Local Services Ads: Partner Updates [Summer 2024]

Welcome to the latest Google Local Services Ads Partner Updates for Summer 2024! Here’s everything you need to know about the newest enhancements and features.

Automated Lead Credits and Lead Feedback

Automated Lead Credits (US Only)

Automated LSA lead credits are now live, allowing businesses to focus on what matters most.

Automatic Crediting:

The manual lead dispute process has been replaced with automatic crediting.
Automatically receive credits for leads identified as poor quality.
Get money back faster without the need to file disputes.

Lead Feedback (Global)

Businesses can now rate individual leads through the new “Rate this Lead” – Lead Feedback Survey in the lead inbox. This feedback helps Google send more of the leads businesses want and fewer of those they don’t.

For more information, check out this Help Center article or consult with an LSA representative. Some restrictions apply.

New Ways for Customers to Message (US Only)

Google is enhancing ways for consumers to connect with businesses:

Recognizing that consumers often reach out to multiple providers at once, Google is experimenting with UI treatments that allow customers to message multiple providers simultaneously.

Unified Booking on Google Business Profiles & LSA

Simplified Booking Management

All bookings, whether from GBP or LSA, will now be handled through the same booking partner linked in the GBP profile.
This provides less hassle and a centralized view of appointments.

Increased Booking Opportunities

Advertisers previously using only GBP booking can now automatically access LSA bookings, reaching more customers.

Consistent Customer Experience

By using the same booking partner across platforms, customers will enjoy a familiar and smooth booking process.

What This Means:

Already using LSA booking: No changes needed; the legacy booking feature with time slots will be replaced by the seamless booking experience on GBP.
GBP booking enabled but not on LSA: If ServiceTitan or Jobber is used, bookings from Local Services Ads are now automatically enabled. Opt-out is available in LSA settings.
Different booking partners for LSA & GBP: Migration to GBP’s booking partner for a unified experience.

Launch Timeline:

Integration with Jobber & ServiceTitan occurred in early September. Other partners will migrate in the coming weeks.

Advertisers may have received notifications from Google, Jobber, or ServiceTitan regarding these changes.

Enhancements to Google Ads API

The Google Ads API has been upgraded with robust reporting and editing features, allowing comprehensive lead management. Key functionalities include:

Retrieve and manage leads comprehensively, including conversation details, recordings, and lead credit status.
Access various lead types, such as messages, bookings, and phone calls.
View in-depth customer lead information, including timestamps and consumer phone numbers.

With these functionalities integrated into the Google Ads API, the Detailed Lead Report API will be deprecated. The LSA Reporting API will still be maintained, ensuring all required fields are incorporated into the Google Ads API.

For assistance, reach out to the support team at googleadsapi-support@google.com or join discussions in the Google Ads API forum.

New Bidding Option: Target Cost Per Lead

Google has launched Target Cost Per Lead (TCPL) bidding, offering more flexibility while maintaining control over manual bids.

Recommendations:

Advertisers using Manual bidding (max per lead) should consider switching to TCPL with the recommended target for improved results.
Automated bidding (maximize leads) is recommended for optimal performance.

This new feature will roll out to all Customer IDs over the next few weeks. Learn more here.

Questions?

For further assistance, consult the Local Services Ads on Google Help Page or get in touch with the Local View team for comprehensive guidance.