For anyone managing digital marketing for a local business, you’ve probably heard of local Google ads. If you aren’t using local ads with Google to market small businesses, you’re missing out on an absolutely crucial tool that can help get the most out of an advertising campaign.
Small businesses, of course, want to get customers in the same area as the business’ location, and local Google ads help you do just that. Local SEO and Local Service Ads from Google help users find businesses in their area, including your business!
What Are Local Google Ads?
Local Google ads are paid advertisements from businesses or organizations that show up on Google’s search results in specific areas of a region. When a user is looking for a specific service near their location, they may see advertisements that show your business’ location, phone number, hours, and reviews.
When constructing your Google ads, you can choose from a list of services in your industry. Once your ads are up, a user can look for services or products and your ad will show up in search results when their search matches the criteria of your ad. Unlike standard Google Ad provisions, you can select categories instead of specific keywords for your ads. However, marketers cannot pick exactly what the ads will and won’t show up for.
Local Google Ads also don’t contain links to websites, displaying only phone numbers as a form of communication. With Google Local Services, businesses can promote their goods and services on Google while generating leads legitimately from potential new clients. Nearby service advertisements will appear at the top of Google Search results when individuals make search queries related to a company in a particular area.
Because there’s a little less control of where and how your local Google ads show up, it’s important that you fill out your application on Google completely and accurately to get the most out of these ads. Google uses the phone number and company information you will provide them within the actual ad, so make sure it’s correct and as up to date as possible. There is also no current way to edit this information yourself.
If a business wants to use a tracked phone line, they must submit this number during the process. Ensuring that the location and services appear correctly is essential because these will determine valid vs. invalid leads with the local ads.
Your marketing agency or marketing professional for your business can manage your ads through the website or through a convenient app. Google allows you to:
- Turn ads on or off
- Adjust some targeting settings
- Receive and respond to leads
- Request reviews
- Access phone call recordings in the system
Although local Google ads provide a toolset and utility to generate leads, it is still the business’s job to nurture and grow these leads, eventually converting them into consumers.
In addition, Google doesn’t explicitly outline the variables they consider when developing their rankings. However, the following criteria have shown to make a difference in the ads that rank highest:
- High content quality
- Plentiful 5-star evaluations and surveys
- A predictable name, address, and telephone number across any catalog destinations on the web
- The business responds promptly to inquiries
- The Google Business Profile listing is optimized
It’s safe to say that to reach the top of the Google search engine, your online presence should be at a certain level of quality.
Benefits & Features of Local Services Ads
These advertisements are small, but they say a lot about your business. When Google shows local service ads, they will usually be at the top of search results. Each ad will be a small box containing the name of the business, opening hours, the location, phone number, and a rating out of five stars.
If your Google Business profile is optimized and receives great ratings/reviews, you’re already on the right track. Google also offers the following features to help you make the most of your ads.
Google Badges
If you become a “Google Screened” or “Google Guaranteed” provider, you’ll earn a badge for your business based on your industry. These badges will show up on your service ad, so they’ll make you stand out from the competition. A Google badge gives you extra credibility and gives customers more confidence to book your services.
Google’s Budget Tool
This allows you to set your budget and only pay when a customer gets in touch directly from your ad so you can focus on your business. This tool also helps you decide on a budget if you’re not sure where to start.
Accurate Advertising
Your ads appear on Google Search and on the Local Services site when locals actually look for services like yours. Google’s algorithm makes sure your business shows up at the right time so it’s easy to find you when they need you most.
Let Us Take Care of Your Local Google Ads | GOA-TECH
With all of the work you already have to put into your business on a day-to-day basis, it’s no wonder why you don’t have the time to take care of your online ads and make sure your money is going to effective marketing efforts. Let us do the hard work for you.
We’ll take care of your local Google ads for you. Contact our team at GOA-TECH today! We’re ready to help you take your digital marketing, SEO, and other facets of your online branding presence to the next level!
