While browsing through my clients that have Google Places Pages, I noticed that there was a new feature titled “Create Boost Ad” located directly underneath the “Create Tag” link. Once clicked it brought me to a interface that allowed the small business owner to write a small description (70 characters between 2 lines), choose the destination page of either your website or your Google Places Page, selects 1 or more of the pre-determined categories (keywords) for your Boost Ad to display under, and lastly choose your monthly spend budget (low, medium, or high spend / click volumes).
Ad Title
The title of your advertisement is predetermined. Google uses the title of your Places Pages as the default title for your Boost Ad.
Ad Description
Google allows you to write up to 70 characters between 2 lines. This is used as the description underneath your advertisement. Just like AdWords, you are able to create compelling copy that will entice your visitors to click on your advertisement.
Destination Page
Google allows small businesses to choose 1 of 2 places to send visitors once they have clicked on your advertisement. You can either send the traffic coming from your ad to your Google Places Page or directly to your website.
Show Ads for Searches in these categories
Google uses your Places Page categories as your “keywords”. When users type in a category that matches the one you are advertising under your Boost ad will be served up for viewing. Users are able to uncheck whatever categories they do not want their ad showing in. This will help keep impressions and clicks to a manageable volume. Just like Google AdWords, the more keywords you have, the faster you spend your alloted budget. Keep it targeted.
Monthly Budget
Google has 3 pre-determined spend levels along with a custom level. They group them into: low, medium, and high spend/volume. The custom spend is there to allow businesses to either raise their spend higher than the recommended levels or to lower it to the minimum spend of $50 per month. In my case they have recommended the following spend increments:
- $600 – 280-630 clicks estimated per month
- $220 – 90-200 clicks estimated per month
- $100 – 50-110 clicks estimated per month
- Custom ($50 per month minimum spend)
Evolution from Local Listing Ads?
It is my opinion that Google’s Boost Ads evolved from their old beta test of Local Listing Ads. They share striking similarities in the fact that they both accomplished the same goal, placing an advertisement in both organic map search results as well inside Google Maps itself accompanied with a blue marker icon. The one main difference is that unlike Local Listing Ads which had a flat monthly fee of $25, Boost Ads run off an abridged version of Google AdWords, allowing the user to bid for placement rather than rotating the ads for each impression, customize their description, and select which categories (keywords) for their advertisement to be displayed under.
Conclusion
Mike Blumenthal noted that the roll-out of the Boost ads are only available to small businesses in San Francisco, CA, Chicago, IL & Houston, TX. This new feature will now allow novice Internet Marketers who were previously afraid to enter the AdWords arena access to a VERY simple way to place their business in front of their target audience.
Screenshot
