Running a mobile detailing business means you need steady leads to keep the wheels turning — literally. But with word-of-mouth and Facebook groups only getting you so far, it’s time to look at the big guns: Google Ads.
This guide breaks down exactly how to set up Google Ads for your detailing business without blowing your budget. Whether you’re a solo operator or running a crew, this will help you get found by people who are already searching for your services.
Why Google Ads Works So Well for Detailers
When someone types in “car detailing near me” or “mobile detailer [city],” they’re not browsing — they’re looking to book.
That’s why Google Ads is so powerful. You’re not interrupting someone’s scroll. You’re showing up exactly when someone needs you.
Step 1: Choose the Right Campaign Type
Start with a Search campaign. This puts you at the top of Google when someone types relevant search terms.
Later, you can test Display (banner ads) or Local Service Ads, but keep it simple at first.
Step 2: Geo-Targeting — Only Pay for Local Traffic
Make sure you’re only targeting people in your actual service area.
- Go to Locations in your campaign settings.
- Use “People in or regularly in your targeted locations.”
- Set a radius (5–25 miles) around your base zip code.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re based in a suburb of a big city, also manually add nearby neighborhoods or zip codes you want to service.
Step 3: Build a List of Keywords (the Right Way)
Your ads only show when someone types a search that matches your keywords.
Here’s a list to get you started (use [brackets] for exact match, “quotes” for phrase match, and +plus signs for modified broad match):
✅ High-Intent Keywords to Use:
- “mobile car detailing [your city]”
- [auto detailing near me]
- +car +detailing +services
- “ceramic coating [your city]”
- [interior car cleaning service]
🚫 Add Negative Keywords (to avoid wasting money):
Negative keywords prevent your ads from showing for bad or irrelevant searches.
Examples:
- free
- diy
- youtube
- job
- how to
- training
- franchise
- kit
- amazon
- walmart
(You don’t want someone looking to detail their own car clicking your ad.)
You can add these under “Negative Keywords” > Campaign Level in Google Ads.
Step 4: Write a Click-Worthy Ad
Here’s a sample Google Ad copy that’s tested well in the detailing space:
Headline 1: Mobile Auto Detailing in [Your City]
Headline 2: Interior & Exterior Packages
Headline 3: Book Today – We Come to You
Description Line 1: Professional mobile detailing at your home or office.
Description Line 2: Interior shampoo, wax, ceramic coating & more. Call now!
✅ Add extensions too:
- Call extension (your number)
- Location extension (link to Google Business Profile)
- Site link (link to different packages, FAQ, or reviews)
Step 5: Create a Landing Page or Use Your Google Business Profile
If you don’t have a website yet, link the ad to your Google Business Profile (just make sure it looks good and has up-to-date info).
But ideally, create a simple landing page that has:
- Your services listed
- Service area
- Before & after photos
- Reviews
- Contact form or booking button
- Your phone number at the top and bottom
Fast tip: You can build a great free landing page using Carrd.co or Wix in under an hour.
Step 6: Budget & Bidding Strategy
Start with $10–$20/day.
For bidding, choose:
- Maximize Clicks (good for beginners)
- OR Maximize Conversions if you’ve set up tracking (advanced)
Once you get data, switch to Manual CPC and adjust bids per keyword.
Step 7: Conversion Tracking (Optional But Powerful)
Install Google Tag Manager or use Google Ads conversion tracking if you want to know which ads lead to calls or form submissions.
At minimum, use a call tracking number from CallRail or Twilio to track which calls came from Google Ads.
Real Example: How One Mobile Detailer Doubled His Bookings
“I started with just 5 keywords, one landing page, and $15/day. Within a week, I had 4 booked jobs — all full details or interiors. I paused at night and scheduled ads from 6AM–9PM only. Negative keywords saved me a TON of money.” — James, mobile detailer in Ohio
Advanced Tip: Run Ads Only When You Can Answer
You can schedule your ads to run only during business hours when you’re available to answer the phone — this improves conversion rates and lowers bounce.
Go to:
Campaign > Settings > Ad Schedule
Wrapping It Up
You don’t need to spend $1000/month on ads. You just need:
- Tight location targeting
- High-intent keywords
- A clean landing page
- Some patience to test and tweak
Google Ads isn’t magic, but it is a steady source of warm leads when done right.