Are you looking for ways to increase visibility and enhance the online reputation of your service-oriented business? Or perhaps you need the endorsement of a respectable corporation such as Google to drum up business? With either scenario, a Google Guarantee badge might be the ideal solution. With this badge, you could experience a significant boost in visibility and attract more customers to your business.
What is the Google Guarantee Badge?
The Google Guarantee badge signifies membership in the Google Guaranteed program. Part of Google’s AdWords, the program focuses primarily on local businesses in the home service sector. Google local services have gained tremendous importance over the past decade, as consumers increasingly turn to online resources to find initial service information about the businesses in their geographic locations.
Businesses that qualify for the Google Guarantee program will receive the badge, which they can then display in their company listing on the Google result page. The badge serves as a sort of seal of approval by which Google indicates their high regard for a particular business and its local services ads.
How Businesses Benefit from the Google Guarantee Program
Businesses that have the Google Guaranteed program badge gain many advantages over other companies.
First, the endorsement from Google enhances their reputation in the online community, making them more trustworthy to potential customers. All factors being equal, customers are more likely to click on a business link like a local service ad or Google My Business listing with a Guarantee badge than a similar business without a Google endorsement. Discover newest trends by searching only for: google guarantee apply, google local services ads, local services ads program or financial planning.
Google Guaranteed local businesses also enjoy greater visibility than other companies. Although the Guarantee program is part of AdWords, listings for businesses belonging to the program, such as local services ads or Google’s local services ads, are displayed more prominently than Google Search Ads. The listings and badge also enhance Google My Business profiles, making your company stand out against your competitors. As a small business owner, you know that satisfied customers are the key to long-term success. Google Guarantee works to help you generate more qualified leads, improve organic search volume, and stand out in search results. Think of the program as a Google assistant that is helping your business grow in customer volume and revenue.
What Kinds of Businesses Can Benefit from the Google Guaranteed Program?
Google’s Guarantee Program is designed to support the business efforts of local companies in the services sector. Many of these businesses do not have the budget for paid search initiatives or other digital marketing campaigns, yet want to grow their income and geographical footprint. The Google Guaranteed program can help facilitate business growth. Businesses that can benefit from the program include:
- Appliance Repair
- Window Cleaning
- Junk Removal
- Pet Grooming
- Air Conditioning
- Lawn Care
With this program, you can increase the services booked, share information about your company with new audiences, and get your company name in all the right places. Increased leads are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits of this program. With the help of this program, you can take your company to a new level of success.
How Customers Benefit from the Google Guarantee Program
The Google Guarantee program benefits customers of the businesses as well. Google covers all transactions that take place between the customer and the business. This means that if a customer is not satisfied with the service that they receive from a Google Guaranteed company for any reason, they can file a reimbursement claim for up to $2000 (lifetime cap). The program is much like a consumer protection service. Essentially, the Google Guaranteed Program is a form of quality assurance, helping consumers avoid fraudulent services or companies in their area.
Transactions will have to be booked through Local Services to qualify for reimbursement. All claims will have to be submitted within 30 days after the transaction takes place.
The Google Guarantee program does not cover the following:
- Add-on services
- Future projects
- Property damage
- Price or responsiveness disputes
- Cancellations
Requirements for the Google Guarantee program
The Google Guarantee program is currently undergoing beta testing and is available only in some U.S. and Canadian cities.
Businesses will have to undergo a rigorous screening process to qualify for the program, including a background check and insurance verification. Companies will be required to have general liability insurance and business and owner’s license, and be part of the Google AdWords program. A proper license is a critical part of small businesses; the qualification process simply assists Google with adding more businesses to the Google Guaranteed program.
How much does the Google Guarantee badge cost?
Membership to the Google Guarantee program costs an initial service fee of $50 a month apart from the cost of background checks and eligibility licensing checks, which are part of Google’s eligibility rules. Taken altogether, the cost of the program per year comes to about $600.
Some business owners feel that Google’s revenue from advertising and pay-for-lead fees should go toward covering the program’s verification and consumer protection costs. Businesses pay a fraction of what the service is worth in terms of advantages, however.
However, keep in mind that the Google Guarantee program is a value-added service for businesses that use AdWords. But companies that have the Google Guarantee badge don’t necessarily have to use Google Ads. The monthly cost, therefore, goes toward costs that advertising fees would typically cover.
How do I Set Up the Google Guarantee Badge?
Your business has to use AdWords or Home Service Ads to qualify for Google Guarantee. Signing up for the program can be as simple as going through the following steps:
- Sign up for the Local Services ads.
- Undergo a background check.
- Go through the license and insurance verification process.
Pre-screened businesses should qualify quickly, allowing your business to reap the benefits in a short amount of time.
Here are more detailed steps for setting up a Google Guarantee badge:
- Create a listing on Google’s “My Business” page.
- Navigate to the “Local Service Ads” section.
- Type in your name, address, and phone number.
- Provide your business’s hours of operation.
- Specify your coverage location.
- Provide information on your services.
- Type in your business license number.
- Ask for reviews from your customers.
- Go through a background check. (This also applies to your employees who will have to enter the homes of your customers.)
- Upload your insurance and bond information.
- Provide your billing details.
- Publish your ad.
After completing all these steps, the next thing to do is go through the advanced verification process. This involves closing your application with a Google-affiliated third-party service, Pinkerton.com, which should take about half an hour. It is easy to find out how does google guarantee work.
At this point, all you have to do is wait for a couple of weeks for the verification process to complete. At the end of that period, you will know whether or not your application has been approved. If you have not heard from Google by that time or if you have concerns about your application, you may send an email to Google support at the following address: advancedverification@google.com.
How do I set up a Local Ad to display my Google Guarantee badge?
You will need to go through a separate process to set up your Local Ad to display the Google Guarantee badge that you have just received.
- First, go to Google’s Local Services section. Depending on your location, you may receive a notice stating that Local Services isn’t available in your area. In most cases, you could simply send a request to be notified when the service becomes available.
- Once the setup process is underway, prepare to answer the many questions that Google will have for you. Most of these relate to your business objectives and your plans to increase your earnings.
- You will have to present a certificate of insurance. This can be a contention point for many businesses, especially if their certification isn’t up to date. You will also have to make sure to fill up the “General Aggregate” section on your certificate.
- Keep in mind that your coverage should be at least $200,000 for Google to consider your application. If your insurance company has neglected to fill in this information, ask them to do so as soon as possible because you need it for your Local Service application.
Be ready for the background checks that Google requires as part of the application process. These checks should cover the business owner, the business itself, and personnel that will be providing in-residence services to your customers.
After going through these steps, Google will send you an email so that you can finish setting up your Local Services account. Click on the link provided in the email, which will take you to a site where you can create your Local Service listing.
When creating your listing, you will have to add your bio and photo to your profile. You will also be asked to provide the postal codes of your planned service areas. You have the option to choose which areas you want to service. Try moving company google guaranteed, and see how it is.
At this point, all that is left for you to do is wait for new customers to come calling. Remember that membership in the Google Guarantee program not only provides you with a badge that serves as a glowing endorsement from Google. It also offers greater visibility and prioritized listing on Google’s search engine results pages. With any luck, these perks should provide you with scores of new customers. Your customer base is critical; every new customer represents a new sales opportunity.