Product Overview
What is Tekmetric Digital Ads?
Tekmetric Digital Ads helps your shop attract new customers by increasing your online visibility when drivers are actively searching for nearby automotive services across Google Maps, Google Search, Yelp, and Nextdoor.
Most advertising platforms stop at clicks and impressions. Digital Ads goes a step further by connecting tracked phone calls and online bookings to actual customers, repair orders, revenue, and gross profit—so you can understand the real business impact of your advertising.
Why does this matter for my shop?
Attracting new customers is one of the biggest challenges for independent repair shops.
Tekmetric Digital Ads helps your shop show up when nearby drivers are actively searching for automotive services, turning high-intent searches into phone calls, online bookings, and new customers.
It also helps you understand what your advertising actually produced by connecting tracked phone calls and online bookings to customers, repair orders, revenue, and gross profit.
What makes Tekmetric Digital Ads different?
Tekmetric Digital Ads is built specifically for repair shops and designed to make digital advertising easier to launch, manage, and measure.
Digital Ads:
- Helps your shop reach nearby drivers across Google Maps, Google Search, Yelp, and Nextdoor, with Google campaigns designed to prioritize Google Maps
- Uses your shop’s business context and campaign performance to continuously optimize your campaigns
- Connects tracked phone calls and online bookings to customers, repair orders, revenue, and gross profit
- Gives you visibility into campaign performance and return on ad spend
- Can run alongside your existing advertising without requiring you to replace it
Most shops can launch their first campaign in approximately 10–15 minutes, with no advertising expertise required.
Is Tekmetric Digital Ads SEO or advertising?
Tekmetric Digital Ads is a paid advertising platform, not a search engine optimization (SEO) service.
Digital Ads uses paid advertising to help your shop increase its visibility on Google Maps and Google Search when nearby drivers are actively searching for automotive services.
SEO focuses on improving your organic visibility in search results over time.
Is this the same as Local Search Ads (LSA)?
Not exactly.
Local Services Ads and Tekmetric Digital Ads are different advertising solutions.
Tekmetric Digital Ads is designed specifically for independent repair shops and helps your shop reach nearby drivers across Google Maps, Google Search, Yelp, and Nextdoor. Your Google campaign is designed to prioritize Google Maps, and Digital Ads continuously optimizes campaign performance based on your shop and campaign context.
Digital Ads also connects tracked phone calls and online bookings to customers and repair orders inside Tekmetric, helping you understand the revenue, gross profit, and return on ad spend attributed to your advertising.
Where will my ads appear?
Digital Ads supports advertising across Google Maps, Google Search, Yelp, and Nextdoor.
Google Maps and Google Search run as part of your Google campaign, which is designed to prioritize Google Maps. Yelp and Nextdoor campaigns are launched separately.
Does Tekmetric Digital Ads work on Google Maps and Google Search?
Yes. Tekmetric Digital Ads operates on both Google Maps and Google Search. However, campaigns are typically weighted more heavily toward Maps because it often drives stronger engagement and higher-intent actions for local businesses.
Why does Google Maps matter?
Google Maps can reach nearby drivers at a high-intent moment — when they’re actively looking for a business to call, visit, or get directions to.
Showing up prominently in Maps can help your shop:
- Reach nearby drivers
- Generate phone calls
- Generate direction requests
- Increase shop visits
- Capture high-intent local searches
Digital Ads is designed to prioritize Google Maps while also reaching drivers through Google Search.
What is different about how Digital Ads uses Google Maps?
Google determines how ads are distributed across eligible advertising inventory. Digital Ads adds an optimization layer designed to prioritize Google Maps as a key channel for local customer acquisition.
This helps put your shop in front of nearby drivers who are actively searching for automotive services, while still allowing your campaign to reach drivers through Google Search.
How is this different from the automation already available through Google Ads?
Google Ads already uses automated bidding and campaign optimization.
Digital Ads adds optimization designed around your shop, including your business context, Google Maps prioritization, and ongoing evaluation of campaign performance.
It also connects tracked advertising activity to customers and repair orders inside Tekmetric, helping you understand the business results generated by your advertising—not just advertising metrics such as clicks and impressions.
