Welcome to our Zen Digital Toolkit, a place where we break things down into simple, actionable steps that you can use in your daily marketing efforts.

In this series we'll guide you with practical roadmaps that will bring calm and clarity to your marketing journey. Whether you’re working on lead generation, digital campaigns, or setting up your ads, these tips will help you stay on track.

Google Maps advertising allows businesses to promote their location directly on Google Maps, making it easier for potential customers to discover and visit. These ads appear when users search for local services or businesses in their area, providing crucial visibility in a competitive market. This type of advertising is essential for local businesses because it drives foot traffic, enhances brand visibility, and can lead to more in-store visits. With people increasingly relying on digital maps for navigation, Google Maps advertising helps businesses stay top-of-mind and accessible to customers on the go.

Now, let’s walk through the process of advertising on google maps.

Before you can run ads on Google Maps, you need to link your Google Ads account with your Google Business Profile.

1. Log in to your Google Ads account and open the dashboard.

2. Under the 'Campaigns' section, click on 'Assets' and then click the '+' button to add a new location asset.
   Note: Location assets have replaced ad extensions in Google Ads.   
3. From the dropdown menu, select 'Location.' 
4. Choose your Google Business Profile as the location and select 'Link to a Google Profile Manager account I know.' 
5. Choose your Business Profile Manager account, then click 'Continue' and 'Finish.' 
6. Sign in to your Google Business Profile account and click 'Link to ads.' 
7. Confirm that your Google Ads account is now linked to your Google Business Profile.  

Once your accounts are linked, you can run a Performance Max campaign.

1. Log in to your Google Ads dashboard.

2. Click the '+' button and create a new campaign. 

   

    

3. In the campaign settings, select 'Local store visits and promotions' as your campaign objective. 

   

4. Choose 'Performance Max' as the campaign type.
   Note: Performance Max has replaced Local campaigns and offers optimization benefits such as driving store visits, call clicks, and direction requests. 

   

5. Ensure that your Business Profile Manager account is correctly linked and proceed by clicking 'Continue.'
   Note: If the option is disabled, you’ll need to link your Google Ads account with your Google Business Profile. 

   

6. In the next section, you'll configure the campaign settings: 

   1. Campaign Name: Choose a name that helps you easily identify the campaign.
      

   2. Bidding: The only option available for Performance Max is 'Maximize conversion value,' which helps you optimize actions like store visits or calls. You can also set a target cost per action and decide whether to acquire both new and existing customers or focus on new customers only. 

      

   3. Campaign Settings: Select the appropriate location and language for your target audience. 

      

   4. Configuring the Asset Group
      Performance Max campaigns use asset groups, which are creative elements like text, images, and videos. 

      

      1. Asset Group Name: Choose a name for the ad group.
         

      2. Final URL: Input the URL of your website and make sure it’s correct.
         

      3. Display Path: Customize the displayed URL. (Note: The display path doesn’t have to be an actual URL).
         

      4. Headlines: Write up to five headlines (maximum 30 characters each). Google will rotate these headlines depending on the user’s device or search query.
         

      5. Descriptions: Write up to five descriptions (maximum 90 characters each).
         

      6. Call-to-Action Text: Include a clear prompt, such as “Visit Store” or “Buy Now.”
         

      7. Images: Upload at least one square logo and one landscape image to showcase your business. You can upload up to 20 images.
         

      8. Videos (Optional): Include a video (less than a minute) that effectively communicates your business message.

      9. Budget: Set a daily budget that aligns with your spending limits. 

         

      10. Review your campaign. 

          

           

That’s it!