Everything To Know About Google Local Services

If you’re a local service provider thinking about using Google Local Services to advertise your business, you’ve come to the right place. This article will tell you everything you need to know about Google Local Services, how it works, how to get started, and how it can help your business reach more customers in your area. And if you have any additional questions, SEO Design Chicago is here to help you. 

Google Local Services is an advertising platform that helps you connect with people who search on Google for the services that your business offers. If you choose to place ads with Google Local Services, your ads will show up for customers who search for related services in your area. The best part is that you only pay for the ad if a customer contacts you directly through your ad. 

Recently, Google added a “book online” button to local results. This is a great feature that makes it easy for clients to book your services.

Can Google Local Services help my business? 

Though we often think of Google as a global search engine, it also has the capabilities to help people find local services within their neighborhood, oftentimes when they need those services quickly. If your car breaks down in the middle of a night on a dark road in an area you’re not familiar with, and you don’t know a local mechanic, you will probably turn to Google to try to find one quickly who you can trust. That’s where Google Local Services comes in. 

When the person whose car is broken down searches for a mechanic, they’ll see several options for local professionals above the paid search ads. Those are the Google Local Services ads. The ads display on traditional desktops, mobile phones and tablet computers. 

If your business falls into any of the following categories, Google Local Services may support your ads: 

• Air Duct Cleaners

• HVAC

• Locksmiths 

• Plumbers

• Electricians 

• Appliance Repair 

• Garage Door Repair

• Auto Service Technicians 

• Carpet Cleaner 

• Event Planner

• House Cleaner 

• Home Improvement Professional

• Junk Removal Provider

• Auto Glass Service

• House Cleaner

• Lawn Care Provider

• Mover

• Painter

• Pest Control

• Painter

• Pet Care Provider

• Photographer

• Pet Groomer

• Roadside Service Assistance

• Tutor 

• Upholstery Cleaner

• Water Damage Service

• Window Cleaner 

These are the regions in which Google Local Services is currently being offered: 

• Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Roswell, Georgia
• Baltimore, Columbia, and Towson, Maryland
• Boston, Cambridge, and Newton, Maryland and New Hampshire
• Charlotte, Concord and Gastonia, North Carolina and South Carolina 
• Chicago, Naperville and Elgin, Illinois
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington, Texas
• Denver, Aurora, and Lakewood, Colorado
• Detroit, Warren, and Dearborn, Michigan 
• Houston, The Woodlands, and Sugar Land, Texas
• Las Vegas, Henderson, and Paradise, Nevada
• Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Anaheim, California
• Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, Florida
• Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Bloomington, Minnesota
• New York, Newark, and Jersey City, in New York and New Jersey
• Orlando, Kissimmee, and Sanford, Florida
• Philadelphia, Camden, and Wilmington, Pennsylvania
• Phoenix, Mesa, and Scottsdale, Arizona
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 
• Portland, Vancouver, and Hillsboro, Ontario, Canada 
• Riverside and San Bernardino, Ontario, Canada
• Sacramento, Roseville, Arden, and Arcade, California 
• San Antonio and New Braunfels, Texas
• San Diego and Carlsbad, California
• San Francisco, Oakland, and Hayward, California
• Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellevue, Washington
• St. Louis, Missouri
• Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, Florida
• Washington, D.C.; and 
• Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia. 

Even if you don’t see your area on this list, check on the Google Local Services signup page to see if your business is eligible. Google Local Services is a relatively new offering, so regions could change at any time! 

How Does Google Local Services Work? 

When someone searches for a service provider in their area, Google Local Services will display a few ads showing the business’ phone number, hours, ratings, and reviews. Then, when the searcher clicks on one of the ads, Google will ask them to confirm the service they’re looking for and the area they are in. (This extra step will save you money by making sure only serious searchers are clicking on your ad, since you’ll be paying for it!) 

If you’re the right person for the job, Google will match your business with the searcher. They will have the opportunity to review all your information before contacting you. If you’re not the right person for the job, Google will redirect the searcher to a more appropriate ad. 

Benefits of Using Google Local Services

There are several benefits of using Google Local Services to advertise your services. Even if you feel like your SEO and paid search ads are doing enough, Google Local Services ads will actually appear on the search engine results page higher than either of those. You also don’t have to bother finding keywords to use in your ads – Google does all the hard work for you. 

With Google Local Services, you will only have to pay per ad, and not per click. 

When you become an advertiser on Google Local Services, you also automatically become a Google Guaranteed business. (You can read more about Google Guarantee below.) 

Additionally, every Google Local Services ad includes ratings and reviews from your customers so you can help earn searchers’ trust. The person whose vehicle is broken down in the middle of the night wants to feel safe with whoever they call to come assist them. 

Even if someone uses voice search to find that local mechanic, Google Local Ads are included in voice search responses. (Did you know that about 20 percent of all searches come from voice search?) That means you’ll be found on ads powered by Google Assistant, if someone’s too busy trying to see what’s going on under their car hood to actually type out their search. 

How Much Do Google Local Services Ads Cost? 

Google Local Services ads cost between $6 and $30 per lead. The cost of the ad depends on the job and the market. Keep in mind, you will only be charged for the ad when someone contacts you directly through the ad. And if you get a lead that was a poor match, was fraudulent, or was spam, you can dispute the charge in exchange for a credit with Google. 

What is the Google Guarantee?

Another bonus of signing up with Google Local Services is your business will automatically become a Google Guaranteed business. What does that mean? A green checkmark next to the text “Google Guaranteed” will appear in your ad. That is a very effective endorsement for your business and tells searchers that your business is to be trusted. Not to mention, it will also catch searchers’ attention on a crowded search engine results page. 

How to Get Started with Google Local Service Ads

If you’re ready to get started finding more customers with Google Local Customers, here are the steps to take to get your ads online as soon as possible: 

Confirm Your Business is Eligible

The first step is to make sure your business is eligible for Google Local Services, which will depend on what kind of services you provide and where you’re located. You can make sure you’re eligible here.

Create Your Profile

Great! Now that you’ve confirmed your business is eligible for Google Local Services, you can create your business profile. Your Google Local Services profile will help you match with potential customers, so you’ll want to be as honest, specific and detailed as you can about what services you can provide and which areas you’re able to work in. This will ensure that the leads you get are a good match for you, so you don’t waste your advertising budget on leads you don’t need. 

Make sure to fill out the areas for your business hours and service areas, and which job types you can fulfill. Google Local Services also lets you add highlights to your business profile, which can include details like “locally owned and operated” or “discounts for new customers.” 

Set Your Budget

Google Local Services lets you set your ad budget based on how many new leads you want each week. (Remember, you only pay when someone contacts you directly through your ad.) 

Add Your Business License and Insurance Details

In order to run Google Local Services ads and be a Google Guaranteed business (more on that below), you’ll need to prove that you’re a licensed and insured professional in your service area. Google runs background checks before letting you run your ads. Make sure all your licenses and insurance are up to date and provide as many details as possible. Start Running Your Ads! 

Now that you’re all set up with Google Local Services, you can start running your ads! If you get fully booked up from all the new business receiving, or you decide to take a well-earned vacation, you can pause your ads at any time. 

Contact SEO Design Chicago today

If you have any additional questions about Google Local Services, are still wondering whether it’s right for you, or would like help setting up your profile, contact the experts today at SEO Design Chicago. We can help you with all of your Google Local Services needs.