Google Home Services Expands to Philly

Google Home Service Ads (also known as Google Home Services) is a relatively new service being offered by Google in certain markets. Using this program will completely change the way the Search Results appear for certain types of industries. The program was originally exclusive to plumbers and locksmiths, but it has further expanded to include HVAC, electricians, garage door services, roadside assistance, auto glass installation, painting, handyman, home cleaning and even appliance repair categories.

Google Home Service was launched as a pilot program in the San Francisco Bay area, back in 2015. It has since expanded to Stockton, San Diego and Los Angeles, and finally to the east coast in Philadelphia.

 

How Google Home Services Work

GHS works similarly to HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List do. When searching for some of the services covered by Google Home Services, if the business is a subscriber, they will appear at the top of the Google search results. If someone clicks on an ad, the business will receive a notification and proceed from there. But be aware that if you fail to respond, Google will penalize you by either removing the option to click or removing you from the top results.

 

Don’t confuse Google Home Services Ads with Google AdWords, or pay-per-click advertising. They are two separate ways to market your business and need separate budgets if you choose to enroll in both. Unlike with AdWords, you have no control over bidding for keywords with Google Home Services. Your search ranking is determined by local proximity to the searcher and reviews.

 

Benefits Local Searches

If you’re a service provider in one of the categories included in the program, you may want to consider enrolling. Some benefits you will experience are:

• Top billing – Local searches for your business appear right at the top of Google.
• Easy lead generation – Customers can easily click on your ad when they’re searching for your specific service.
• Google guarantee – Google inspires trust in most people. Just having that in the ad can enhance your reputation.
• Return on investment – You only pay for leads related to your business and the services you offer.
• Target market — You only hear from customers who have specifically selected your profile out of all the rest.

 

Getting the Most Out of Your Google Home Services Ads Account

If you’re considering enrolling in this program, know that there may be a waiting list, so it’s important to jump on the bandwagon quickly. Additional suggestions for maximizing your ROI for the program:

• Have someone knowledgeable about PPC ads monitor and deploy the GHS ads. Even though the two programs are not related, the strategies for bidding will be similar, so familiarity with PPC features is a plus.
• Make sure your Google My Business account is current, complete and accurate. The information displayed in the ad is from your GMB account, so if it’s inaccurate, it could cause issues.
• Build your reviews and testimonials. The ranking factor is based on two things: proximity and reviews. Google provides a link for customers who click on your ad to review your business and uses them to determine your rank.
• Make sure you’re prepared for the influx of phone calls generated by the ads. You don’t want to lose the opportunity for top ranking by not being responsive to the clicks generating leads. You may need to supplement your customer service reps and train them appropriately to maximize the turnaround. Remember, if customers aren’t happy with the promptness and quality of service, it will affect your reviews.
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Get Additional Information on Google Home Services Ads

Want to know more? You can check out Google’s Home Services Ads page for more information or to enroll in the program.

Philadelphia SEO for Growth can help you set up your Google Home Services Ads program. We can also assist in all of the steps mentioned above to maximize your account.

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