Google Guaranteed
Looks like Google is planning on absorbing yet another service that was once provided by websites and digital marketing. Angie’s List, Home Advisor, and similar sites may be in trouble.
What is Google Guaranteed
Google Guaranteed is a way to help protect people when booking services online with local businesses. When you see search results like this:
It signifies that the Google Guarantee backs the business. By using the sponsored Guaranteed results to book Local Services you could receive reimbursement if you have issues. There are some caveats though and we’re going to cover some of them today.
Google Guaranteed Voice Search
Voice searches can also provide Guaranteed results as long as you’re in the US. However, if you contact the business in any other way, for example, their website or their Google My Business you will not receive the Google Guarantee from a voice search.
To get started, you can apply for the Google Guarantee by signing up for Local Service Ads. Eligible businesses get charged a fee of $50 a month for the service. If you would desire a walkthrough of the signup process, please let us know.
What will Google give you if a service provider messes something up?
On Google’s support page they say, “Google may, in its absolute and sole discretion, reimburse the customer up to the amount paid for the initial service, subject to a lifetime limit. The following are the upper limits of lifetime limits per customer in each country”
For the US & Canada, the limit is currently 2,000 Freedom Units or US dollars.
Here is a breakdown per country:
United States: $2,000
Canada: CAD $2,000
United Kingdom: GBP £1,500
Ireland: EUR €1,500
Spain: EUR €1,500
France: EUR €1,500
Italy: EUR €1,500
Netherlands: EUR €1,500
Germany: EUR €1,500
Austria: EUR €1,500
Belgium: EUR €1,500
Switzerland: CHF ₣2,000
Source: Google Answers at Google Support
Getting Google Guaranteed Reimbursement
You will need to submit a request to Google and provide a valid receipt in order to be eligible for reimbursement. That must be done within 30 days of your service. They will not cover add-on or future services, damages to property, trip charges, diagnostic fees, dissatisfaction with price or responsiveness of the business, and cancellations.
Why should Sites Like Angie’s List and Home Advisor be Worried?
Well, at least when I do a search, I see both Google Guarantee and Google ads before any organic results. Meaning, Google is essentially taking a lot of business from other sites that would normally be able to provide reviews and other services for both consumers and local businesses.
As a Search Engine and Business, I can’t say I blame Google for trying to cut out the middle man here but I’m starting to feel sorry for all the sites losing out on so much so Google can place even more ads.
The rainbow side of the storm is a lot of small businesses will be able to take advantage of this for the small fee I mentioned earlier. It could help a lot of local service providers and I’m all for that. Small businesses can now also but out the middleman being Angie’s List, Home Advisor, and similar sites to get more business opportunities without signing up for a member to the aforementioned sites.
Do you need help with something like this or any other PPC, SEO, Video, Web Dev, or marketing project? Please contact us or give us a call at 719-577-4404 if you would like help setting up your Google Guaranteed listing. Thanks for reading and have a great day!
Matthew is the President of Infront Webworks and is a New England native now calling Colorado Springs home. Matt attended The University of NH where he pursued a BS in Natural Resource Economics & Business Administration. Aside from Infront; Matthew has owned and managed two other online agencies based on the seacoast of New Hampshire and been a key player in multiple technology mergers & acquisitions. When he’s not bathing in technology, online marketing & business; he’s probably spending time with his wife and daughter, boating, skiing the trees, hiking or cooking..he is a foodie for sure!
