For Houston businesses, visibility on Google Maps and local search results can make or break lead generation. While setting up a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is free, simply creating a listing isn’t enough to stand out in a crowded local market.
That’s where Google Ads comes in.
By advertising your Google Business Profile through paid campaigns, you can appear at the top of local searches, drive more calls, get more direction requests, and improve foot traffic. This strategy is especially powerful in a large, competitive market like Houston, where customers often search for services “near me” on mobile devices.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to boost your GMB visibility with Google Ads — and how to make your business show up when it matters most.
Understanding the Connection Between GMB and Google Ads
Google Business Profile (GMB) and Google Ads are two separate tools, but when used together, they unlock powerful local advertising features.
When you link your GMB account to Google Ads, you enable location assets (formerly location extensions). These allow your business address, phone number, reviews, and hours to appear directly within your ad. For Houston businesses, this means your listing can show up in:
- Google Search Ads (with your business info and directions)
- Google Maps Ads (as a promoted location when users search nearby)
- Local Pack Ads (at the top of the 3-pack in local search results)
- YouTube and Display Ads (with location awareness for local targeting)
By running ads with location assets enabled, your GMB listing becomes more visible to people searching for your service in specific Houston neighborhoods, ZIP codes, or on mobile devices near your business.
In short: Google Ads gives your GMB listing a paid boost — ensuring you show up above organic listings for high-intent local searches.
Setting Up Location Assets in Google Ads
To advertise your Google Business Profile using Google Ads, the first step is linking the two accounts through Location Assets. Here’s how Houston businesses can set it up correctly:
Step 1: Make Sure You Have Admin Access
You need admin access to both your Google Ads account and your GMB (Google Business Profile) listing.
Step 2: Link Your Google Business Profile to Google Ads
- Sign in to Google Ads.
- Navigate to Assets > Location assets.
- Click the blue “+” and select Link to a Business Profile account.
- Enter the email associated with your GMB profile or select your business if it appears.
- Approve the request in your Google Business Profile dashboard if prompted.
Step 3: Verify Location Asset Is Active
Google will pull in your business name, address, phone number, and hours from GMB. This information will now appear in ads.
Step 4: Apply the Asset to Your Campaign
When creating a new campaign, ensure Location assets are active in the ad extensions section.
Creating Local Search Ads to Promote Your GMB
Once linked, you can start running campaigns that highlight your GMB listing:
Option 1: Performance Max Campaigns
- Create a new campaign and choose a local goal (store visits, calls).
- Select Performance Max as the campaign type.
- Confirm your GMB (location assets) is selected.
- Upload creative assets (headlines, descriptions, images).
- Set Houston-specific targeting and a daily budget.
Performance Max campaigns deliver ads across Google Search, Maps, YouTube, and Display — ideal for boosting local visibility.
Option 2: Localized Search Campaigns
- Choose Search campaign.
- Use geo-targeted keywords (e.g., “dentist near Montrose Houston”).
- Enable Location assets.
- Target Houston ZIP codes or use radius targeting.
- Customize ad copy with local relevance.
Both strategies help your GMB listing appear when and where Houston users are looking.
Optimizing for Houston Geo-Targeting
Geo-targeting is crucial to get the most from your Google Ads budget:
1. Focus on Specific Neighborhoods
Target areas like Midtown, The Heights, Galleria, Sugar Land, or The Woodlands based on your audience.
2. Exclude Low-Intent Areas
Avoid areas that historically perform poorly or generate low-quality leads.
3. Bid Adjustments by Area
Use location performance reports to raise or lower bids in specific ZIP codes.
4. Localized Messaging
Include neighborhood or city names in your ad copy to boost click-through rates.
5. Time-Based Targeting
Run ads during business hours or peak search times for better efficiency.
Tips to Maximize Results and Drive Local Actions
To get more real-world results from your GMB-focused campaigns:
- Track conversions like phone calls and directions from your ads.
- Use call-only ads to drive immediate leads from mobile.
- Add trust signals like reviews, local awards, or “serving Houston since…” in ad text.
- Keep your GMB profile updated with photos, reviews, and current hours.
- Leverage Performance Max for full local ad coverage across Google’s platforms.
These steps help turn local clicks into valuable business actions — especially in a large, competitive metro like Houston.
Conclusion
For local businesses in Houston, combining Google Business Profile with Google Ads is one of the most effective ways to stand out in a crowded market. It’s not just about getting seen — it’s about showing up at the right time, in the right place, when local customers are actively searching for your services.
By linking your GMB profile through location assets, running targeted campaigns, and optimizing your geo-targeting and ad copy for Houston neighborhoods, you can drive more calls, direction requests, and store visits — all from high-intent prospects.
With competition growing across every industry in Houston, now’s the time to boost your local visibility where it counts: at the top of Google Search and Maps.