Local Business Ads on Google

More and more Internet users are turning to Google maps to get directions to area businesses and private homes. As this trend continues, businesses are finding that they can gain incredible exposure by purchasing ads from Google. These ads are placed as pop-ups that come up as a person scrolls over an area on the map.

How the Ads Work

When the local business ad comes up, users will see the company's name in bold print along with a small description of the company's services. Clicking on the “more information” option helps the Internet user find telephone numbers, street addresses, and even a URL (Internet link) that will take the potential client to your website for more information. These ads are never intrusive and can be a valuable resource to people looking for area businesses such as bars, theaters, restaurants, museums, and other important businesses.

Reaching a Wide Audience

Some may feel that the Local Business Ad program is not going to reach a wide audience. Quite the opposite is true. If a person is heading out to eat and needs directions to the restaurant, he or she may pull up Google Maps to get directions. While here, he or she may see other ads for restaurants that might draw their attention. Instead of going to their first choice, they may decide that one of these alternative restaurants sounds better than their original plans. By giving potential customers the power to search out more information with the click of a button, your company can draw a client away from the competition.

Cost Considerations

Google's Local Business Ad program costs the same as their text ad program. Businesses pay a set price per click. If 2,000 customers click on the link in one month and the pay-per-click price is fifty cents, for example, the monthly ad cost would be $1,000. Pay-per-click prices start at one penny per click. The higher the pay-per-click value, the better placement the ad will receive. To enroll in the program, a businesses only needs to sign up in the AdWords program and pay a $5 activation fee.

 

All local business ads rely on keywords to determine ad placement and pay-per-cost fees. The better the keywords, the lower the fees. As such, abstract keywords will cost more because fewer users are apt to find the ad listing.

 

Google accepts JCB, American Express, Visa, and Mastercard for payments. Debit cards are fine providing they have a Visa or Mastercard logo. Interested parties should realize that there is a pre-set limit of twenty-five cents per thousand for the pay-per-click program, so even if no one clicks your ad, you will be paying this much to start.

Going Against the Competition

In the case that a number of ads come in for one location, the ads are circulated over time. Only three ads will show up on the main screen at any time, but Internet users can click on “next page” to view the other ads. All in all, local ads are an excellent means of reaching your target audience in a more effective manner.