--- title: How to Advertise on Google Maps with Local Search Ads - CommonMind description: Does your business rely on being found in Google Maps to drive store visits or sales? There are numerous tactics you can follow to increase your organic ra image: https://www.commonmind.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Google-Maps-Search-1-556x370-3.jpg --- [![Group 139 (1)](https://www.commonmind.com/hubfs/Group%20139%20(1).svg "Group 139 (1)")](https://commonmind.com) [![CommonMind Logo](https://www.commonmind.com/hubfs/CommonMind%20Logo.svg "CommonMind Logo")](https://www.commonmind.com/) - [Solution](https://www.commonmind.com/solution) - [Results](https://www.commonmind.com/results) - [Pricing](https://www.commonmind.com/pricing) - [Authority Blueprint](https://www.commonmind.com/pricing/ai-authority-blueprint) - [Growth Programs](https://www.commonmind.com/pricing/growth-programs) - [AI Visibility Snapshot](https://www.commonmind.com/ai-visibility-snapshot) - [Learning Center](https://www.commonmind.com/learning-center) - [About](https://www.commonmind.com/about) - [Meet the Team](https://www.commonmind.com/about/team) - [Contact Us](https://www.commonmind.com/contact) More results En - [English](https://www.commonmind.com/blog/advertise-google-maps-local-search-ads#) - [Español](https://www.commonmind.com/es/blog) [ Book a discovery call ](https://www.commonmind.com/contact) [ Book a discovery call ](https://www.commonmind.com/contact/book-discovery-call) - [ Solution ](https://www.commonmind.com/solution) - [ Results ](https://www.commonmind.com/results) - [ Pricing ](https://www.commonmind.com/pricing) - [ Authority Blueprint ](https://www.commonmind.com/pricing/ai-authority-blueprint) - [ Growth Programs ](https://www.commonmind.com/pricing/growth-programs) - [ AI Visibility Snapshot ](https://www.commonmind.com/ai-visibility-snapshot) - [ Learning Center ](https://www.commonmind.com/learning-center) - [ About ](https://www.commonmind.com/about) - [ Meet the Team ](https://www.commonmind.com/about/team) - [ Contact Us ](https://www.commonmind.com/contact) [ Book a discovery call ](https://www.commonmind.com/contact/book-discovery-call) [PPC](https://www.commonmind.com/blog/tag/ppc) # How to Advertise on Google Maps with Local Search Ads by [Thomas Rivera](https://www.commonmind.com/blog/author/thomas-rivera) 5 min read August 14, 2019 ![](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Google-Maps-Search-1-556x370-3.jpg?width=556&height=370&name=Google-Maps-Search-1-556x370-3.jpg) Does your business rely on being found in Google Maps to drive store visits or sales? There are numerous tactics you can follow to increase your organic rankings within Google Maps, but whether you’re ranking well already, or literally not on the map, advertising in Google Maps may help you increase both website traffic and foot traffic. [According to Google](https://www.inc.com/larry-kim/google-execs-share-10-incredible-new-mobile-web-stats.html), nearly one third of all searches are related to location, and these location related searches have been growing 50% faster than mobile searches overall in the past year. In other words, it is more common for people to include a geography as part of their search query (e.g. “ski shop *boston*”) than to search for terms without a city or place. 75% of people who search for something nearby to their location end up visiting the store or establishment within a day. These are some great statistics for business owners and marketers to see, but how can they take advantage of this kind of local traffic? [Local Search Ads](https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/3246303?hl=en) on Google Maps may be the answer, both for websites that are otherwise struggling to gain visibility in Google Maps and those that are doing well, but want even more exposure. ## **How to Set Up Local Search Ads in the Google Ads Interface** To run ads on Google Maps, you will use a *Search* campaign because Google Maps is part of [Google’s Search Network](https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/1722047?co=ADWORDS.IsAWNCustomer%3Dfalse&hl=en), which also includes Google Shopping, Google Play, and the Google Maps app. Let’s assume you already have an active Google Ads account with a Search campaign. To start showing your ads on Google Maps, first navigate to one of your Search campaigns within the Google Ads interface. Your next step is to add a [Location Extension:](https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/2404182?hl=en) 1. Open Google Ads and select one of your Search campaigns. 