How does Digital Ads optimize my campaigns?
Digital Ads continuously uses information about your shop and campaign performance to optimize your advertising.
This can include information such as your location, services, Google Business Profile, reviews, clicks, phone calls, cost, keywords, searches, and time of day.
As campaign conditions change, Digital Ads can adjust bidding and shift advertising spend across keywords, searches, and times to pursue more efficient or higher-quality customer engagement.
Once your campaign is running, no ongoing manual campaign management is required from you.
How will I know if Digital Ads is working?
Digital Ads goes beyond clicks and impressions by connecting tracked phone calls and online bookings to customers and repair orders.
When those interactions can be connected to a customer and repair order in Tekmetric, you can see attributed:
- Customers
- Repair orders
- Revenue
- Gross profit
- Return on ad spend
Digital Ads also reports other campaign results, including estimated results from Google such as store visits and direction requests.
Not every advertising interaction can necessarily be connected to an identified customer or repair order, so attribution may vary.
Can Tekmetric Digital Ads help me increase my visibility when customers search for competitors?
By adding competitors to your Tekmetric Digital Ads profile, your business may be more likely to appear in searches for competing brands, increasing visibility during high-intent searches.
Placement is ultimately determined dynamically by Google based on relevance, location, and other factors.
What if a local competitor also uses Tekmetric Digital Ads?
If a nearby competitor also uses Digital Ads, both shops can still be eligible to appear.
Which ads appear can vary based on factors such as location, relevance, competition, timing, and campaign performance.
Ad position is ultimately determined through Google’s advertising system, and Digital Ads does not guarantee any specific position.
Can my ads appear when someone searches for a competitor?
Yes, your ads may be eligible to appear for some competitor-related searches.
Ad placement depends on factors such as relevance, location, competition, and the customer’s search. Digital Ads does not guarantee placement for any specific competitor search.
How It Compares to Other Advertising
Can I use Digital Ads if I already run Google Ads or work with an agency?
Yes. You don’t need to cancel your existing campaigns or stop working with your agency.
We recommend keeping your existing advertising running while you try Digital Ads so you can evaluate the results alongside what you’re already doing.
Some overlap can occur when campaigns target similar searches, but Digital Ads continuously evaluates its own campaign performance and can shift spend across keywords, searches, and times of day as conditions change.
Can Digital Ads and my existing Google Ads campaigns compete with each other?
Some overlap is possible when campaigns target similar searches in the same area.
Digital Ads does not coordinate directly with campaigns managed through another advertising account. Instead, it continuously evaluates its own campaign performance and can adjust bidding or shift spend toward different keywords, searches, or times as conditions change.
We recommend keeping your existing advertising running while you evaluate Digital Ads and comparing the results.
Pricing & Commitment
How much does Tekmetric Digital Ads cost?
There are two components to Digital Ads:
-
Platform subscription: $99/month
-
Advertising spend: You choose your own daily advertising budget
The minimum advertising budget is $10/day, with $15/day recommended as a starting point.
What’s included in the 30-day trial?
There is no platform fee for your first 30 days, and you’ll receive $300 in advertising credits to get started.
Your 30-day trial begins when your campaign goes live, not when you begin setting it up.
If your advertising spend exceeds the included $300 credit during your first 30 days, additional advertising charges may apply.
How much should I spend on advertising?
The minimum advertising budget is $10/day, but we recommend starting at $15/day.
At $15/day, your advertising spend would be approximately $450/month, separate from the Digital Ads platform fee.
You can adjust your advertising budget at any time.
How does advertising billing work?
Your Digital Ads platform subscription and advertising spend are billed separately.
The $99/month platform subscription appears on your regular Tekmetric invoice after your 30-day trial.
Your advertising spend is charged separately by GETPIE using the payment method you save for Digital Ads. Campaigns use prepaid advertising credits.
You can choose whether to enable Auto Top-Up, which automatically purchases additional advertising credits when your available balance falls below your selected threshold. If Auto Top-Up is disabled, your campaign pauses once your available advertising credits are exhausted.
Can I change my ad spend or cancel?
Yes. You can adjust your advertising budget or cancel your Digital Ads subscription at any time.
