Google Launches Local Business Ads

Friday, April 7, 2006 | Tagged as google, business

Thursday night I logged into my Google Adword account to discover that Google had launched a new feature for advertising in Google Local Search (http://local.google.com). Local business ads appear with an enhanced map components and in the sponsored links section on the left side once a visitor enters a corresponding keyword. Local business ads are represented by icons different from standard balloons that appear for standard results. By clicking on this special icon, visitors will be able to open the ad which features all the standard elements like title, description and address plus business’s logo.

Getting started is easy, but I am sure you will have some basic questions as I did…

How do I create a new local business ad?

You can create a new local business ad at any time by following these steps:

  1. Log in to your AdWords account at https://adwords.google.com.
  2. Click the keyword-targeted campaign that contains the Ad Group you want to edit.
  3. Click the appropriate Ad Group.
  4. Click the Create New Local Business Ad link.
  5. Identify the Google Local business listing you want to advertise. If you don’t have a listing, learn how to add your business to our local listings.
  6. Enter your description lines and URL. (The business name, address, and phone number of your business will be automatically taken from Google Local.)
  7. Choose a business icon. The icon you choose will appear for all local business ads in the campaign.
  8. Optional: Upload a business image to appear in the info window that expands from your map marker.
  9. Click Save Ad.

How do I include an image in my local business ad?

Each local business ad can include an image. The image you upload for your local business ad will display in the info window that expands from the map marker associated with your ad.

  • Dimensions: 125x125 pixels maximum
  • File size: 20k maximum
  • File types: JPG, GIF, PNG
  • Format limitations: All images must be static (no animation, flash or other rich formats)
  • Other restrictions: The image may be a logo or photo that relates to your business. All images will be reviewed by an AdWords Specialist. Regardless of your business type, images must be appropriate for all audiences.

Can I include an icon in my local business ad?

The map marker for each local business ads contains a business icon. You can choose an icon from a list provided during local business ad creation. The icon is set at the campaign level, so all ads within one campaign will display the same icon.

Note: The ads will not show up on any of the Google maps used by Web sites that have used the Google maps API.