Does your small business website appear in Google for a local search?
Is it on the first page for ‘near me’ search results? Can mobile users find you easily? Or do you service industry competitors rank first and steal your traffic?
Nearly half of all Google searches are for local services.
Seventy-two percent of users who do a local search visit a store within 5 miles of their location. And 88% of mobile users call or visit a local store within twenty-four hours.
If your website ranks poorly for local search, don’t fear, Google AdWords can change that and we are here to help.
AdWords lets any size of business advertise on Google’s search platform. Location targeting is built-in so your ads appear exactly where you need them.
But you need to know how to use Google AdWords to make it effective. That’s why we’re here! We’ll discuss ‘near me’ searches for your business and how Google Ads can help you grow.
What Is Local Search Marketing?
Local search marketing involves any promotion of your physical small business on the Internet.
It’s different from ordinary searches in that you’re trying to target location-based queries. Your business can be any size, from a small deli to a national food chain. What’s important is you appear nearby to potential customers.
Does that mean you need a website to get listed on Google?
Definitely! 60% of Internet users check a company’s website before visiting the actual store. So you’re really missing out if you don’t.
How Do I Get Listed for Local Search?
Google crawls or examines your website to see who you are and what you do as a small business. It also looks for contact details and includes local landmarks and areas nearby people will search for.
This technique is part of Search Engine Optimization or SEO. It’s an essential piece of the digital marketing mix but it has some drawbacks.
SEO is a process to rank high on Google’s organic or traditional search listings and the process takes time. Using SEO alone takes time and patience but can be an effective way to grow your traffic.
What’s required is a way to jump your small business website to the top for local searches. And Google AdWords offers the perfect solution.
What Is Google Ads?
Google introduced its advertising platform back in 2000. It displayed traditional banner advertisements on its search pages. And advertisers paid depending on the number of views.
Then Google introduced pay per click or PPC and everything changed.
Small business owners now only pay when a visitor clicks on their advert. Ads appear for specific keywords or search phrases. And that includes location-based searches.
Google rebranded the AdWords platform to simply Google Ads in 2018.
Targeted ads for your small business now appear in Google Search, Maps, Android Apps, and third-party affiliate sites. They sit above organic listings which give them more prominence.
But how do you use the service to gain local search traffic?
Top 5 Reasons To Use Google Ads for Local Businesses.
1. Google is the Directory
Google is where people search for what to do, where to go and what to buy. Your ad can appear on Google at the very top someone is looking for products or services like yours.
People search “near me” on Google for local plumbers, lawyers, doctors, restaurants, salons, remodelling and all kinds of businesses you can think of. Why would you not want to be on the top when someone searches for a service that you offer?
2. Your ad only shows when someone searches for a service you offer
It’s called Intent-based marketing. The user has an intent to buy a product from you or is interested in the service you offer. Our job is to make sure your ad only shows when the search term is relevant to your offer/business. Google will then show this ad based on the keywords setup in the campaign.
This is what really distinguishes Google ads from other marketing platforms. You’re not showing an ad on Facebook or sending out a mailer to an entire city. The ad is only shown when the search term is related to what your business offers.
Get in front of customers when they’re searching for businesses like yours on Google Search.
3. You Choose the Budget
You don’t have to wait for a big enough budget. You can literally run an ad campaign at $100 a month. No budget is too small, you can always increase the budget later. You dictate how much money you’re willing to spend each month! We always discuss and get approval before changing budgets.
The business from Google ads might help you increase the budget quicker. You can pause or adjust your spending at any time.
4. Target Your Zipcode
With location targeting your ads will only appear to the users searching in the targeted location. Location targeting helps you target people very close to your business or in your service radius.
Location targeting isn’t just for those who sell products in a storefront or through a retailer.
For example, if you sell hunting gear or fishing equipment, you can target cities or states that are known for being “outdoorsy” like Utah, Colorado, Montana and more.
Get more customers in the door with business ads that help people find your company on the map.
5. The chances are your competitor uses google ads
To gain a competitive edge in any type of advertising, whether it be digital or not, you must keep tabs on your competitors and their tactics. If they are advertising on the subway, you could be smart about it and skip a step to advertise on Google, because in the moment of need most users pick their phone and do a google search.
We can run a search and see if any of your competitors are running Google ads and the Keywords they are using. We use our creative writing specialist to create three lines of a unique sales pitch that highlights your small business against the competition.
Digital Marketing Strategies That Get You Customers
At Prudent Digital, we aim to bring small business more online traffic and better leads. Our digital marketing services include Google ads, social media marketing, and website design.
Still got questions? Get in touch now! We’re here to help your businesses gain more clients and support your growth. Contact us today to get a marketing plan that works for your business!
