Google Local Services Ads management
Local Services Ads appear above standard Search results and paid ads, carry the Google Guaranteed or Google Screened badge, and charge per lead rather than per click. Where your trade and area qualify, it is often the highest-intent, lowest-friction placement available on Google.
What you get
- Eligibility check for your trade category and area
- Google Guaranteed / Google Screened application, including licence and insurance documents
- Profile set-up: services offered, service area and business hours
- Weekly budget and lead-volume management
- Disputing and crediting back unqualified or invalid leads
- Ongoing profile and review optimisation, reported alongside your Google Ads account
How it's different from standard Google Ads
Standard Google Ads (Search, Performance Max, Local) charges per click and is ranked mainly on bid and ad quality, with full control over keywords and copy. Local Services Ads charges per valid lead, a call or message from someone in your area during your hours, and ranking depends more on reviews, proximity, responsiveness and business hours than on how much you bid. The two are separate systems, but they complement each other well.
Is my business eligible?
Eligibility depends on your trade category and location, and the list of categories Google supports changes over time. We check whether your business currently qualifies as part of onboarding, and if it does, handle the Google Guaranteed application, including any background, licence and insurance checks, on your behalf.
Best run alongside standard Google Ads
Local Services Ads covers a narrow slice of high-intent, local, call-now searches. Standard Search and Performance Max cover everything else, broader keywords, research-stage searches, and areas or categories Local Services Ads doesn't reach. Most eligible businesses get the best result running both together. See Google Ads for home improvement or Google Ads management.
Common questions
What is Google Local Services Ads?
A Google ad placement that appears above standard Search results and paid ads for eligible local service categories. Listings carry a Google Guaranteed or Google Screened badge, and you pay per lead rather than per click.
How is it priced, and is that different from normal Google Ads?
Standard Google Ads charges per click regardless of whether that click turns into an enquiry. Local Services Ads charges per valid lead, a call or message from someone in your service area during your hours, and invalid or spam leads can be disputed and credited back.
Do I need the Google Guaranteed badge to run Local Services Ads?
Generally yes. Eligible businesses go through a verification process, background, licence and insurance checks depending on category, before the badge and ads go live. We handle the application as part of set-up.
Can I run Local Services Ads and standard Google Ads at the same time?
Yes, and for most eligible businesses we recommend it. Local Services Ads covers a narrow slice of high-intent local searches; standard Search and Performance Max cover everything else.
Tell us where things stand
Share your current spend and targets. You'll get a straight answer on what's realistic and how we'd get there.