There are no long-term contracts.
Performance & Expectations
How long does it take to see results?
Every campaign is different, and performance can vary based on your market, competition, budget, and online presence.
New campaigns typically go through an initial learning and optimization period of approximately 10–12 days.
Typical expectations are:
-
First 10–12 days: Initial learning and optimization period
-
Weeks 3–4: Initial measurable results often begin appearing
-
Weeks 6–8: You’ll have a stronger understanding of longer-term campaign performance
Your first month can provide useful early results, but avoid evaluating your campaign based only on its first few days.
What factors can affect my campaign performance?
Campaign performance can vary based on factors including:
- Local customer demand
- Competition in your market
- Your Google Business Profile
- Review count and rating
- Services you offer
- Advertising budget
- Geographic targeting
Because every market and shop is different, Digital Ads does not guarantee a specific number of customers, repair orders, revenue, or return on ad spend.
What do the local action metrics mean?
- Direction Views: clicks for directions in Google Maps, showing strong intent to visit
- Store Visits: estimated visits to your location after interacting with your ad
- Phone Calls: calls made directly from your listing or ad
- Website Visits: clicks to your website from Maps
- Menu Views: views of your menu within Google Maps
- Orders: orders placed through your listing
- Other Actions: bookings, saves, or shares when applicable
These actions are strong indicators of real customer intent, especially early in a campaign.
Google Business Profile (GBP) Requirements:
Why do I need to connect my Google Business Profile?
Your Google Business Profile provides business information used to help create and optimize your advertising campaigns.
This can include information such as:
- Business name
- Location
- Services
- Photos
You’ll need the appropriate access to your Google Business Profile before your campaign can go live.
What if I do not have access to my Google Business Profile?
This is a common issue and can happen when:
- A former employee or agency created the profile
- The profile was created under another Google account
- Login credentials were lost over time
If you don’t currently have access, our team can help guide you through the next steps for recovering or requesting access.
Helpful Google resources:
Do I need a minimum number of reviews?
No. There is no minimum number of reviews required to use Digital Ads.
However, your Google Business Profile, including your reviews and ratings, can influence campaign performance. Keeping your profile complete and up to date can help customers make a decision when they find your shop.
Do I need a minimum number of reviews?
There is no strict requirement, but profiles with more reviews and higher ratings typically perform better.
Advanced FAQ
Account Setup & Requirements
Do I need an EIN to sign up?
Yes. An EIN is required to complete onboarding and set up your account.
If you do not have it available, you can still begin setup, but it will be required before your campaign goes live.
What does the $99/month Digital Ads subscription include?
Your Digital Ads subscription includes the technology to create, manage, and continuously optimize your advertising campaigns.
It includes:
- AI-assisted campaign creation
- Automated campaign management
- Continuous campaign optimization
- Performance reporting and attribution inside Tekmetric
Your advertising spend is separate from the $99/month platform subscription and is based on the daily advertising budget you choose.
Can I choose what services I advertise?
Yes. During setup, you select the services you’d like to promote.
These selections help determine the types of searches your ads may be eligible to appear for.
You can also use negative keywords to help exclude services or searches that aren’t relevant to your business.
Can I change my service area?
Yes. During setup, you choose the geographic area where you want your ads to appear. You can update this later as your business needs change.
Do I need advertising or Google Ads experience?
No. Digital Ads is designed for shop owners, not advertising experts.
Setup is guided and typically takes approximately 10–15 minutes. Once your campaign is live, Digital Ads automatically manages and continuously optimizes it.
Best Fit & Use Cases
Does Tekmetric Digital Ads work for service-area or appointment-only businesses?
Tekmetric Digital Ads performs best for businesses with a physical location tied to a Google Business Profile.
Service-area and appointment-only businesses can still run campaigns, but performance may vary depending on customer behavior and visibility.
Does Tekmetric Digital Ads support multi-location or franchise businesses?
Yes.
- Pricing is per location
- Each location connects to its own Google Business Profile
- Campaigns are managed individually
- Onboarding typically takes 10 to 15 minutes per location
Do you offer discounted pricing for multi-location businesses?
