New Location Extensions Ad Formats with Map Features Launched for Mobile Devices

Earlier this year we launched click-to-call location extensions for search ads appearing on mobile devices with full Internet browsers.  Today we’re excited to announce more ways location extensions can be used to connect with local users on the go, whether they are using their phones to browse the mobile web or engage in their favorite mobile apps. 

Many mobile consumers use maps to locate a business and get directions on their phones. With AdWords location extensions you can now  feature your business location and phone number on an expandable map ad  that can appear on mobile websites and apps in the Google Display Network. The ad appears as a banner text ad with a business icon that expands to show your business location on a Google map along with your ad creative, click-to-call phone number and option to get directions. Since ads can be served based on the user’s location, a potential customer will see the phone number and map of the store location that’s nearest to them.  By providing mobile consumers more options to connect with your business you can drive more traffic to your store, visits to your website or calls to your business.

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This new ad format is available on mobile devices with full Internet browsers and allows you to expand your advertising campaigns to reach highly engaged mobile users with relevant local information as they use their favorite apps or websites to check the weather, read the news, play games or pursue other mobile interests.  Advertising with location extensions on mobile devices is also great value because you’re  only charged when a user clicks to call the business or clicks to visit your website.  You are not charged when users click to expand the map or gets directions. The cost of a click to call your business will be the same as the cost of a click to visit your website.

Getting started with location extensions for mobile apps and websites 

1. Ensure your campaigns are opted into the Google Display Network. As a best practice, we recommend setting up separate location extensions campaigns for Search and Display networks.

2. Set up location extensions and add your business phone number and address.  Be sure to also upload your business logo or icon, or choose from the set of icons available. Your ad will display a default icon if none is chosen.

3. Check that you've chosen to show your ads on iPhones and other mobile devices with full Internet browsers.

That’s it! You don’t need any special programming skills to create the map, we’ll automatically generate it for you based on your business location. 

We hope that you’ll take advantage of this new ad format and the power of location extensions to create mobile-specific, locally relevant ads to reach mobile users on the go!

Posted by Dai Pham, Google Mobile Ads Marketing Team

Introducing: The Google Mobile Ads Blog

It’s hard to believe that only a month ago the AdMob team moved from San Mateo to Google’s Mountain View campus. It feels great to be one team – the Google Mobile Ads team.

It’s an invigorating time to be at Google and in mobile advertising. Right before our eyes the audience is shifting beyond desktop to mobile. Advertisers and publishers are developing personalized and interactive mobile experiences. Simply put mobile is no longer just an addendum to an online ad campaign and the Google Mobile Ads team has been instrumental in driving this shift.

As we begin to figure out how to put our products together, I want to say that I’m very proud of this combined Google Mobile Ads team. This is an extremely talented group of people. Together we brought the Internet developer model to mobile, fostered an environment where advertisers can take advantage of desktop user behavior while leveraging the unique opportunities of mobile, and pioneered innovative ad formats. And we can’t wait to apply our collective strengths in reach, relevancy and accountability to take the mobile industry further.

So with that I’m very happy to introduce the new Google Mobile Ads blog, a place where the mobile community can learn about new developments from the Google Mobile Ads Team.

I’m excited for a great rest of the year. Keep on reading.

Omar

Posted by Omar Hamoui, Google Mobile Ads Team