Dumb SEO Questions

(Entry was posted by Chase Reiner on this post in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 10/23/2015).

Local search now paid for in big cities

Local search now paid for in big cities. Thoughts?
This question begins at 00:35:56 into the clip. Did this video clip play correctly? Watch this question on YouTube commencing at 00:35:56
Video would not load
I see YouTube error message
I see static
Video clip did not start at this question

YOUR ANSWERS

Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions Facebook & G+ community.

  • Chase Reiner: Local search now paid for in big cities. Thoughts?
  • Suraj Gadage: +Chase Reiner ; Google Adwords has confirmed that this is a new beta program called home service ads and is in San Francisco only.  ;

    Coming back to your question, this is going to be a massive shake up for local SEO. Interesting thing to observe here is we don't see any local one box results below the sponsored results. So my gut feelings say that in the future, it may take over maps results provided for a given local search query there are businesses that qualify for home service ads. ;

    Google has already explained in their article about how businesses qualify for home service ads. Primarily they do background checks, license checks, insurance checks, reputation assessment and mystery shopping. You can read more about this over here: https://support.google.com/ads/answer/6230381?hl=en&ref_topic=6250184

    Looking at Google's explanation on why they want to display these ads are simply to help searchers provide peace of mind when booking a professional.

    Now, as a local business should I be worried about?

    Honestly speaking, NO. If I can meet the criteria set by Google then I can participate in the Home Service ads program.  ;Also, Google has explicitly mentioned that Home Service ads go through a screening process, and they can't pay to be ranked higher in the ad units.

    Hope this helps!
  • Tim Capper: http://onlineownership.com/google-testing-home-serviced-business-in-pay-to-play-marketplace/
  • Jim Munro: From the expert panel in this weeks SEO Questions hangout on air on 00:35:56 into the YouTube video: https://dumbseoquestions.com/q/local_search_now_paid_for_in_big_cities +Chase Reiner

    If our assistance with this issue was useful to you, please consider sharing your success story so that others might benefit.
    

View original question in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 10/23/2015).