:

• 🏷️ Filters & Tags: Let customers filter by service type, certification, or specialty
• 🔘 Custom Buttons: Add "Request Service", "Get Quote", or "Schedule" buttons
• ⏰ Opening Hours: Show when providers are available
• 📍 Custom Markers: Use your brand's icons or different markers for service types
• 🔍 Search Settings: Configure radius options and search behavior
• 📊 Google Sheets Sync: Keep your provider list updated automatically

Common Questions

Can a provider have multiple service areas?

Yes. Create multiple Spotlight rules, each with a different geographic area, and include the same provider in each one.

What if service areas overlap?

That's fine. When areas overlap, all matching providers appear in results. Use "boost" actions if you want to prioritize certain providers in specific areas.

My providers are mobile. Do they need a physical address?

Yes, each location needs an address for the map marker. Use a headquarters, office, or central location. The service area rules will ensure they appear for searches throughout their coverage region, regardless of where the marker is.

Can I show a message for areas we don't cover yet?

Yes. Create a Spotlight rule with a "No Results" trigger (or draw the specific uncovered region) and add a message banner explaining how customers can get service or request coverage.

Need Help?

Setting up service areas can take some planning. We're here to help. Email us and we'll help you map out your coverage regions and configure your locator.