1. Map Providers: configure the services you intend to use.
2. Settings: review global defaults such as distance units, default provider, map controls, appearance and privacy behavior.
3. Types & Groups: create meaningful classification before building complex filters.
4. Locations: add representative records with valid coordinates.
5. Locators: choose All Locations, Selected Locations or Dynamic Rules as the source.
6. Locator Builder: configure layout, map, search, filters, content, appearance, behavior and privacy.
7. Embed: use the Gutenberg block or shortcode and test the real public page.
8. Bulk maintenance: move to CSV Import / Export when the dataset is large enough to justify it.

Building in this order makes problems easier to isolate. For example, confirm a Location has valid coordinates before investigating marker styling or clustering.