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Writer's pictureAdam Allen

Waze Worries: Is It Worth It to Advertise on Waze?

Do Waze advertisements increase traffic to your digital storefront? The short answer: it depends on your industry.


If you are not familiar, Waze is a map and directions app that boasts more than 29 million active users that spend about 10.5 hours in the app monthly.


The app is popular among drivers because it warns you about police in the area and gives you the fastest directions from point A to B. But is Waze the right place to advertise?


Here is everything you need to know about advertising on Waze.



Waze App


How to Advertise on Waze

Are you a marketer looking to expand your digital reach? Increasing traffic and conversions is the goal of most marketers. But, how do you know if Waze is the right platform to accomplish your advertising goals?


The Right Industry

If your business is in the "right industry," then Waze does show promising returns. What industries thrive using Waze advertisements?

  • Restaurants

  • Coffee Shops

  • Grocery Stores

  • Gas Stations

  • Banks

  • Auto Dealerships

  • Retail Stores

  • Entertainment Venues

Waze can be an effective and inexpensive way to advertise. With prices starting at two dollars per day, Waze can be an excellent option for businesses implementing a multi-channel marketing strategy.


Waze Features & Packages

Waze advertising involves ads that pop up on your screen as users drive near the location of your business. These are the advertising features Waze provides:

  • Branded Pins: these pins inform and remind drivers that companies are near

  • Promoted Search: your business is located at the top of Waze search results

  • Zero-speed Takeovers: these digital billboards appear when the car is stopped

  • Nearby Arrow: arrow appears to show users that your business is nearby

These are all the advertising placements that are available to your business in the app. Waze also offers two types of advertising packages, Starter and Plus.


The Starter package starts at $2 per day and includes pins, search, geographic targeting, and between one and ten locations. The Plus package starts at $100 per day and offers zero-speed takeover, geographic and time scheduling, and accommodates businesses with up to 50 locations.


Benefits & Pitfalls of Waze Advertising

There are significant benefits to advertising with Waze if you are a highly location-based business. Restaurants and retail stores have seen a substantial increase in service leads. Waze has numerous case studies available on its website.


There are drawbacks to advertising on Waze. First, advertising features like branded pins and ads are easy to miss when a customer is driving. Second, pop-up ads are not favored among users.


Waze vs. Google Maps

Waze has competitors in the maps and location app field, like Google Maps. So, the question is: Waze vs. Google Maps?


Google map advertising features also offer pins, but they do not appear in the Waze app. Waze also provides updates for traffic information and carpooling options, making the app more popular among users.


Using Waze and Google pins in collaboration would be a great strategy to drive more traffic to your store.


Waze Advertising Tip

We suggest trying the Waze Starter package first. Then, use your business locations in busy areas and create a promotional package to see if customers stop in. Finally, be sure to track your analytics to record food traffic and business searches.


For more information about marketing your small business, visit our Marketing Blog!

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