Mar 25, 2021
Google Local Service Ads allow businesses to reach their local markets and communicate their unique value to potential customers. With the economic strain of COVID-19 still persisting in many parts of the world, creating effective advertising campaigns that reach nearby audiences can help businesses survive and thrive in a challenging environment.
In this Complete Guide, we’ll be covering everything you need to know about Google Local Service Ads, such as:
Next, we will be publishing a part-two of this guide that will show you how to get started with Local Service Ads the right way to drive maximum impact for your campaigns!
An Introduction to Google Local Service Ads
What Are Google Local Service Ads?
Local Service Ads is Google’s lead generation platform targeted at helping home service contractors reach customers in their local market. These ads appear at the top of a Google search when a user enters a relevant search term for a particular industry.
For example, if you search “plumber New York,” the Local Service Ad unit will display on the search engine results page (SERP). From there, searchers can contact the business directly and the business will be charged for that call.
However, before businesses can begin generating leads through Local Service Ads, they must establish themselves as Google Guaranteed entities.
What is Google Guaranteed?
Google Guaranteed is a badge awarded by Google verifying that a business has completed the evident background check process and has had their insurance and license verified. We will dive deeper into this later.
If a business is guaranteed by Google, the customers of the business can receive a refund of up to $2,000 for any work they are not satisfied with. This Google assures ad quality and maintains its sterling lead generation reputation.
What Does a Local Service Ad Look Like?
Google Local Service Ads have a simple display that quickly shows the following features:
Business name
Business photo
Average user review
Google Guaranteed/Screened verification
Business hours
Business location
Call button to call the business directly
A Brief History on Local Service Ads
Google first launched its Local Service Ad program in 2015 in San Francisco for select businesses serving home service verticals. The program was designed to directly compete against Angie’s List and HomeAdvisor.
The program’s launch allowed users to contact verified local contractors directly from Google Search. This resulted in an enhanced user experience and quicker results for searchers. Once the program proved successful, it was launched in other metropolitan areas such as New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, and many more.
How Much Do Local Service Ads Cost?
Google only charges businesses for valid leads received through the Local Service Ads program. If a business believes a lead was fraudulent, they can request a refund and it will be issued if Google also deems the lead as fraudulent.
The cost of a lead through the program will vary between location and service area. In our experience across several locations and service areas, the general cost of a lead ranges from $10 to $30.
Benefits of Local Service Ads
According to our friends at Google themselves, Local Service Ads offer the following benefits:
Have your business appear at the top of Google SERPs
Connect with potential customers actively searching for your services
Simple interface for getting started quickly with a personalized profile
Mobile app allows you to communicate with customers wherever, whenever
Google Guarantee establishes credibility
Only pay for leads related to your business and its services
Customers choose you
Google Guaranteed businesses may also be listed as a local provider on the Assistant. You don’t pay for this service.
What Countries are Eligible to Run Local Service Ads?
The following countries are eligible for the program:
United States
Canada
Austria
Belgium
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Spain
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Google is constantly identifying opportunities to expand this program. We can anticipate that, as it gains more popularity, it will open opportunities for businesses in more countries to run Local Service Ads.
Eligible Local Service Ads Categories
Local Service Ads are only available for select categories at this time. These categories mostly involve home services targeted at consumers. Categories in the United States include:
1. Appliance repair 15. Law
2. Carpentry 16. Lawn care
3. Carpet Cleaning 17. Locksmiths
4. Countertop services 18. Moving
5. Electrical 19. Pest control
6. Fencing 20. Plumbing
7. Financial planning 21. Real estate
8. Flooring 22. Roofing
9. Foundations 23. Siding
10. Garage doors 24. Tax services
11. House Cleaning 25. Tree services
12. HVAC 26. Water damage services
13. Junk removal 27. Window cleaning
14. Landscaping 28. Window services
Are you unsure if your business is eligible to run Local Service Ads? Finding out is easy. Just use the Google Eligibility Checker.
Stay Tuned for Part 2: Setting Up Your Own Campaign
Next week, we will be returning with an ultimate guide for actually setting up and running a Local Service Ads campaign. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into the mechanics of building a successful, conversion-driving strategy!
