Google Local Services
Professional Account
Setup & Management
A new concept in pay per click advertising that provides piece of mind for your customers while guaranteeing that you’re not paying for bad leads.
What Is Google Local Services?
Pay per click advertisements are a massive, and continually growing force online. As such, they’re almost certainly a necessity for any business who wishes to stay competitive in the digital marketing world. With nearly every website or app you log on to these days putting pay per click ads in front of you, it’s obvious they’re profitable for someone.
With so much competition, pay per click ads are become increasingly difficult to get significant returns from, without help from an expert. With GLS Ads, Google has developed a way to ensure the high cost of pay per click advertising produces new customers. Each click or call is directly tracked. If they aren’t viable leads, the service provider doesn’t pay for them.
GLS ads also provide a valuable resource for customers. The ability to hire a mover or a plumber that has been vetted and guaranteed provides piece of mind for the client. This makes it easy to choose a service provider and be confident that the job will be done right.
Helping Customers
It’s no secret that the amount of information someone has to sift through when searching the internet for something like a moving company is mind boggling. Pay per click ads are the first items that pop up with a simple search of “reputable moving companies near me.” But it’s still difficult to know it the first few moving companies are actually reputable. For instance, they could just have a larger advertising budget (oftentimes it can be both).
With Local Services ads, Google has created a pay per click advertising option that requires local businesses to provide proof that they are reputable. This includes proper licenses, correct insurance, and consistently great customer reviews. As a result, customers can confidently choose a certified, insured business who’s work is guaranteed. It also allows them to know that if the job isn’t completed satisfactorily, it will be fixed immediately.
How Do I Get My Company Listed?
Since GLS Ads were unveiled, there has been an ever growing list of cities and businesses that are promoted. As a result of it’s success, they’re available in nearly every major city, and many smaller locales, with more being added monthly. The businesses are mainly service providers like moving companies, pet care, roofers, water damage restoration, and similar local businesses (see the full list below).
In order for companies to be listed on, they must complete an evaluation consisting of several different areas, depending on the type of business. Usually these include background checks, insurance requirements, and licensing, at minimum. Google wants to ensure that if they guarantee a local moving company, they’re going to preform the job perfectly, on time, and without any damages.
As a result, the process of getting approved to be a Guaranteed service provider takes at least 3-6 weeks. However, hiring a professional company like Border West, with a personal account manager, can speed up this process significantly. Once approved, an account and budget need to be set up. In addition, locations, hours, descriptions, and services offered need to be set. Border West can greatly assist with this as well.
How Much Does Google Local Services Cost Per Click?
If you’re not familiar with CPC, or cost per click, it’s pretty much exactly how it sounds. It is the average amount you’re charged when someone clicks a paid ad that you’re running. Depending on your industry, Google Local Services cost per click could be significantly different. In general, local leads cost between $10 and $50, but that will most likely rise as the program gains popularity.
For example, Border West manages Austin Google Local Services for a moving company, as well as a Google Ads account (see local moving leads). The GLS clicks cost about $34 each, while their Google Ads account is averaging less than $6 per click. The difference is, the Guaranteed $34 clicks are ALWAYS someone interested in a move. Otherwise, the moving company doesn’t pay for them. The regular PPC ads still convert at a great rate and produce an excellent return on investment. But the premium for guaranteed leads is definitely priced higher.
Now That I'm Listed, How Does the Google Guarantee Work?
GLS adsfollow the same general principles as other pay per click ads, in that you only pay when the ads are clicked. But other than that, GLS is completely different. Google provides insurance for any of the local providers that are listed with the little green Guarantee check mark beside them. This means if any Guaranteed local service providers l damage your property, Google will cover the expenses for up to $2000 (specifics are listed here). How many other pay per click advertising formats can claim that?
The other amazing aspect is that the Guarantee works for the local service providers as well! Whenever a potential client clicks or calls a Guaranteed listing, the local service provider is charged just like a regular pay per click ad. What’s different about GLS ads is that if the call or click happens to not be from a potential customer, the local service provider doesn’t pay. This is done by contesting the charge, which is simply completed by pushing a button. Since all calls and ad clicks are tracked, it’s easily confirmed that the contact wasn’t made by a potential customer. Once this happens, the charge is removed.
A major downside of pay per click advertising is the potential for ads being clicked by people that aren’t customers. This is generally impossible to prevent in most online formats. GLS ads have completely taken away the risk of paying for ads that aren’t effective. This nearly eliminates the risk of losing money from advertising!
Which Industries Can Be Advertised On Google Local Services?
Due to the success of the GLS program, new types of businesses are constantly being added. As a result, the listing below, which is complete now, is ever growing. As a rule, we recommend that you call (512) 516-9867 or go to our contact form to see if your business is available.
