Google Maps Local Listing Advertising
Google is in beta testing on their Local Listing Ads, the question I have is why do you think its taken them so long to start to monetize these local listings? Do you think there was no need in the past because they didn’t display the 7-Pack in the organic search engine pages.
Now that the Google Maps 7-Pack shows at the top of the SERP’s 95% of the time (as long as their is a local modifier added to the keyword phrase), its become increasing important to make sure your business’s G-Maps Local Listing is optimized and actively managed for top rankings. Do think this is why they have finally chosen to monetize this section of Google? Let me know your theories in the comment section below.
Regardless of their reasoning, its a steal at a flat $45 a month. Any local business owner who doesn’t capitalize on this (in my opinion) is crazy. Now with Local Listing Ads you can now possible get a double listing above the fold. One listing for your business in the 7-Pack and one listing in their new local advertising slot. Like the way SOS Rooter has done shown below.
Who wouldn’t want a double listing like that for their local business on Google. These Local Listing Ads seem like a great deal for Small Businesses. Completely affordable and turn-key. The merchant doesn’t really have to anything except fill out their listing and press go. Here are some of the highlights:
- Drive more sales. Over 80% of people look to Google for local information. Make sure your listing stands out.
- See – and hear – the results. You’ll hear “this call brought to you by Google” with every call from your ad.
- Free for 30 days. Try it out, risk free. You can cancel anytime.
- Local targeting. We’ll make sure your ad only shows to people near your business, with no work for you.
In my opinion this is a winner and is a no brainer for most small businesses.
Maybe now that Google is starting to monetize their Google Business Listings, they will start to clean them up from all the spam. I always figured the reason why support and spam clean-up on the Google Maps was poor is because they make no $$, but now that they are looking to monetize it, I think maybe they’ll put together a team to clean it up a little. What are your thoughts on this…?
Too bad these services are only currently available in San Francisco and San Diego, CA. Even worse for us Canadians because once its released to the entire States, it’ll take another 6 months or more before we see. We just received access to the new Google LBC analytics dashboard a month ago, even though our Southern neighbors received access to it in June of this year.
What are your thoughts on Google’s new Local Listing Ads…? If anyone is currently using it in those cities I’d love to hear your experience thus far below in the comment section.
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This a great find, have you heard when and if they are going to release this type of ads to the rest of the United States. I would love to see you do a tutorial on PPC ads for gmail, like what you have to specifically do in order to show up from the keywords for the persons email. It seems that the gmail PPC ads are also very targeted towards whatever that person is emailing about. I would love to hear you opinion on these ads. You have a very informative website, thanks for all of your hard work.
Dr. Todd P. Sullivan
Thanks Dr. Todd P Sullivan for stopping by and taking the time to comment. This is PPC option is available in Adwords content network. Yes your ads are triggered by whatever keywords you choose in Adwords. We have a brief basic tutorial on how to do this here on our site:
http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/blog/ppc/adwords-content-tip-ppc-ads-in-gmail/
I would suggest though that you use something I call “Thought Stringing” so instead of bidding on keywords, try adding keyword phrases that people would write in an email. Since it looks like you are a chiropractor, I’d bid on keyword phrases like: “my back is killing me” or “back sore” or “need a massage” or “bad back”, etc. You get the idea. Then create ads that target that specific need. You are trying to enter the conversation in people’s minds. If you can do this, the conversions should be HUGE!