The EXACT Settings To Use For Your First Google Ads Campaign (For Limo Companies)

How to name your campaign

Campaign names aren’t just labels—they keep your ads organized and your budgets controlled.

If you offer multiple vehicle types (black car, stretch limo, party bus), create separate campaigns for each.

This helps you:

• Quickly pause ads if certain vehicles are fully booked.

• Easily control individual budgets and strategies.

Better organization = better results. And fewer headaches.

Choosing your "Bidding Strategy"

Your overall goal with Google Ads is to get “conversions.” In your case, that means leads.

You know… people who fill out a form on your landing page or give you a call looking to book a ride.

But there’s a catch.

This is really important:

In order for Google to optimize your ads for people who are likely to become leads, it first needs the appropriate amount of “conversion data” (think, information from past experiences where people called/filled out a form after clicking on your ads)… so that Google KNOWS what those types of people look like.

So, if you’re starting fresh:

• Start with “manual cpc” as your bidding goal, just to gather that initial data.

• Set a modest bid (e.g., $5-$6 per click for black car services) to avoid overspending initially.

Once you’ve gathered enough data, you can switch to optimizing for “maximize conversions.” (Caveat: you MUST have conversion tracking set up.)

That’s when the fun starts. But do it right. Don’t get impatient.

Setting up your location targeting

Location targeting isn’t just picking a blanket area. Well at least I don’t suggest that if you want the best chance possible at getting good results.

Here’s what we suggest:

• Use radius targeting (e.g., 20 miles around Los Angeles).

• But add smaller areas or cities within your radius.

• Google then gives performance data on each specific area, helping you refine your targeting even further.

This is a little secret that most people don’t know about, and it can help you save a lot of money on wasted ad spend.

"Presence vs Interest" - What's right for you?

Google offers two options:

• Presence or Interest: Ads shown to people physically in your location or searching about it from elsewhere.

  Presence Only: Ads shown only to people physically in your targeted area.

When to use “Presence or Interest”:

• If you’re a black car company in a major travel city (e.g., LA, NYC), capturing travelers flying in makes sense.

When to use “Presence Only”:

• For stretch limos, party buses, or businesses in smaller markets. (For the most part, that is… Make sure to gut-check this with your specific situation. For example: if you’re in a destination city like Nashville and your clients fly in and book party busses for their bachelorette parties, you’d want to include “Interest” too. Use your best judgement here.)

• If you have a modest budget and want long-term repeat business from local clients.

“Presence Only” leads might cost slightly more, but the long-term value of local repeat customers often justifies it.

Choosing the best time of day to run your ads

Showing ads all day sounds logical, but it’s not always a good idea.

Ask yourself:

• Who books your ideal corporate service? Likely assistants working regular office hours (8 AM – 5 PM).

• Targeting ads strictly during business hours can result in higher-quality leads.

However, tighter schedules can increase your cost per lead because competitors target the same valuable time slots. Balance wisely.

Bottom Line:

Properly structuring your Google Ads campaigns from day one can significantly reduce wasted ad spend and attract higher-quality leads. When setting up your first campaign, go slow. Take a deep breath. Be intentional.

Pulling it all together:

• Organize (and name) your campaigns by vehicle type.

• Start optimizing for clicks first, then optimize for conversions later.

• Use precise location targeting.

• Choose targeting methods (Presence vs. Presence or Interest) wisely.

• Schedule ads strategically around your ideal customer’s habits.

Want my team to run your ads? Apply here.

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