The Limitations of Local SEO & When Chiropractors Should Run Google Ads

In this episode of the Rocket Chiropractic Marketing Podcast, Jerry dives into the world of local SEO and explores its limitations—especially when it comes to Google Maps rankings. He also shares valuable insights on when chiropractors should consider running Google Ads to supplement their marketing efforts.

Whether you're frustrated by your local search performance or wondering if paid ads are the right move, this episode breaks it all down.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🔥 The Real Limitations of Local SEO (Google Maps)

• Why your search visibility is limited by factors like search volume and competition.
• How Google’s location-based algorithm impacts your chances of ranking in the map pack.
• The importance of your practice’s physical location when it comes to dominating local searches.

💡 The Truth About Heat Maps

• Jerry shares his experience with SEO companies promising "too-good-to-be-true" results using heat maps.
• Why some SEO claims only work in low-competition areas.
• How to set realistic expectations for local SEO results based on your practice’s location and competition.

🚀 When Chiropractors Should Run Google Ads

• How Google Ads can help bypass SEO limitations and get immediate visibility.
• The pros and cons of running ads yourself vs. hiring an agency.
• Why Google Ads budgets can be tricky, especially for chiropractors with limited marketing funds.
• The best times to consider running ads:
  • New practices looking to generate leads fast.
  • Chiropractors wanting to expand reach beyond local SEO limits.
  • Practices aiming for total local domination.

💣 Bonus Insight:

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Hey guys, Jerry here from Rocket Chiro the business and marketing podcast for chiropractors. We're going to talk a little bit today about some of the limitations of local SEO, specifically the Google Maps. And we're also going to talk about when chiropractors should consider doing ads. And this isn't going to be all inclusive, but it just some things that I want you to think about, because this is something that I started thinking about again recently, because I was getting solicited by these people that were showing these heat map.

(00:05):
Results and these things these are things I do for clients where I'll show them like people that are doing a practice assessment I'll show them a heat map and says like hey This is what this is how you're who you're reaching for this particular search at this particular time And I was being solicited by this company that basically was saying like look we can go from nobody seeing you to everyone seeing you and I've seen a lot of these heat maps and I was looking at it going
You know, I'm not, I'm not an expert in all things. mean, there's always things that I'm learning and there are definitely people that know more than I do. So I was thinking, maybe they know something that I don't know, because I think that there are limitations that would prohibit certain people from getting those kinds of results. And I actually ended up signing up for a, like a course and a class for this person, cause I was curious and it turns out that I was, I was right.
And what I mean by I was right was the person actually admitted that the images that they show in their advertisements only work in a small area where there's not a lot of competition. And I was like, yeah, that actually makes a lot of sense. And that really aligns with what I already know. So that's some of the limitations that we're going to talk about today. And it's going to bring us into a conversation about ads, like running Google Ads for a chiropractor. So let me just start here.
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