Las Vegas Local Marketing: Google Maps, Instagram & Where to Focus
In Part 1, we talked about why your website isn't doing anything for you and why reputation matters more than tactics.
Now let's get specific. Where are people actually finding businesses like yours? And what should you be doing on each platform?
The Platform Breakdown
Here's the reality: not every platform matters equally for your business. Some are essential. Some are nice-to-have. Some are a complete waste of time.
Let me break it down.
What it's for: Social proof and discovery
Who's there: Locals browsing, tourists planning trips, people checking if you're legit before visiting
Priority: HIGH for restaurants, retail, services with visual appeal. MEDIUM for B2B or trades.
What to Post
| Content Type | Purpose | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Stories | Stay top of mind with existing followers | Daily or near-daily |
| Reels | Reach new audiences (algorithm pushes these) | 2-3 per week |
| Carousels | Educational content, before/after, detailed info | 1-2 per week |
| Static posts | Portfolio, announcements, polished content | As needed |
What Actually Works
- Behind-the-scenes content performs better than polished marketing
- Location tags help tourists find you
- Stories with polls/questions boost engagement
- Responding to DMs quickly converts followers to customers
Don't Waste Time On
- Obsessing over follower count (engagement matters more)
- Posting just to post (quality over quantity)
- Buying followers (kills your reach)
Google Business Profile (Maps)
What it's for: Being found when people search
Who's there: People actively looking for what you sell, RIGHT NOW
Priority: HIGH for everyone. This is non-negotiable.
Why This Matters Most
46% of all Google searches have local intent. (Synup)
When someone searches "plumber las vegas" or "coffee near me," Google shows the Map Pack first. If you're not there, you don't exist for that search.
The Basics (Do These First)
- Complete every field in your profile
- Accurate name, address, phone (NAP). Same everywhere.
- Business hours (update for holidays!)
- Real photos of your business, team, products
- Categories that match what you actually do
The Advanced Moves
- Post updates weekly (Google rewards active profiles)
- Answer every Q&A (you can seed your own questions)
- Respond to EVERY review, good and bad
- Add products/services with descriptions and prices
Reviews Are Everything
-
93% of people read reviews before buying. (Trustmary)
-
Showing reviews can boost sales by 270%. (Marquiz)
After every job/sale, send this text:
"Thanks for choosing us! If you have 30 seconds, a Google review helps us a lot: [your review link]"
That's it. Simple ask, massive impact.
Google Search (SEO)
What it's for: Long-term visibility and authority
Who's there: People researching, comparing, looking for answers
Priority: MEDIUM-HIGH. Important but takes time to build.
The Reality Check
96.55% of pages get zero traffic from Google. (Ahrefs)
SEO isn't magic. It's answering questions people are actually asking, better than anyone else.
What Works for Local Businesses
- Location pages if you serve multiple areas
- Service pages with real detail (not 100 words of fluff)
- Blog posts answering common customer questions
- Your business name + city in key places
Content That Ranks
Write about what customers ask you every week:
- "How much does X cost in Las Vegas?"
- "Best time to [your service] in Vegas"
- "How to choose a [your industry] in Henderson"
One solid article per month beats 10 thin posts.
AI Search (ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc.)
What it's for: The new way people research
Who's there: Growing fast, especially younger demographics and tourists
Priority: MEDIUM and rising. Get ahead of this now.
How AI Finds You
AI pulls from:
- Your website content
- Your Google Business Profile
- Review sites
- News/press mentions
- Social profiles
What to Do
- Make sure your website clearly states WHAT you do, WHERE you are, and WHO you serve
- Keep Google Business Profile updated (AI scrapes this)
- Get mentioned on other sites (local press, directories, guest posts)
- Have a consistent story everywhere
When someone asks ChatGPT "best coffee shop downtown las vegas for remote work," you want to be the answer.
Your Website
What it's for: Converting interest into action
Who's there: People who already found you somewhere else and want more info
Priority: HIGH but not for the reasons you think.
The Truth About Websites
Your website doesn't bring traffic. It converts traffic that comes from other sources.
Someone finds you on Google Maps → clicks website → decides to call. Someone sees your Instagram → checks website → books appointment.
What Your Website Needs
Must have:
- Phone number visible on every page (clickable on mobile)
- Address and hours
- What you do (clear, not clever)
- One clear action (Call, Book, Get Quote)
Nice to have:
- Customer testimonials
- Portfolio/photos of work
- About page with real humans
- Blog (for SEO)
Don't need:
- Fancy animations
- Video backgrounds
- Chat widgets (unless you'll actually respond)
- 47 pages nobody reads
The Priority Matrix
Based on where most Vegas small businesses should focus:
| Priority | Platform | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. CRITICAL | Google Business Profile | Where buyers search. Non-negotiable. |
| 2. HIGH | Website | Converts the traffic you get |
| 3. HIGH | Social proof, especially visual businesses | |
| 4. MEDIUM | Google Search/SEO | Long-term play, compounds over time |
| 5. MEDIUM | AI Search | Rising importance, get ahead now |
| 6. SITUATIONAL | Facebook, Yelp, TikTok | Depends on your audience |
Real Results: Case Studies
Google Business Profile Optimization
First Rank worked with a local service business on GBP optimization. Result: 3x increase in calls from Maps searches. (First Rank)
Local SEO Investment
Prop Data helped a client focus on local search. Result: 210% increase in search queries year over year. (Prop Data)
Content + Reviews Strategy
The HOTH documented a Toronto restaurant's recovery using reviews and content. Result: 2,100+ increase in organic traffic. (The HOTH)
ROI on Local Digital
Dallas HVAC company invested in local SEO and GBP. Result: $40K in attributable revenue from search. (WebFX)
Your Next Steps
This week:
- Claim and complete your Google Business Profile
- Ask your last 5 happy customers for a review
- Make sure your website has your phone number visible
This month:
- Post 3 times on Instagram (stories count)
- Write one blog post answering a common customer question
- Respond to every review you have
This quarter:
- Build a system for consistently asking for reviews
- Create a content calendar you can actually stick to
- Audit your presence: search yourself, see what shows up
The Bottom Line
You don't need to be everywhere. You need to be present where it matters and excellent at the basics.
Google Business Profile alone can transform your business if you do it right. Everything else builds on that foundation.
Stop spreading yourself thin. Start where the customers are.
About the Author
I'm Bryan, a Florida transplant who landed in Vegas and is still actively earning my spot in this community.
14 years setting up the tech that makes businesses run. POS systems. Networks. Payment processing. I've crawled under counters running cables at 11 PM during dinner rush. Watched owners write checks for "solutions" that ended up collecting dust.
I'm not a marketing guy. I'm a tech specialist who's seen what actually works and what's a waste of money. Now I help Vegas businesses cut through the noise and use the right tools to grow. No fluff. No bullshit.
Let's talk about your business →