2. Click on “Ads & extensions” on the left panel. 3. Click on “EXTENSIONS” on the top navigation bar. 4. Click on the circular blue “+” button. ![Add Location Extension in Google Ads](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Add-Location-Extension-in-Google-Ads-556x261-3.png?width=556&height=261&name=Add-Location-Extension-in-Google-Ads-556x261-3.png) 1. Click on the “Location extension” option after clicking the blue circle. ![Selecting Location Extension in Ads](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Selecting-Location-Extension-in-Ads-556x325-3.png?width=556&height=325&name=Selecting-Location-Extension-in-Ads-556x325-3.png) After clicking “Location extension”, you will be prompted to select a [Google My Business](https://business.google.com) Account for the Location Extension.  If you have not linked your Google Ads and Google My Business accounts, you can request access to a Google My Business account using whichever email you used to set up the business page. If you don’t have a Google My Business account, set up, following Google’s instructions on [how to get started with Google My Business](https://support.google.com/business/answer/6337413?visit_id=1-636687283800272708-267562660&hl=en&rd=1). ![Connect Google My Business and Location Extension](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Connect-Google-My-Business-and-Location-Extension-556x361-3.png?width=556&height=361&name=Connect-Google-My-Business-and-Location-Extension-556x361-3.png) It is imperative that your Google My Business listing has accurate and updated information. You don’t want your potential customers arriving at an incorrect address or calling a disconnected phone number. After linking your Google My Business listings to your Google Ads account and the locations are approved, it should appear like this, with each location of your business individually listed. ![Google My Business Locations in Ads](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Google-My-Business-Locations-in-Ads-556x268-3.png?width=556&height=268&name=Google-My-Business-Locations-in-Ads-556x268-3.png) Next, it’s time to set up location targeting for your ads. If you have a campaign running, then you should already have some locations targeted. If your targeting is not set up: 1. Navigate to “Locations” on the left sidebar. 2. Click the blue circle to add a new location. ![Set up Location Targeting for Your Ads](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Set-up-Location-Targeting-for-Your-Ads-465x417-3.png?width=465&height=417&name=Set-up-Location-Targeting-for-Your-Ads-465x417-3.png) 1. Click “Select a campaign”. ![](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Select-an-Ad-Campaign-in-Google-Maps-Ads-3.png?width=539&height=233&name=Select-an-Ad-Campaign-in-Google-Maps-Ads-3.png) 1. Choose an active campaign. ![Choose an Active Campaign in Google Maps](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Choose-an-Active-Campaign-in-Google-Maps-347x417-3.png?width=347&height=417&name=Choose-an-Active-Campaign-in-Google-Maps-347x417-3.png) 1. Select the locations you would like to target (zip code, city, state, country, etc). **Pro Tip:** Using Radius Targeting allows you to target an area surrounding a specific address or coordinates if you want to be more precise. ![Use Radius Targeting to Target an Area Surrounding a Specific Address](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Use-Radius-Targeting-to-Target-an-Area-Surrounding-a-Specific-Address-3.png?width=458&height=335&name=Use-Radius-Targeting-to-Target-an-Area-Surrounding-a-Specific-Address-3.png) Your final step is to set up bid adjustments for areas close to your business. Let’s say you are targeting all of Boston, but your business is located specifically in zip code 02118. Add both “Boston, MA” and zip code “02118” as location targets. Then, adjust the bid for 02118 by clicking on the pencil next to the dash seen in the screenshot below. The same can be done for radius targeting, for example, increasing the bid for anyone within a one mile radius of your business. ![Adjust the Bid for Targeted ZIP](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Adjust-the-Bid-for-Targeted-ZIP-556x38-3.png?width=556&height=38&name=Adjust-the-Bid-for-Targeted-ZIP-556x38-3.png) A