As a lawyer, real estate agent or a financial advisor, have you ever wondered how you can use paid advertising to reach customers when they’re searching for your professional services business? You’re in luck!
If your business qualifies and is approved, you have the ability to run Local Services Ads (LSAs) and receive a Google Screened badge of trust.
Now, you may have heard of Google Guaranteed for the contract services industry, but what exactly is Google Screened and how can it benefit your business?
Keep reading to learn all about Google Screened.
Breaking Down Google Screened
Google Screened is similar to Google Guaranteed. Essentially, it’s a badge of trust for professional services businesses that must be earned to run Local Services Ads.
Here's an example of what Google Screened ads look like:
However, not just any business can qualify to be Google Screened! There are specific requirements that must be met, including:
- Passing a business-level and a business-owner background check – And, in some cases, employees may need to complete a background check
- Going through any necessary license and insurance checks based on your business category
- Maintaining a three-star rating or higher on Google
To learn more about the screening and qualification process, click here.
Eligible professional services businesses include the following:
On the other hand, Google Guaranteed focuses on businesses in industries such as roofing, plumbing, HVAC, electricians and water restoration. You can learn more about this badge by checking out this blog.
With the proven success of Google Guaranteed, Google Screened will be helping professional services businesses be found when consumers are searching for what they offer.
One of the big differences between Google Guaranteed and Google Screened is that Google is not offering a money-back guarantee for businesses with the Screened badge.
Local Services Ads for Google Screened Businesses
As a business within the professional services industry, keep in mind that you can’t run Local Services Ads without going through the necessary steps to receive your Google Screened badge.
Local Services Ads appear at the very top of the search results, even above the Google Search Ads that traditionally appear first.
While Google Screened ads and Google Guaranteed ads are similar, there are some differences in how the ads look.
Google Screened ads include a professional headshot (see the screenshot from earlier in the blog). Here’s what Google Guaranteed ads look like:
How Google Screened Benefits Your Business
Earning the Google Screened badge of trust may seem like a lot of work at first, but it will bring your business greater success in the long run.
Going through the process of earning this badge means that your business has been vetted by Google itself and shows potential customers that you are a trustworthy business!
If you go through all the requirements and successfully qualify, a green checkmark will appear under your name and star-rating when people search for your business.
Why You Need a Comprehensive Strategy
As a professional services business, we recommend a comprehensive approach when it comes to creating a strategy!
To maximize exposure and leads, our comprehensive strategy includes additional formats like Google Search Ads in addition to running Local Services Ads.
With LSAs, we can't always control the exposure your business receives due to other ranking factors, such as reviews, proximity and business hours.
The biggest factor in LSA exposure is the number of reviews and your star rating compared to local competitors. To be successful on LSAs, you need to have a high volume of reviews and a high star rating, in addition to running additional strategies like Google Search Ads.
By having a comprehensive strategy that utilizes paid ads, local search and review marketing, your business will be more likely to dominate the search results.
Every business is different, but our team of experts is here to strategize and help you find the right marketing solutions. We will work with you to create an ad strategy that’s based on your business needs, goals and budget.
Final Thoughts
Running LSAs and qualifying for Google Screened can be extremely beneficial for businesses relating to professional services.
If you're a RevLocal client and you have questions about Google Screened, reach out to your marketing strategist for help. If you need help with your digital marketing, be sure to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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