One dilemma businesses in Local Services face is trying to decide where to ask customers to leave a review on Google. Should they send them to their Google My Business listing or their Google Local Services ad?
Continue reading “Review Counts On Local Services Ads Recently Dropped By ~50%”
The various checks that are required to get into Local Services Ads varies by business category. I put this together to try to help sort through it all.
All businesses must meet business license and owner license requirements specific to the state/province they’re in, if applicable. Continue reading “Google Local Services Ads Checks by Category”
Within the Local Service ad unit, Google is now showing typical prices in the area for many common home services: Continue reading “Local Services Ad Unit Showing Typical Prices for Common Home Services”
Google Local Services ads are pay per lead. Depending on the vertical and market, the cost per lead can be anywhere from $5 to $139. Overall, the average cost per lead is around $23. – Note that this was back in 2018. Lead costs have increased dramatically over the past few years.
Continue reading “How Much Do Leads Cost In Google Local Services Ads?”As Google Local Services continues to spread into new markets and verticals it becomes more difficult to keep track of it all. I put this together to help. Continue reading “Current Google Local Services Ads Markets & Verticals”
By the end of 2017, Google had expanded to around 30 markets in what I refer to as the core Local Services ads categories (plumbers, electricians, HVAC contractors, garage door companies, and locksmiths). Continue reading “Google Local Services Ads – New Countries & Verticals Coming Soon?”
Customer reviews on Local Services ads are important. Not only because they’re one of the few items a potential customer will see on the ad, they’re also listed as one of the ranking factors for the Local Services unit.
Continue reading “A Look at Customer Reviews on Local Services ads”For far too long, disreputable treatment centers and lead generators had been using AdWords to take advantage of people seeking help for drug and alcohol abuse. When Google decided to start restricting ads targeting drug rehab-related keywords in September 2017 (one week after this article on The Verge by Cat Ferguson came out), the decision was celebrated by many. While it was great to see Google finally taking action on the ads, the question was now, “How are the organic search results for these keywords?” Continue reading “Google Taking Action on Organic Search Results for Drug & Alcohol Treatment Keywords?”
Who? HVAC contractors, plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, and garage door companies* that want to participate in paid Local Services ads Continue reading “Local Services Ads vs Advanced Verification”
Google is requiring all advertisers promoting locksmith and garage door services in the United States to pass Advanced Verification. If they don’t pass, they will no longer be eligible to use AdWords or AdWords Express to advertise their services on Google. And if they’re in one of the current Local Services ads markets, they will be ineligible to participate in that too. Continue reading “What Is Advanced Verification for AdWords?”