10 Google Ads Tips for Local Business Owners in Seattle

As a local business owner in Seattle, you know that competition is fierce. To stand out and attract new customers, you need an advertising strategy that’s both effective and efficient. One solution that many Seattle-based businesses are turning to is pay-per-click (PPC) advertising through Google Ads.

PPC advertising is a cost-effective way to reach potential customers online, and Google Ads is one of the largest and most popular platforms for PPC advertising. Here are 10 tips to help you get the most out of your Google Ads campaigns.

1. Define Your Target Audience

One of the most important things to consider when creating a Google Ads campaign is who you’re trying to reach. Your target audience will play a big role in determining your keywords, ad copy, and landing pages. Make sure to understand your target audience’s needs, wants, and behaviors so you can create ads that resonate with them.

It also helps to understand where your audience is geographically. If you are a service business who works with customers in Seattle, you may serve King County, Pierce County, and Thurston County. Or your business may serve customers nationwide. Where your audience lives will determine which locations you will target with your ads.

2. Choose the Right Keywords

Keywords are the foundation of a successful Google Ads campaign. Choose keywords that are relevant to your business, products or services, and target audience. Consider using long-tail keywords, which are more specific and less competitive, to reach a more targeted audience.

You will want to test a mix of different keyword "match types" like broad match, phrase match, and exact match. And make sure you include negative keywords in your campaign to exclude unwanted traffic.

3. Write Compelling Ad Copy

Your ad copy is what will convince potential customers to click on your ad. Make sure your ad copy is clear, concise, and includes a strong call to action. Consider highlighting unique features or benefits of your products or services to make your ad stand out. Another tactic I've found that works for many businesses: putting a price in your ad copy. Try it out!

4. Optimize Your Landing Page

Your landing page is where potential customers will be taken after they click on your ad. Make sure your landing page is optimized for conversions, with clear, concise information about your products or services and a clear call to action. Make sure you include images, and if possible video too!

5. Use Ad Extensions

Ad extensions allow you to add additional information to your ad, such as location, phone number, or links to specific pages on your website. Ad extensions can help improve the relevance and credibility of your ad and increase click-through rates.

You'll want to test as many extensions as you can for your business. Leveraging at least 3 extensions can help your campaign perform better. Try sitelinks, callouts, and structured snippets. Those are some of my favorites. If you have a Google Business Profile with a public address, connect it to your ad account and enable the location extension.

6. Test and Refine Your Campaigns

Google Ads is a continually evolving platform, and what works today may not work tomorrow. Regularly test and refine your campaigns to ensure they remain effective and efficient. This is one of the most important parts of running ads on Google. You cannot use a "set and forget" strategy. Your ads will benefit from testing and refining over time.

7. Monitor Performance Metrics

Track the performance of your campaigns to understand what’s working and what’s not. Key metrics to pay attention to include impressions, clicks, click-through rates, and conversion rates. You will want to track conversions and cost per conversion closely. If you are not getting any conversions, hire a professional to help you figure out what's going wrong.

8. Set Realistic Budget and Bid Amounts

Budget and bid amount play a big role in the success of your Google Ads campaign. Make sure to set a realistic budget and bid amount based on your goals, target audience, and competition. You can also test automated bidding methods, which can help you get better results with much less hassle. We live in the age of AI - and Google is using that technology in their automated bidding methods. Take advantage!

9. Utilize Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a powerful tool that can help you track and measure the success of your Google Ads campaigns. Integrating Google Analytics with your Google Ads account will provide you with valuable insights and help you make data-driven decisions.

This is a critical step, and one that I see way too many business owners miss. You will benefit from capturing data in Google Analytics and sharing it with Google Ads. This will only become more important as time goes on and we enter a new world of privacy and marketing. Connect your ads and analytics accounts! Trust me.

10. Hire a Professional

Finally, consider hiring a professional Google Ads consultant like myself to help you get the most out of your campaigns. A professional can help you set up, manage, and optimize your campaigns, giving you more time to focus on running your business.

Need to get in touch with me? Visit ReubenRock.com. I'm a Google Ads certified professional and a Google Partner working with business in Seattle (and across the United States).

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, PPC advertising through Google Ads can be a powerful tool for local business owners in Seattle looking to reach new customers and grow their business. By following these 10 tips, you can create effective and efficient Google Ads campaigns that drive results.

Best of luck with your ads!