Serving
Victoria
Vancouver
Address
11871 Horseshoe Way
Richmond, BC
V7A 5H5
CANADA
Local Service Ads with Google: The Best Secret in Paid Ads
As local businesses grapple with the endless innovating world of advertising, a tool that stands out for its incredible potential is Google Local Service Ads (LSA). LSAs provide a notable contrast to traditional online ad platforms, contributing positively to lead generation, local visibility, and business growth. Navigating the ins and outs of this service can feel daunting – but rest assured, we’re here with a user-friendly roadmap.
Understanding Google Local Service Ads: A Closer Look
Unlike traditional Google Ads, LSAs are designed with local service providers in mind, offering distinct advantages in how they reach potential customers. Here’s what sets them apart:
Purpose
Google LSAs provide a platform for businesses to connect with potential clients who are seeking their services. These ads take the guesswork out of advertising by serving your business’s details directly to consumers looking for your service. This clear targeting increases the likelihood of leads and conversions.
Format and Placement
Google Local Service Ads appear at the very top of Google Search results, even above traditional search ads and organic listings. This premium placement ensures maximum visibility for your business when users search for the services you offer. Additionally, LSAs are featured prominently in the “Local Pack” within Google Maps, directly linking your business with local searchers.
In contrast, traditional Google Ads (search and display ads) may appear below LSAs or within webpage content, requiring users to scroll past LSAs or organically ranked listings to find these options.
Pricing Model
A key difference lies in the pricing model:
- LSAs utilize a pay-per-lead model, meaning you’re charged only when potential customers contact you directly through the ad. This approach aligns your advertising costs with actual business inquiries, optimizing your marketing budget. Google Local Service ads also offer a unique feature which is that businesses can reject a lead if its irrelevant. This feature ensures a business only pay for valuable, relevant leads.
- Traditional Google Ads operate on a pay-per-click basis, where costs are incurred with each click, regardless of whether those clicks convert into leads.
Qualification and Trust Signals
LSAs require businesses to undergo a background check and confirm insurance details to qualify. Once approved, your ads display the Google Guarantee badge, offering customers peace of mind and enhancing trust in your services. Reviews are a major component to getting leads with LSA so having an optimized Google My business profile is extremely important.
Traditional Google Ads do not require such qualifications, and while they can be an effective advertising tool, they lack the built-in trust signal that the Google Guarantee provides to LSAs.
Google Guarantee badge 
Google Local Service Ads feature the ‘Google Guaranteed‘ badge, a potent symbol of trust for customers. Businesses with this badge have been verified and vetted by Google, signifying that they offer reliable service. Not only that, but the Google Guarantee presents customers with a unique form of reassurance. If a customer hires a business through Google LSAs and is not completely satisfied with the work quality, Google may reimburse the customer for the amount paid for the initial service, subject to a lifetime limit. This is a powerful trust signal, giving customers extra peace of mind and providing an additional layer of credibility to businesses.
Comparison
Google Local Service Ads
Traditional Google Ads
The distinction between Google Local Service Ads and traditional Google Ads goes beyond just pricing and placement. LSAs are designed to connect local businesses with their community more effectively, offering a level of trust and assurance through the Google Guarantee that traditional ads can’t match. This makes LSAs a powerful tool for businesses aiming to increase their local visibility and attract more qualified leads.
Who Can Use Google Local Service Ads? Understanding Eligibility
One of the unique aspects of Google Local Service Ads is that they’re not available to all businesses. Instead, they’re designed specifically for local service providers in certain categories. Knowing whether your service qualifies can save you time and help you make informed decisions about your digital marketing strategy. Here’s a brief overview of which services are typically eligible:
- Home Services: This is a broad category that includes professionals like plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and locksmiths. If you offer services that help maintain or improve someone’s home, there’s a good chance you’re eligible.
- Professional Services: Certain professional service providers, such as law firms, real estate agents, and financial planners, may also qualify for LSAs in specific markets.
- Health and Wellness Services: In some regions, health and wellness providers, including dentists and mental health professionals, can advertise through LSAs.
Key Points to Remember:
- Geographic Availability: Google Local Service Ads are expanding, but they’re not available in all locations. It’s essential to check if your area is covered.
- Background Checks and Licensing: To participate, businesses must pass a background check and have proper licensing for their service category. This ensures that only reputable providers can advertise, building trust with potential customers.
- The Google Guarantee: Once approved, your business will earn the Google Guarantee badge, offering customers peace of mind and enhancing your profile’s attractiveness.
How to Check Your Eligibility:
To find out if your service is eligible for Local Service Ads, visit the Google Local Services website and input your business category and location. Google provides a straightforward tool for this purpose, guiding you through the eligibility process.
By understanding the eligibility requirements for Google Local Service Ads, you can better plan your advertising strategy and take the necessary steps to become a trusted service provider in your community.
How do Local Service Ads compare to PPC?
If lead generation is a primary goal for your business, you’ll find Google Local Service Ads (LSAs) to be a highly effective tool:
More Targeted Leads: Since Google LSAs appear when customers are actively searching for your service in your area, the leads generated are typically high-quality and highly relevant to your business.
Increased Visibility: With its place at the top of local search results, Google LSAs improve your visibility among potential customers in your geographical area, thereby positively affecting lead generation.
Increased Credibility: The ‘Google Guaranteed’ badge that comes with Google LSAs boosts credibility, increasing customer trust, and therefore, your potential leads.
Reviews and Rankings: Google LSAs also include reviews and rankings of your business. By maintaining high-quality services and encouraging customers to leave reviews, you can attract more high-quality leads.
Cost-Effectiveness: Last but not least, the pay-per-lead model of Google LSAs allows businesses to budget effectively, enabling you to capture more leads within your advertising budget.
Google Local Service Ads offer businesses a practical, cost-effective solution for significantly enhancing lead generation. By increasing visibility, assuring customers of their service quality, and connecting businesses directly with potential customers, Google LSAs offer businesses a superior edge in generating high-quality leads.
Local Service Ads are a type of advertising on Google that allows local businesses to appear at the top of search results when people search for the services they offer in their area.
The Google Guarantee offers a badge of trust, indicating that Google has vetted your business. If a customer is not satisfied with your work, Google may refund the amount paid for the service, up to a lifetime limit.
Yes, you can set a weekly budget based on the number of leads you want to receive, allowing you to control your spending effectively.
Improve your ad’s rank by regularly collecting and responding to customer reviews, updating your business hours, and ensuring your profile is complete and accurate.
You can dispute irrelevant leads through the Local Services Ads dashboard. If the lead is deemed out of scope for your services, you may receive a credit for that lead.