box will pop up allowing you to increase (or decrease) your bid for that location by a percentage you choose. ![Increase or Decrease Bid in Google Maps Ads](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Increase-or-Decrease-Bid-in-Google-Maps-Ads-3.png?width=312&height=184&name=Increase-or-Decrease-Bid-in-Google-Maps-Ads-3.png) Now, people who are in your zip code have a much better chance of finding your business via Local Search Ads in Google Maps. ## **How to See the Performance of Your Local Search Ads** 1. Navigate to either the Campaigns, Ad Groups, Ads, or Keywords tab depending on what level of data you want to investigate. 2. Click “Segment”. 3. Select “Click type”. ![Find Out the Performance of Your Google Maps Ads](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Find-Out-the-Performance-of-Your-Google-Maps-Ads-556x124-3.png?width=556&height=124&name=Find-Out-the-Performance-of-Your-Google-Maps-Ads-556x124-3.png) Now you can see where each click came from. Focus on the the click types “Mobile clicks-to-call”, “Driving direction”, and “Get location details”. These are the clicks generated from Local Search Ads. ![Find out How Many Clicks Were Generated from Local Search Ads](https://www.commonmind.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Find-out-How-Many-Clicks-Were-Generated-from-Local-Search-Ads-556x180-3.png?width=556&height=180&name=Find-out-How-Many-Clicks-Were-Generated-from-Local-Search-Ads-556x180-3.png) You are now up and running on Google Maps Local Search Ads! #### Share this [Share on X ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://www.commonmind.com/blog/advertise-google-maps-local-search-ads&text=How+to+Advertise+on+Google+Maps+with+Local+Search+Ads+-+CommonMind) [Share on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.commonmind.com/blog/advertise-google-maps-local-search-ads&t=How+to+Advertise+on+Google+Maps+with+Local+Search+Ads+-+CommonMind) [Share on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.commonmind.com/blog/advertise-google-maps-local-search-ads&t=How+to+Advertise+on+Google+Maps+with+Local+Search+Ads+-+CommonMind) Previous story [← Our most important Google AdWords Predictions for 2018](https://www.commonmind.com/blog/google-adwords-predictions-for-2018) Next story [The Big 5 Ad Copy Triggers →](https://www.commonmind.com/blog/ppc/big-5-ad-copy-triggers) ### You May Also Like These Related Stories [Google to Require Close Variants Keyword Matching](https://www.commonmind.com/blog/close-variants-keyword-matching) [PPC](https://www.commonmind.com/blog/tag/ppc) #### Google to Require Close Variants Keyword Matching May 28, 2019 12:00:00 AM 1 min read [AdWords Rolls Out Dynamic Sitelinks](https://www.commonmind.com/blog/dynamic-sitelinks) [PPC](https://www.commonmind.com/blog/tag/ppc) #### AdWords Rolls Out Dynamic Sitelinks May 28, 2019 12:00:00 AM 1 min read [Google Improves Mobile Search Ads](https://www.commonmind.com/blog/improved-mobile-search-ads) ![](https://www.commonmind.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Untitled+drawing+(64)-3.png) [PPC](https://www.commonmind.com/blog/tag/ppc) #### Google Improves Mobile Search Ads Aug 20, 2019 12:00:00 AM 1 min read [![CommonMind Logo (1)](https://www.commonmind.com/hubfs/CommonMind%20Logo%20(1).svg "CommonMind Logo (1)")](https://commonmind.com) ###### **About our agency** Founded in 2001, CommonMind helps vertical SaaS companies turn deep expertise into market authority — so small marketing teams can drive real pipeline, not just traffic. 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All Rights Reserved Boston | [Privacy Policy](https://www.commonmind.com/privacy-policy) | [(617) 765-1777](tel:6177651777) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Thomas Rivera", "url" : "https://www.commonmind.com/blog/author/thomas-rivera" }, "dateModified" : "2023-12-20T20:02:46.663Z", "datePublished" : "2019-08-14T04:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "How to Advertise on Google Maps with Local Search Ads - CommonMind", "image" : [ "https://www.commonmind.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Google-Maps-Search-1-556x370-3.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.commonmind.com/blog/advertise-google-maps-local-search-ads", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" }, "name" : "CommonMind" } } ```