Using Adwords in Google Maps

What Are Google Local Search Ads

When people search for nearby businesses on Google.com or Google Maps, they may see local search ads that feature your business locations. The ads are designed to give local businesses additional opportunities to feature their brands with the goal of increasing traffic, particularly when consumers are searching on a mobile device.

How You Can Benefit From Google Local Search Ads

Google Maps ad placements will help increase your business’ visibility at times when consumers are specifically searching for a local business or service. A third of mobile searches have local intent and mobile local searches have grown 50 percent more quickly than any other mobile search type. These searches create a large, growing opportunity to capture new customers and gain more visibility over competitors for local searches.

Advertising on Google Maps is a powerful way to attract nearby customers, and if you are not currently found in the top three ranking positions or in the top local map positions, you now have another opportunity to outrank your competition, get more visits, calls, and leads.

Location targeting

If you are beginning an AdWords campaign, you may have some familiarity with the difference between a Search Network ad and a Display Network ad. Location Targeting (or Geotargeting) is another way of advertising on the Search Network. In a previous article, we introduced Google Maps Local Search Ads. Advertising on Google Maps is a useful alternative to or complement for a conventional text ad. One of the reasons a Location ad is useful is funneling consumers with direct relevance for your business into it (read more about local marketing here). If a consumer is in the vicinity of your restaurant, for example, on Google Maps, they may find themselves looking at an ad of your making. Usually a consumer will input something to the effect of “(a cuisine) food near me.” If you advertise effectively, i.e. in accordance with AdWords best practices, you stand a reasonable chance of being found.

Other best practices

Another way of improving visibility is by amplifying your ad with a Location Extension. An extension may include your address, a map of the route to your location, or the distance of the route. If a user clicks or taps on the Location Extension, they will have access to essential information about you, including––if you like––a call number or dial button. Extensions also appear on Google Maps. That said, Call Extensions are incompatible with regular local search.

Local Search Ads can benefit a business by making consumers likelier to visit in person. If they are too far away or decide not to make a trip, there’s still an improved possibility of being called. Whichever way they act, Location Search ads will increase consumers’ interest in your business, and, thereby, encourage them to learn more about it. Extensions are great insofar as they answer the questions out of the gate.

Mobile vs. Desktop

Using Local Search Ads on mobile is only slightly different from desktop. With mobile, if a user does a search for a kind of nearby store, your business may be first of the local results. The same is true on a web browser or the Google Maps app. On a desktop, however, a user accesses your location from “More Places.” The cost of a Map Ad is like a regular cost-per-click (CPC) for ‘Get location detail,’ ‘Get direction,’ ‘Mobile clicks-to-call,’ and ‘Website’ clicks.

The first thing to do in setting up Local Search Ads for Google Maps is enabling extensions for your AdWords account. The next step is updating your Google My Business listing so no one ends up in a lot where your old building used to be. Once you are accurately situated on Google, use Location Targeting and and Bid By Location to ensure you’re putting everything into customers who are near you. Finally, optimize your keywords for the area.

The value of an ad in Google Maps

It may initially appear limiting for you to exclude everyone outside of a certain radius from your Local PPC ads. The reality is you’ll get most of your business from people who spend time nearer to you. Consequently, the expenses are a lot more efficient: you avoid wasted clicks. Those who do click are far more advanced leads. As searching is increasingly mobile, you have to be sure the most pertinent information is reaching mobile users who are primed to act on it.

It may be you think you’ll have a bigger effect on an affinity group or another location entirely, which are both qualifications you can target with Local PPC. Google may also show ads to customers in relevant areas, like a suburb, with inadequate data for direct Geotargeting in a campaign. One reason why the visibility for nearby customers is so important for many retailers is offline sales account for a lot of their business.

What Do Google Local Search Ads Cost

You will need to be running AdWords and and have a Google local business page. Then you’ll be charged a standard cost-per-click (CPC) for these types of clicks on local search ads:

• Get location detail
• Get directions
• Mobile clicks-to-call
• Website clicks

In conclusion

Researching a product on Google and buying it in a store is very common. In fact, some 50% of consumers visit a store less than a day after searching for a given item or service. According to Google, around a third of searching is connected with a location or looking for one. If your entire business revolves around getting people in your door, you have to be available for anyone who is either looking for you or something like you.