Today’s article on Location Extensions Google Ads, we will discuss how locations extensions work, what type of ad platforms they can be used with, what type of devices will they show up on, and how to set them up. 

A Google Ads location extension is an important option for you to set up if you’re running paid searches like Google Ads or YouTube Ads or display ads to your local business.

 

Watch the video version of this article below:

Why utilize locations extensions in Google Ads

• Easy navigation. Location extensions in Google Ads make it very easy and user-friendly for customers to see where you’re located and to navigate to your business address, a map to your location, or the distance to your business in your Google Ads. 
• All information in one place. Potential new customers can just click or tap your Google Ads location extension to get more information details about you on your location page, which includes the most relevant business information all in one place. 
• Easy-to-find phone number. Location extensions can also include a phone number and even a click-to-call button so that new customers can easily find you, drive to you, or call you. 
• Provides you with another great feature called affiliate location extensions. One particular location extension called an affiliate location extension is designed for businesses that make products and want to help people find local retailers that carry the products in their stores.

 

When to use Location Extensions 

A Google ads Location extension really makes a big difference. People find it intuitive and simple. and When your location extension pops up, your chances of driving that customer to your business is much higher than without a location extension. 

Here’s an example:

Joe has a bike shop, and he wants to bring in local foot traffic to his storefront. Joe goes through a location extension Google Ads setup and adds it to his campaigns.

Then, when people are in the area and they search on a mobile device for one of Joe’s bicycle-related keywords like “best bike shop near me” or “bikes” “bike repair”, his extension is eligible to show and might give local bike enthusiasts information samples below: 

• Joe’s street address 
• The distance to Joe’s shop and the 
• An easy to use, click to call button
• A clickable access to a detailed page, with information like Joe’s hours, his phone number, pictures of Joe’s bike shop, pictures, and directions

 

On Google Display Network (GDN):

Location extensions in Google Ads can also run in Google Display Network (GDN) campaigns.

Google location extensions that run on the GDN are a bridge between online advertising and converting it to offline sales by bringing visitors right into your location.  

Your location extensions may show on sites and apps on the Display Network when people are near or have searched for your product or service in your area specifically. 

Here’s a GDN location extension example:

 

Carrot Bakery wants to target the audience segment “Foodies”, encouraging potential new customers who are searching online to come into the store and buy some of their fresh-baked bread products.

Carrot Bakery’s ad manager sets up a Google Ads location extension on display ads.

When people see Carrot Bakery’s ads, they can check out the business photos, open hours, and store location on the map. Location extensions will show up on both desktop computer searches or mobile devices, as shown below:

 

On Google Search Network

 

On the search network, ads with location extensions can appear as a standard text ad with your location and phone number. On mobile, a clickable “Call” button may show in place of your phone number.

 

On Google Maps

 

Your location extensions can appear beside, above, or below the search results on Google Maps, including the Maps app.

 

YouTube Video Ads

 

Your location extensions may show on YouTube TrueView in-stream and bumper ads when people are near or have demonstrated an interest in, your local area.

Your location extensions will start showing on video ads, meaning your video ads will show information about your business locations unless you explicitly opt-out.

 

Location Extensions Google Ads Setup

The location extensions Google Ads setup can be done in the editor. It lets you add your location extension at the campaign and ad group levels.

Location extensions show your business address, phone number, and other information like hours and review ratings. Here’s how you can set your locations extensions:

 

1. Go to the location extensions Google Ads new campaign setup.

2. In the account tree, select the campaign or ad group where you want to add the extension.

3. In the type list, select Ad extensions and then location extensions.

 4. Above the data view, click Add location extension.

 To add campaign location extensions: 

Select one of the options in the drop-down menu: “Show ads with all locations,” “Show ads with locations matching filter” and “Show ads with selected locations”.

 To add ad group location extensions: 

Select one of the options in the drop-down menu: “Show ads with all locations,” “Show ads with locations matching filter” and “Show ads with selected locations”.

5. Select the campaigns or ad groups where the new locations should be added.

6. Click OK.

 

Conclusion

I hope today’s article gives you new ways to promote your local business in Google Ads. The things I discussed here are basic. In some cases where enabling locations extensions across a large and complicated campaign require strategy, most of the time, if the campaign receives a good amount of local search volume, then enabling this feature is well worth it.