How to Dominate Local Markets with Google Ads: A Step-by-Step Guide

If your business relies on local customers, Google Ads can be a game-changer. By targeting users in your specific area, you can attract more qualified leads and drive foot traffic or online sales. In this guide, we’ll break down the exact steps to dominate your local market with Google Ads.

Use Location Targeting Effectively

Reaching the right audience starts with precise location settings in your campaigns.

Steps to Optimize Location Targeting:

• Go to your campaign’s Settings and set a specific location radius (e.g., 10 miles around your business).
• Use the Advanced Search feature to exclude areas that are irrelevant to your business.
• Enable location extensions to display your address, phone number, and map location in your ads.

💡 Pro Tip: Use geo-specific keywords in your ads, such as “Best Plumber in Toronto” or “Pizza Delivery Near Me.”

Leverage Local Service Ads

For service-based businesses, Google’s Local Service Ads (LSAs) are invaluable. These ads appear at the top of search results and are optimized for local intent.

How to Get Started with LSAs:

• Sign up for Google’s Local Services platform.
• Verify your business and provide licenses or insurance (if applicable).
• Only pay for leads, not clicks, ensuring better ROI.

Optimize Your Google My Business (GMB) Listing

Your Google My Business profile works hand-in-hand with your local Google Ads campaigns.

Checklist for a Perfect GMB Profile:

• Add accurate and up-to-date information (address, hours, phone).
• Upload high-quality photos of your business, products, or services.
• Respond to reviews promptly to build trust and improve rankings.

💡 Pro Tip: Include your GMB listing as part of your location extension to strengthen ad performance.

Create Location-Specific Ad Groups

Your ad copy should reflect the needs of your local audience.

How to Structure Your Campaign:

• Create separate ad groups for each location if you have multiple branches.
• Use local keywords like “Best [Service] in [City].”
• Highlight local benefits (e.g., “Same-Day Service in Toronto” or “Free Delivery in Ottawa”).

Use Call Extensions and Call Tracking

Many local businesses rely on phone calls to generate leads. Call extensions make it easy for users to contact you directly from the ad.

How to Set It Up:

• Go to your ad extensions and add a Call Extension with your business phone number.
• Enable call tracking to measure how many leads you’re generating from your ads.

💡 Pro Tip: Use a dedicated phone number for tracking conversions more accurately.

Optimize Landing Pages for Local Audiences

A strong landing page is essential to convert local visitors into customers.

What to Include on Your Landing Page:

• Mention your location clearly (e.g., “Serving the Greater Toronto Area”).
• Add customer testimonials or case studies specific to your local market.
• Ensure mobile-friendliness for on-the-go users.

Focus on Local Keywords

Keyword research for local campaigns is slightly different than for general campaigns.

Tips for Finding the Right Local Keywords:

• Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find high-intent local phrases.
• Include variations like “near me,” “in [city],” or “[service] + [zip code].”
• Add your competitors’ names as keywords (if applicable) for conquesting campaigns.

Use Remarketing for Local Audiences

Remarketing helps re-engage users who have interacted with your business but didn’t convert.

How to Set It Up:

• Create a remarketing audience for users who visited your website in the past 30 days.
• Run ads with local incentives (e.g., “Get 10% Off for Returning Customers in [City]”).

💡 Pro Tip: Use dynamic remarketing to show users the exact products or services they viewed on your website.

Monitor Performance with Geo Reports

Google Ads provides detailed performance data based on location.

What to Analyze in Geo Reports:

• Which cities or regions are driving the most clicks and conversions?
• Are certain areas draining your budget without results?
• Adjust your bids for top-performing areas to maximize ROI.

Test and Adjust Your Ads

Constant testing and optimization are key to dominating local markets.

What to Test in Local Campaigns:

• Ad copy variations that include local benefits.
• Different CTAs (e.g., “Call Us Today” vs. “Get Directions Now”).
• Landing page layouts or offers to improve conversion rates.

Conclusion

By focusing on local targeting, leveraging the power of Google My Business, and optimizing your campaigns for local intent, you can dominate your local market with Google Ads. These strategies will help you drive more traffic, generate qualified leads, and increase conversions.

💡 Take Action Today: Start implementing these steps to gain a competitive edge in your local market and watch your business grow!

‍