- Air Duct Cleaner
- Appliance Repair Service
- Auto Glass Service
- Auto Service Technician
- Carpet Cleaner
- Electrician
- Estate Lawyer
- Event Planner
- Financial Planner
- Garage Door Pro
- HVAC Pro
- Handyman
- Home Improvement Pro
- House Cleaner
- Immigration Lawyer
- Junk Removal Provider
- Lawn Care Provider
- Locksmith
- Mover
- Painter
- Pest Control Technician
- Pet Care Provider
- Pet Groomer
- Photographer
- Plumber
- Real Estate Agent
- Roadside Assistant Service
- Roofer
- Tree Service Provider
- Tutor
- Upholstery Cleaner
- Water Damage Service Provider
- Window Cleaner
- Window Service Provider
What Cities Are Google Local Services Available In?
It was quickly realized how popular and effective guaranteed ads were. Consequently, after starting out in a few test cities less than two years ago, GLS has expanded to dozens of locations. The company Digital Triggers has compiled the most comprehensive list to date, but this is growing monthly.
This list shows the cities where the program is available. For the most part, this doesn’t mean that every business offered is available in every city. Incidentally, there are some businesses listed that aren’t actually running ads anywhere yet. However, Google is signing up companies for when they do unveil. As a result, being one of the first companies signed up for GLS in a new city can be extremely profitable. Subsequently, adding your business when there are already a dozen others may see less profitable results.
- Arizona: Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale
- California: Los Angeles, Riverside/San Bernardino, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Long Beach, Anaheim, Ontario, Roseville, Arden, Arcade, Carlsbad, Oakland, Hayward
- Colorado: Denver, Aurora, Lakewood
- Florida: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Kissimmee, Sanford, Clearwater
- Georgia: Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell
- Illinois: Chicago, Naperville, Elgin
- Maryland: Baltimore, Columbia, Towson
- Massachusetts: Boston, Cambridge, Newton
- Michigan: Detroit, Warren, Dearborn
- Minnesota: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington
- Missouri: St. Louis
- Nevada: Las Vegas, Henderson, Paradise
- New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Camden, Wilmington
- New York: New York
- North Carolina: Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia
- Ohio: Cincinnati
- Oregon: Portland, Hillsboro
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
- Texas: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Arlington, The Woodlands, Sugar Land, New Braunfels
- Virginia: Arlington, Alexandria
- Washington: Seattle, Vancouver, Tacoma, Bellevue
- Washington, D.C.
How Important is Getting Listed Early?
When Border West first decided to begin suggesting Google Local Services to our clients, it was fairly new. Other pay per click management companies couldn’t really figure our a way to make it profitable for themselves. Conversely, Border West decided to include it with any current PPC campaign at no additional cost, or $200 per month if separate. Our first successful sign up was Apache Moving in Austin. There were hardly any other Google Local Services ads for movers running at that time. As a result, even with a limited budget, Apache’s ads were shown much more often because the ads are formatted for 3 listings. Basically, this meant that Apache stayed in that Google Guaranteed Ad space until more people signed up, even when their budget ran our. Since it can take several weeks to get approved, being one of the first companies in a new location can be extremely rewarding.
As you can see from the screenshot, there were only two moving companies running GLS ads in Austin at the time. Apache was running a very low monthly budget, just to test effectiveness. Even so, they lived at the top of search results for movers in Austin until another company got approved.
Another company we were working with did the opposite. We attempted to convince them to begin the process of getting their insurance and background check done early. At the time, there was only one other company running Google Local Services for roofing in Austin Unfortunately, they weren’t interested. A few months passed and they decided to start the process. Our account manager to completed all requirements for them in record time. Even so, in those few short months, there had been over a dozen other roofing companies in Austin signing up for GLS ads by that time.
How Google Local Services Helps Improve Online Reputation
Reviews have become critical to a company’s online success. No matter what industry you’re in, even a few bad reviews can be extremely harmful to your business. This is why companies like Amazon and Walmart pay so much attention to publicizing reviews. With so much competition nearly everywhere, reviews are a major factor in purchasing.
For more localized businesses, Google and Yelp provide much needed reviews. Because of this, one of the requirements to even sign up for the GLS program is to get at least one positive review. Since they realized the review process is such an important factor in customers purchasing with confidence, they just automatically send requests after every job.
When a customer schedules a job from a GLS company, they are notified that they will be sent a review request after the job is completed. Generally, this ensures that the companies they recommend are performing to high standards. Consequently, the service providers get a simple way to ask for reviews without seeming pushy (or just forgetting).
One of Border West’s earlier clients raised their reviews a full star higher in a few short months. Likewise for any business, this can be the difference between a potential customer calling or passing by your listing. In addition, it’s also one of the reasons that GLS businesses are generally highly rated.
Are GLS Ads a Good Investment?
As with any form of online advertising, Google Guaranteed ads need to be part of your entire business strategy. In newer markets, they are extremely valuable, but as more businesses sign up, the results become limited.
With SEO and PPC ads, there are many ways to set your company above your competitors. With GLS, there is very little you can do to distinguish your company. Because there is no keyword targeting, bidding, or ad creation, your company is listed at the top of searches with every other guaranteed company. While this is definitely a great location for your business to be listed, getting onto the front page of Google with PPC, Maps, and SEO is going to be necessary as well.
Is My Business Eligible for Google Local Services?
Click the button and find out instantly if your industry is in one of the eligible cities.
If not, Border West can get you notified when it does become available so you can get listed first!