Google Ads Location Assets Now Selectable via Maps Google Ads Location Assets Now Selectable via Maps

Google Ads is making it easier for businesses to connect with nearby customers by allowing advertisers to select location assets directly through Google Maps. This new feature gives Australian businesses more flexibility and control when setting up local campaigns—especially for companies with multiple branches or service locations.

Understanding Location Assets and Google Maps Integration

Location assets, formerly known as location extensions, display your business address, directions, phone number, and opening hours alongside your ads. This helps potential customers discover your business more easily, whether they’re searching on Google or navigating through Google Maps.

Previously, advertisers could only link location assets through their Google Business Profile (GBP) or through bulk uploads via chain feeds. Now, businesses can simply select up to 10 locations using Google Maps directly inside Google Ads.

This is particularly useful for small and medium-sized Australian businesses that want to promote a handful of locations without setting up complex feeds. Once selected, these locations can appear on Search ads, and your campaigns may also show in Google Maps results through local search ads or promoted pins, increasing your visibility for nearby customers.

How to Add Locations Through Google Maps in Google Ads

The process of adding locations using Google Maps is straightforward:

1. In your Google Ads account, go to “Location Manager” under Tools → Shared Library.

2. Click the “+” button and choose “Our locations.”

3. Enter the business address or search for it directly on Google Maps.

4. Select up to 10 relevant business locations.

5. Link these locations to your Google Ads account.

After linking, you can decide which locations are active for specific campaigns or ad groups. For example, a franchise in Sydney might advertise different branches for different suburbs.

It’s important to ensure that the selected locations actually belong to your business. Google may disapprove assets if the ownership is unclear. By using Maps, advertisers avoid the previous delays associated with waiting for GBP synchronisation, making campaign setup faster and more accurate.

Why This Matters for Australian Businesses

Increased Local Visibility

Location assets improve your chances of appearing in Google Maps searches and navigation ads. When users explore an area or search for products or services nearby, businesses with well-configured location assets are more likely to appear prominently on the map interface.

Faster Setup and Control

The new method is ideal for businesses that don’t have large marketing teams. Instead of managing complicated data feeds, you can select the exact stores or offices you want to promote using a simple Google Maps interface.

Better Ad Relevance and Performance

Accurate location assets help Google match your ads to local searchers more effectively. This leads to higher click-through rates, stronger local intent matching, and improved ad rankings, particularly for mobile users who rely heavily on Maps when making quick decisions.

Best Practices for Using Google Maps Location Assets

To get the best results, Australian advertisers should follow a few key steps:

• Verify your Google Business Profile to ensure legitimacy and accuracy.

• Keep business details updated, including opening hours, addresses, and contact numbers.

• Use location groups to control which locations appear for specific campaigns.

• Monitor performance using Google Ads reports that segment Maps-specific metrics such as direction requests and location detail clicks.

• Combine location assets with local keyword targeting, such as suburb names, to increase relevance.

• For businesses with more than 10 locations, consider using chain feeds or GBP integration for scalability.

By following these practices, Australian businesses can take full advantage of this feature to drive in-store visits and local conversions more efficiently.

Use Google Maps to Maximise Advantage

Google’s integration of Maps-based location selection into Google Ads is a practical improvement that simplifies local advertising. For digital marketing, this means faster setups, more control over which locations to promote, and increased visibility across both Google Search and Google Maps.

Whether you run a single shop in Melbourne or multiple service branches across Queensland, using this new feature can help your business reach local customers more effectively.