At this time, pricing is the same per location, regardless of how many locations you sign up. Each location runs its own campaign and requires individual setup, optimization, and Google Business Profile connection.
Ad Visibility, Call Behavior & Performance
Why don’t I see my ads when I search?
This is normal. Ads don’t appear for every eligible search or every person.
Ad delivery can vary based on factors such as:
- Location
- Relevance
- Competition
- Timing
- Available budget
- Campaign optimization
Rather than relying on whether you personally see your ad, evaluate campaign performance using Digital Ads reporting.
If you’re unsure whether your campaign is active, our team can help confirm its status.
Why do I see a lot of phone calls listed as 0 seconds?
A 0-second call can occur when:
- A caller hangs up before the call connects
- A call is misdialed
- Someone taps the call button accidentally
- The caller decides not to proceed
These calls represent tracked call attempts even though a conversation did not take place.
How does call tracking work?
Call tracking helps Digital Ads measure advertising performance and connect phone calls to business outcomes.
Tracked calls can include information such as call duration, recording where permitted, transcripts, and other call insights.
When a tracked caller can be matched to a customer and resulting repair order in Tekmetric, Digital Ads can connect that activity to revenue and gross profit.
Can I turn call tracking off?
Yes, but it isn’t recommended.
Phone calls are one of the primary ways Digital Ads measures advertising performance. Disabling call tracking reduces the ability to connect calls to customers, repair orders, revenue, and gross profit and limits the information available for campaign measurement and optimization.
Why am I getting calls for competitors?
Your ads may sometimes appear when someone searches for another automotive business, particularly when the search indicates they’re looking for automotive services in your area.
Digital Ads can use negative keywords to help exclude searches that aren’t relevant to your business, but placement for any individual search isn’t guaranteed.
If you’re consistently receiving irrelevant calls, contact our team so we can help review your campaign.
Why are my ads not showing or not running?
There are several reasons a campaign may not be running as expected, including:
- Your Google Business Profile needs attention or needs to be reconnected
- Your campaign has not completed setup
- Your available advertising credits have been exhausted
- There is a billing issue
- The campaign is still launching
If your campaign isn’t running as expected, check your campaign and billing status inside Tekmetric or contact our team for assistance.
Why is my campaign not improving yet?
New campaigns need time to gather data and optimize performance.
The initial learning and optimization period typically lasts approximately 10–12 days, with initial measurable results often beginning to appear during weeks 3–4. Performance typically becomes more stable after approximately 6–8 weeks.
Because performance can fluctuate, focus on overall campaign trends rather than individual days.
What if my performance is still low after a few weeks?
Campaign performance can be affected by several factors, including:
- Local search demand
- Competition
- Advertising budget
- Geographic targeting
- Google Business Profile quality
- Review count and rating
- Services being advertised
If performance remains below your expectations, our team can help review your campaign and identify potential adjustments.
Should I bid on my own name or competitors in Google Ads?
Whether an ad appears for a particular branded or competitor-related search depends on campaign targeting, relevance, competition, and other advertising conditions.
Digital Ads continuously evaluates keyword and search performance as part of campaign optimization, so you don’t need to manually manage bidding strategy for individual searches.
If there are searches you specifically don’t want your ads to appear for, you can use negative keywords.
Should I add my own name or competitors to negative keywords?
Negative keywords prevent your ads from appearing for certain searches, so they should be used when you specifically don’t want to advertise against a particular term or type of search.
Before excluding your own business name or competitor-related terms, consider whether those searches could still represent potential customers looking for automotive services.
If you’re unsure, our team can help review your negative keyword strategy.
Key Tekmetric Digital Ads Takeaways
- Designed for local, high-intent customer acquisition
- Helps you reach nearby drivers across Google Maps, Google Search, Yelp, and Nextdoor, with Google campaigns designed to prioritize Google Maps
- Can run alongside your existing advertising efforts
- Requires approximately 10–15 minutes to set up, with minimal ongoing management
- Continuously optimizes campaign performance using shop and campaign context
- Connects tracked phone calls and online bookings to customers, repair orders, revenue, and gross profit
- Gives you visibility into attributed business results and return on ad spend
- Requires no long-term contract