The Power of Google Ads for Local Reach

Let’s take the example of a local hair salon. Before using Google Ads, the salon struggled with low website traffic, limited local visibility, and fewer bookings than expected. Despite offering excellent services and having a solid base of happy clients, they weren't reaching enough new customers.

That’s when we decided to give Google Ads a try.

Setting Up the Campaign

We started with a small, location-targeted campaign focused on increasing impressions and raising awareness within the local community. The goal was to make the salon more visible to nearby people actively searching for hair services.

Within just two weeks of launching the campaign, the results were clear and impressive.

Measurable Impact: Before vs. After

Using Google Analytics 4, we tracked website visits before and after activating the ads:

• Before Google Ads: The salon’s website received 5–6 visits per day, mostly from existing clients or referrals.
• During the Campaign: Website traffic jumped to 25–40 visits per day, primarily from new users.

This translated into a significant increase in online bookings, showing how a focused campaign can drive real results.

Boost in Google Business Profile Engagement

In addition to website traffic, we also saw a big improvement in the salon’s Google Business Profile activity:

• Phone Calls: Daily calls from Google Search and Maps increased from 1–2 to around 8–12 calls per day during the campaign.
• Profile Views: The number of people viewing the business profile rose sharply, helping the salon become more discoverable in local search results.
• Directions Requests: More users started requesting directions, showing growing interest from nearby potential customers.

These insights came directly from the Google Business Profile dashboard, where we monitored engagement alongside our ad performance.

Key Takeaways

• Google Ads drives more than just website traffic—it boosts visibility across your entire online presence.
• Calls, directions, and profile views are essential engagement metrics for local businesses, and ads can significantly improve them.
• Local targeting ensures your ads are seen by people most likely to book your service.
• Tracking tools like Google Analytics 4 and the Business Profile dashboard help measure what really matters.

Final Thoughts

Google Ads isn’t just for big companies. As this local salon's story shows, it's a powerful tool for small and local businesses to drive traffic, get calls, and increase bookings. Even with a modest budget, the results were both measurable and meaningful.

Whether you're trying to fill more appointment slots, boost walk-ins, or just be seen more in your area; Google Ads can be the boost your business needs.

Have you tried Google Ads for your business yet? We’d love to hear how it worked for you in the comments below!