What is Local Services Ads?

Local Services Ads are a separate type of Google advert available for certain trades and services. They show your business name, rating and a badge, and appear above the normal ads for relevant searches in areas where they are offered.

In the UK, businesses go through checks before being shown, and qualifying businesses display a ‘Google Screened’ badge. Which checks apply depends on the type of business and can include licences, insurance and background checks.

You pay per lead, meaning a call or message from a potential customer, rather than per click, and you can dispute leads that were not genuine.

For eligible businesses they can put you above everyone else, including other advertisers, and you only pay when someone actually contacts you. They are not available for every business type or area, so check eligibility before paying anyone to ‘set them up’.