Welcome to the latest edition of Google’s Local Services Ads Partner Updates for September 2021. Here’s what you need to know:
We are thrilled to announce the launch of Local Services Ads in 23 new verticals in the United States, available for provider sign-up and account creation today! To sign up for these new verticals, you can create new accounts from your MCC or the self-sign-up portal. Should you have any feedback or questions regarding these new verticals, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Local Services Ads support teams.
A quick refresher on how to complete the Business Owner (BO) background check requirement for providers who have businesses in the US but are from outside the US:
An improved business verification tab is being rolled out in stages for providers on Local Services Ads. This enhanced page includes new content in many of the onboarding modules, explaining common questions and simplifying the required document submissions. By the end of Q4 2021, the new Business Verification tab will be fully rolled out to all providers.
New Improvements Include:
Background Checks continue to face delays due to COVID-related court closures. This leads to longer wait times for providers to receive responses from Evident or Pinkerton. Note that the impact is not limited to current residents of affected counties; individuals who have resided in these counties in the past 7 years can also be affected.
Evident List: Affected counties include Gwinnett County, GA; Clayton County, GA; Boulder County, CO; El Dorado County, CA; Williams County, ND; Marin County, CA; Citrus County, FL; Cooke County, IL.
If you have any inquiries or need further assistance, please consult the Local Services Ads on Google Help Page, or get in touch with our Local View team for comprehensive guidance.