Every business is constantly looking for new ways to reach their potential customers and with more than 2 billion monthly users, Google Maps is one of the most effective platforms to do just that.  

Most people rely on Google Maps via smartphones for daily decisions. Customers often search for business information, contact details, reviews or directions on Google Maps. Businesses can leverage this power to thrive in this digital landscape. Whether you have a restaurant, clinic, retail store, salon, appearing in the search results of Google Maps is a necessity for your business. That’s where Google Maps Advertising comes into play.

These hyper-targeted ad campaigns boost your business’s visibility and increase the real-world visits to your physical store. 

In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about Google Maps Ads. Get ready to put your business on the map, literally. 

What are Google Maps Ads?

Google Maps Ads are a form of location-based advertising that help your business to appear at the top of the search results, leading to increase in awareness about your physical store or service.  

For instance, if someone searches for the “Best café,” your business can appear at the top of the map results with a tag like “Ad” or “Sponsored”. This will also Google Business Profile details, such as name, location, ratings, operating hours, contact details and directions. 

Google Maps is the top navigation application on both Android and iOS, giving your business a major competitive edge in local search.  

What are Different Types of Google Maps Ads?

Google Maps run ads in various formats including:

• Sponsored Search Results: When a user searches for a specific product or service in your niche, your business appears at the top of the search results. 

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• Promoted Pins: Eye-catching square pins with your brand logo appear when users browse the map of a specific area. Tapping the pin reveals your business details.  

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• Promoted Pins Along a Route: When a user navigates to a destination, your business may appear along the route. An additional “Add stop” button is added to make it easier for users to visit your location. 

Benefits of Google Maps Ads

With over 10 billion downloads on Android alone, the reach of Google Maps is undeniable. Here’s why your business must leverage the potential of Google Maps marketing:

• Boost in Local Visibility- Your business shows up at the top of local searches, increasing the chances of grabbing the attention of people. Rather than investing hefty expenses on traditional ads, Google Ads is a cost-effective method to directly increase your business searches.  
• Builds Customer Trust - Only verified businesses can run Google Maps Ads since they need to go through a strict screening process. Additionally, when customers see all the accurate information at the tip of their fingers, it builds a sense of trust towards the business. 
• Advantage over Competitors - Many local businesses have not tapped into Maps ads yet, giving you a competitive edge as an early adopter to reach more people and turn them into loyal customers. 
• Increase in Store Footfall - Since Google Maps Ads are a geographically targeted search, users close to your location are more likely to visit your location when the ads are displayed to them at the right time.
• Measurable ROI - Track the effectiveness of your Google Maps Ads through comprehensive analytics provided by Google, enabling data-driven decisions. 

Visit https://www.algosaga.com/blog/google-maps-marketing/ to know more about Google Maps marketing solutions.

How do Google Maps Ads Work?

Google Maps Ads are location-based promotion campaigns that you run to gain maximum customer attention and here’s how they operate: 

1. User Search: User searches for a specific product or service such as “restaurants near me” on either Google Maps or Google search with a local intent.  
2. Ad Trigger: If you are running a Google Maps Ads campaign, your ad will get triggered based on the proximity, keyword and relevance of the user’s search. 
3. Ad Display: Your business will appear above all organic results with a “Sponsored” or “Ad” tag. 
4. User Action: Users can call directly, get directions, read reviews, visit your website or take other actions based on your CTA. Let’s say, the user finds a restaurant they like and proceeds with booking a table. 

How to Start Advertising on Google Maps?

Setting up Google Maps Ads can seem daunting but follow this step-by-step guide to add your business to Google Maps: 

1. Verify & Optimize your Google Business Profile

Only business profiles can use Google Maps Ads since it legitimises the business. 

• Open Google Business Profile and set up your listing. 
• Add all the latest details such as product/service descriptions, website link, contact, photos, opening hours, chat feature and more to make it stand out. 
• Complete the verification process with a confirmation code via phone.  

2. Create a Google Ads Account

• Open Google Ads, go to the “All campaigns” page and click on “+New campaign”. 
• Choose your Business profile and link your website. Click on Next. 
• Choose your main advertising goal and proceed ahead to complete the process. 

3. Launch a Local Google Maps Ad Campaign 

• Navigate to the “Campaign” section and select “New campaign”.
• Under campaign type, select “Local” and then, click on “Google Maps ads” as the campaign subtype. 

4. Define Targeting

To narrow down your target audience, you need to specify the geographical area, keywords and queries you want to target.  To improve your visibility, ensure you conduct proper keyword research to identify high search terms. 

5. Develop your Ad

Write a compelling headline, description and clear call-to-action (CTA) for your business. Add brand visuals like logos and images to stand out.  

6. Launch & Monitor your Campaign 

Once your ad is active, you can track its performance using various metrics like clicks, impressions, click-through-rates, conversions etc. Continuously review and optimize your campaigns based on data insights. 

How Do You Measure The Success of Your Google Maps Ads?

Understanding how your ads are doing is crucial to ensure your campaign is performing well and identify areas of improvement whenever required. While store visits and phone calls provide basic indicators, Google also offers in-depth metrics to track user engagement, offline visits, conversion rates and overall effectiveness. Here are some key ways to measure success of your Google Maps Ads-

• Impressions: Reflect how often your ad was displayed on Google Maps. Aim for high impressions as they portray good visibility. 
• Click for Directions: Indicates how many users clicked to get directions to your store and offers insights into the potential footfall generated by your ad. 
• Website Clicks: Track how many users clicked on your website directly through Maps ads.
• Click-Through Rates: A high CTR is an indicator of engaging ad copy and visuals that are resonating well with the users. 
• Conversion Rates: Measures the percentage of users who completed a desired call-to-action, such as making a purchase or booking a service. 
• User Behaviour Insights: With tools like Google Analytics, you can analyse how users interact with your website after clicking on the ad.  

Final Thought: Optimize Your Google Maps Ads with an SEO Expert

Google Maps Ads are becoming one of the most powerful tools for business owners to attract new customers and increase your business visibility. 

However, when they are paired with expert SEO, they deliver unmatched results. AlgoSaga SEO services specialize in delivering real-world results through data-backed strategy. Whether you are a restaurant, clinic or retail store, Google Maps Ads combined with AlgoSaga’s SEO expertise can help you to get discovered at the right time by the right audience.

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