By Craig Wilson — Digital Marketing Consultant at Sticky Digital
Key Takeaways
- Google Ads offers powerful tools to target Newcastle suburbs with precision
- Local campaigns can drive high-quality traffic and leads if set up correctly
- Radius targeting, suburb targeting, and local keywords each play a role
- Combining smart targeting with strong ad copy and landing pages is essential
Why Local Targeting Matters More Than Ever in 2025
If you’re running Google Ads in Newcastle, there’s a good chance you’re not targeting as effectively as you could.
Local campaigns are more powerful and nuanced than ever — and in a city like Newcastle with distinct suburbs (think Merewether, Warners Bay, Kotara, Charlestown), refining your targeting strategy can be the difference between wasted ad spend and consistent leads.
In this guide, we explain how to build and optimise local Google Ads campaigns that pinpoint the right areas and drive real results.
Understanding Local Campaign Types in Google Ads
There are multiple ways to run “local” ads through Google:
- Standard Search Campaigns with manual location targeting
- Local Services Ads (available for select industries in Australia)
- Performance Max for local goals (auto-distribution across all channels)
- Smart Campaigns with simplified controls (not recommended for growing SMEs)
For most Newcastle businesses, a well-configured Search Campaign with manual location targeting offers the best balance of control and results.
How to Target Newcastle Suburbs with Precision
Option 1: Suburb-Based Location Targeting
Use Google’s geographic targeting settings to include specific suburbs such as:
- Newcastle
- Charlestown
- Kotara
- Warners Bay
- Belmont
- Merewether
- Mayfield
Pro tip: Avoid broad terms like “Hunter Region” unless you’re covering a wide service area.
Option 2: Radius Targeting
Google lets you target a radius (e.g. 10km) around a postcode or business location.
This works well if:
- You operate from a fixed location (e.g. a clinic or store)
- You want to reach customers in driving distance
Example: A Charlestown dentist can set a 3km radius around the practice to target patients in Kotara, Kahibah, and Dudley.
Option 3: Location-Specific Keywords
In addition to location settings, include suburb names in your keywords and ad copy:
- “plumber Kotara”
- “bookkeeping Charlestown”
- “accountant near Belmont”
Google rewards relevance — and suburb mentions improve click-through rates.
Option 4: Use Location Insertion in Ads
Dynamic ad features like location insertion let you auto-populate suburb names into your ads.
Example:
“Trusted Electricians in {Location}” becomes “Trusted Electricians in Warners Bay” depending on the user’s location.
This increases local relevance and conversion rates.
Option 5: Adjust Bids by Location
In Google Ads, you can increase or decrease bids for certain suburbs based on performance.
If Mayfield converts better than Merewether, you can allocate more budget to that area without changing your whole campaign.
Other Tips for Local Success
- Use local landing pages with suburb names and testimonials from local clients
- Add your Google Business Profile to your campaign to boost trust signals
- Track leads by location using conversion tracking and analytics
- Use call extensions and location extensions for mobile users nearby
Need help setting this up? Our Google Ads management service handles everything from strategy to reporting.
FAQs
Can I target multiple Newcastle suburbs in one campaign?
Yes — you can select multiple locations and set bid adjustments for each. Just make sure your keywords and landing pages reflect the local intent.
What’s better: radius targeting or suburb targeting?
It depends. Suburb targeting offers more control, but radius targeting can be simpler for physical businesses. Many campaigns combine both.
Should I create different ads for each suburb?
If budget allows, yes. Customising ad copy to include suburb names often improves relevance and click-through rates.
How Sticky Digital Can Help
Sticky Digital works with Newcastle SMEs every day to build local Google Ads campaigns that convert.
We don’t just run ads — we analyse suburbs, write custom copy, set up landing pages, track leads, and optimise everything to get you more bang for your buck.
Want to target Newcastle’s suburbs with laser focus?
Contact us today for a free Google Ads strategy session.
