What Are Google Hosted Conversions?
What Are Google Hosted Local Actions?
Local Actions are conversions that are counted when potential customers view an online advertisement and complete an action, like visiting the advertisers’ physical address. Local conversions are linked with Google’s other products and services. For example, you see an advertisement for a Jiffy Lube Oil Change, a couple of days later you select directions to the nearest location on Google Maps. Google will then track your activity and counts that action within AdWords.
These are the 6 local conversion actions:
Clicks to call: Clicks on the “Call” button
Local actions – Directions: Clicks on the “Get directions” button
Local actions – Website visits: Clicks on the website link
Local actions – Other engagements: Clicks on other tracked user actions (for example: share location, save, etc.)
Local actions – Orders: Clicks on the “Order” button
Local actions – Menu views: Clicks on the menu link
How do I add Local Actions to My Account?
Google Hosted Location Actions are conversions that are added to an AdWords account in partnership with enabling location extensions. This allows all the above-mentioned actions to track any Google location-based ad or service after an ad interaction, such as Google My Business. This was confirmed through a phone call with Google and these actions cannot be removed or paused within the account.
It is speculated, that Google has implemented these conversions into accounts in association with the new automated smart campaigns and local campaigns that were recently announced during the Google Marketing Live 2018: Marketing Innovations Keynote.
Kim Spalding explained that these Smart campaigns were created to help small businesses do more by making campaigns simple, saving advertisers time and are focused on driving results. “When small businesses grow, so do our communities,” (Spalding, K. 2018). Phillip McDonnell continued to elaborate on Google’s innovation rollout of local campaigns, leading to simpler experiences for consumers. Local Campaigns promote local businesses across local networks and focus on achieving online, as well as offline, performance goals.
Google Marketing Live, 2018
Where Can I Find Them?
Google Hosted local action conversions can be found in the settings conversions. Even though they are locked, don’t worry your pretty little head. These conversions only show under the “all conversions” column and you can segment by conversion action to see a more detailed breakdown.
If you have multiple locations, you can see the per-store report which shows the number of people visiting your physical store location either during or after viewing your online advertisement. These conversions will show more specific data from the different store locations, like website visits, phone calls, and driving directions to the physical address.
Top Draw will continue to monitor Google and their new product launches in order to determine how to better influence this for local businesses. More to come as we continue to test and research.