Google Business Profile advertising: your options

By · 2 min read · Updated

The short answer

Google Business Profile advertising means linking your profile to Google Ads. With a location asset, your ads can show your address, distance and hours, and you can appear as a promoted pin on Google Maps. Service businesses may qualify for Local Services Ads instead, which charge per lead. The profile itself stays free either way.

The three routes

  • Search ads with a location asset: your ad shows address and distance.
  • Maps ads: a promoted pin and listing when people search nearby.
  • Local Services Ads: for trades and some professional services, paid per lead, with your reviews on the ad.

Before you pay

Ads send people to your profile, so fix the profile first: hours, photos, reviews and the right category. Paying to show a listing with a 3.4 rating and last year's hours spends money to lose customers.

Linking the profile

  1. In Google Ads, open Assets and add a location asset.
  2. Choose the Business Profile you manage with the same Google account.
  3. Pick which locations to include if you have more than one.

Questions

Do ads improve my organic Maps ranking?

No. Paid and organic placements are separate.

Is there an ads button in the profile?

Google sometimes shows a prompt to create an ad from the profile. It opens Google Ads.

Can I advertise without a website?

Yes. Some ad types can send people to your profile or to call you.

About the author

, Founder

Jason has spent two decades building sites, search programs, and digital products for businesses. At Lehvel, he leads product and strategy.

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