If you’re a local service business trying to grow, you’re probably juggling a lot—calls, scheduling, making sure people even find you online in the first place. Maybe you’ve heard about Google Ads. Maybe you’ve been told to “make sure your SEO is solid.” But what does that even mean, and how can you use both together to actually grow your business?
Good news: You don’t have to choose between Google Ads and local SEO. When you combine them the right way, they amplify each other—and your return on investment (ROI) skyrockets.
At EVpro Marketing, we specialize in helping local businesses like yours in and around Austin do exactly this. This guide will break it down step-by-step in simple terms, so you can move forward with confidence.
Why Google Ads and Local SEO Work Better Together
Let’s clear this up first: Google Ads and local SEO are not either/or strategies—they’re both powerful tools on their own, but together, they become far more effective.
Think of It Like a Tag Team
- Local SEO builds your long-term presence in local search results. It helps people find your business when they search for services on Google Maps or in the local 3-pack (those top search results with reviews and hours).
- Google Ads works fast. You can appear at the top of search results today—even before your SEO efforts fully kick in.
When both are working together, you dominate both paid and organic search real estate. That builds brand trust and brings in more high-quality leads.
Benefits of Using Google Ads + Local SEO Together
Here’s what we usually see when local businesses combine these two strategies:
- Increased visibility: Show up in both paid ads and organic listings.
- Faster ROI: Google Ads brings quick traffic while SEO builds sustainable presence.
- Higher conversion rates: People trust businesses they see repeatedly across searches.
- Smarter insights: Ads data helps refine your SEO and vice versa.
- Local dominance: Reach more customers near your service area.
Now let’s walk through how to build a strategy that uses both—blended, not separate.
Step-by-Step: How to Combine Google Ads with Local SEO
1. Start With Local SEO Basics
Before putting money behind ads, make sure your local SEO foundation is strong. That way, you’re not wasting money sending people to a poorly-optimized profile or site.
Local SEO checklist to start with:
- Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile (GBP)
- Use accurate NAP info (Name, Address, Phone number) everywhere online
- Collect and respond to Google reviews
- Add local keywords naturally to your website (like “Austin HVAC repair”)
- Use location pages if you serve multiple cities or neighborhoods
- Make sure your site loads fast and works well on mobile
Questions to ask yourself:
- When someone searches “[your service] near me,” do you show up?
- Is your Google Business Profile complete and updated?
If not, fix those things first. If you do, you’re ready to supercharge your results with Google Ads.
2. Set Up Location-Based Google Ad Campaigns
Now that your SEO foundation is solid, it’s time to run ads that target your specific service area.
Focus on:
- Search Ads: These show up when someone searches for keywords like “plumber in South Austin.”
- Local Service Ads (LSAs): These are pay-per-lead ads and show your business with a “Google Guaranteed” badge.
- Geo-targeting: Set your ad location settings to your city, zip codes, or service radius.
Why this matters: Running broad, national ads doesn’t work for local services. You don’t want clicks from people outside your area.
Tip: In your ad copy, include local references (e.g., “Serving East Austin since 2015”).
3. Use Keyword Data to Inform Both Strategies
Here’s where the magic happens—use the data from your Google Ads to improve your SEO.
What to look at:
- Which keywords are driving the most clicks?
- Which search terms are converting into calls or leads?
- Which locations are responding best?
Once you see what’s working from your ads, apply that to your site and local SEO strategy:
- Update your service pages with winning keywords
- Add content focused on neighborhoods or zip codes that convert well
- Optimize your Google Business Profile with top-performing phrases
And don’t forget—SEO data helps your ads too. If you know which service pages convert well, you can link to them in your ads.
4. Align Your Landing Pages with Local Intent
Here’s a common mistake: businesses run Google Ads to their homepage. But the homepage is rarely the best place to send potential customers.
Instead, create dedicated landing pages for each service or location:
Service | Suggested Landing Page URL
|
|---|---|
HVAC in Austin | yoursite.com/austin-hvac |
Landscaping in Round Rock | yoursite.com/landscaping-round-rock |
Key elements of a great landing page:
- Clear headline with location (“Reliable HVAC in South Austin”)
- Service benefits and what makes you local
- Trust signals (Google reviews, badges, awards)
- Easy contact options (tap-to-call, forms, maps)
When both your ad and SEO efforts point to pages like these, conversion rates increase significantly.
5. Monitor, Test, and Adjust Consistently
This isn’t a “set it and forget it” deal. Combining Google Ads and SEO takes some upkeep—but the payoff is worth it.
Tools you can use:
- Google Ads dashboard: Monitor keywords, CTR, conversions
- Google Analytics: See how local traffic is behaving on your site
- Google Search Console: Measure organic keyword growth
- Google Business Profile insights: Track calls, requests, views
Things to test and optimize regularly:
- Ad copy with different local focus
- Call-to-actions on landing pages
- Local keywords on your website
- Which neighborhoods, zip codes, or cities convert best
At EVpro Marketing, monitoring is part of what we do continuously for clients—refining both ad campaigns and SEO efforts to maximize ROI over time.
FAQs: Google Ads and Local SEO
Can I use Google Ads without doing SEO?
Yes, but you’ll pay for every lead—and you’ll stop appearing the moment you stop running ads. SEO builds a long-term presence that keeps working whether you’re spending money or not.
How long does SEO take to kick in?
It usually takes 3–6 months to start seeing solid SEO results, depending on competition in your area and how optimized your site is.
Are LSAs better than traditional Google Ads?
They’re different. LSAs work on a pay-per-lead model (not per click) and show up at the very top of the search results. They’re great for home and local services, especially if you have solid reviews and your business is verified.
Should I use the same keywords in both Ads and SEO?
Often yes—but it depends. Start with an overlap for your most important search terms, then test and refine based on performance. Don’t be afraid to focus on different stages of the buying journey (e.g., “emergency plumber” for ads, “how to fix low water pressure” for SEO).
Conclusion: Make Google Work for Your Local Business
If you’re a local service provider in Austin—or anywhere, really—you don’t have to guess your way through digital marketing. Combining Google Ads and local SEO isn’t just a “nice to have.” It’s a strategic move that helps you take up more space on Google, earn more trust, and get better ROI from your marketing budget.
The key is balancing fast results from ads with long-term SEO growth, and feeding insights from one into the other.
Need help building a strategy that fits your business? At EVpro Marketing, we do this every day for local businesses just like yours. Whether you’re ready for an expert team to guide the way or just want more insights like these, we’ve got your back.
Explore more of our blog for local marketing tips, or reach out if you want a free assessment of your current SEO and Google Ads setup.
Let’s make sure Google actually works for you, not the other way around.