Your service area
Review travel, delivery, capacity and conditions. More searches do not justify broader reach when you cannot fulfil the offer in those places.
Google Ads · Locations · Local search
Reach the places you can serve and the people making the decision
Choosing a city in Google Ads does not fully define who should see the offer. A local clinic, hotel and retailer with delivery have different buying geographies. Start with the area you can serve, then review where the person searches, what they need and which page they should find.
ServiceWhere you can fulfil the offer
DecisionWhere the customer buys
ControlWhich locations create business
Quick answer
Does a city name in a query mean the person is there?
No. Someone may be in the area, planning a trip or buying a service for another person. A place name in the search and the location settings used by a campaign are different things. Understand the buying journey first, then choose the geographic scope worth testing.
Location and customer need
Presence or interest
Google distinguishes presence from presence or interest in a location. Check which available option fits the service; an urgent local enquiry and a future reservation need different considerations.
A verifiable local offer
Describe actual opening hours, coverage and conditions. A page for another city needs useful and accurate information, rather than only a changed place name.
Interactive plan
How does the customer relate to the location?
Choose a model to plan a geographic hypothesis. Then verify the campaign options and outcomes.
Focus on the area you can serve
Review presence, travel and enquiries outside coverage. Base limits on real capacity and check commercial opportunity locations rather than click reports alone.
Before launch
Before saving location settings
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Our approach
Run an explainable geographic test
Define coverage
Write down where you serve and where the customer may decide to buy.
Configure and document
Check available locations, options and exclusions. Record the change before testing.
Review the business
Compare serviceable enquiries, sales and costs by territory. Adjust when outcomes justify it.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Does Google identify location with complete precision?
No. It uses signals and estimates rather than guaranteeing 100% accuracy. Compare reports with the commercial information available to you.
Should I always exclude people outside the city?
Not always. A person outside the city can book a visit or buy for someone in the area. The buying journey matters.
Can I target every neighbourhood or postal code?
Available location types vary by country. Verify that the specific target exists and is available to the campaign.
Does every city need a separate page?
Only where the page provides distinct, accurate information. Avoid creating many nearly identical pages that do not help someone choose or buy.
Official documentation
Google Ads · Location optionsGoogle Ads · Geographic targetingGoogle Ads · Types by country
Explore further
Define coverage the business can support
We review territory, search intent and the offer to plan campaigns with a clear geographic rationale.