Google Launches Cost-Per-Click Ad Service for Local Businesses

In an effort to deliver its marketing services to a broader range of clients, Google (News - Alert) on Monday launched Boost, a location-based ad product designed specifically for local businesses.

Before the introduction of Boost, placing and maintaining online ads with Google was a fairly complicated process for local business owners. Many customers became frustrated and overwhelmed with the intricate nature of AdWords, Google's hallmark advertising product.

Boost was developed to offer local business owners an uncomplicated, automated outlet for targeted online advertising. After opening a Google Places account, all local business owners need to do is fill in some very basic information, including their company's name, address, URL, phone number, business categories and recent reviews. The software will ask for a monthly budget and then automatically set up an ad campaign. Boost will even recommend relevant keywords that will trigger the cost-per-click ads to pop-up.

Local ads will appear in the 'sponsored links' section of Google's search interface when the location and agreed-upon keywords are entered by a user.

Project Manager Kiley McEvoy noted in a recent blog post that no ongoing account management is needed after the initial set up of Google Boost.

"We hope Boost provides busy local business owners with a quick and easy way to share information about themselves with the people who look for them online," added McEvoy.


Unfortunately, the new service is still in beta testing, which means Google will not roll it out in every major city until it has cleaned out all the cobwebs. For now, the ad product is only available for select local businesses in San Francisco, Houston and Chicago. It is still unclear when the search engine giant will offer Boost on a nationwide basis.

Analysts expect that the program could become a major source of revenue for Google if and when it is released from beta.

Beecher Tuttle is a TMCnet contributor. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Erin Monda