Ready to get noticed by leads searching for a "real estate agent near me"?
Meet Local Services Ads (LSAs), Google's secret weapon for local businesses like yours.
LSAs are a different breed than typical PPC ads. They can send your visibility soaring.
Before we jump in, here's a quick rundown of the lead gen tools we'll cover:
Today, we're zeroing in on LSAs. We'll explain what they are, how they work, how they're different from PPC, and how to set them up for maximum impact.
You'll get insider tips top agents use to turbocharge their business.
The Takeaway:
LSAs are a powerhouse tool for realtors hungry to boost visibility and reel in more seller leads. By leveraging these ads, you can laser-target specific areas and flaunt your mad skills. The result? An avalanche of fresh, piping hot leads and more closed deals.
Meet rAIya:
The pioneering 24/7 AI real estate assistant that actively converts leads 365 days a year.
Chapter 1: What the Heck are LSAs?
Think of LSAs as your own personal billboard planted at the very peak of Google's search results. When folks search for a realtor in your neck of the woods, boom - there you are, larger than life!
The real kicker? You only pay Google when someone actually calls you, not per lead.Get this: A recent study found that LSAs appear in nearly 14% of all Google local search pages.
That means firing up some LSAs could spike your visibility on those coveted local results by almost 14%.
Not too shabby, eh?
But don't think Google lets just any Tom, Dick or Harriet buy their way in. Nope, they put you through the wringer first to ensure you're legit.
See those three featured agents at the top? They're paying Google to stay parked in those prime slots. But it's no permanent timeshare. Those spots rotate frequently based on performance.
Why? Because consistency is key to keeping Google's algorithm smiling. More on cracking that code later.
>> You can find our breakdown of all the main benefits of having LSAs below >>
Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Local Service Ads
Don't sweat it - setting up LSA ads takes some work, but it's no quantum physics. Here's the step-by-step:
Check Your Eligibility: First, use Google's nifty eligibility checker to see if LSAs are available for your service category and location. If you get the green light, move to step two.
Create Your Profile: Next, hop over to the Local Services Ads site and create your profile. Plug in basic deets like business name, address, website, service areas, hours, etc. Don't forget to list your services and set a weekly ad spend budget.
Verify Your Biz: Now it's time to submit docs proving you're legit - identity, license, insurance, the works. Google reviews everything and runs background checks on you and your team. Might take some days or weeks depending on your area and industry.
Score the Screened Badge: Once you jump through all of Google's hoops, you'll earn that sweet "Google Screened" badge on your profile. Congrats, you're an official Screened business! Time to watch those LSA leads roll in.
Lead Herding: Let the fun begin! Manage incoming leads through the Local Services Ads app or website. Keep tabs on calls, messages, bookings, reviews, and spending. Hit pause or unpause anytime.
Chapter 3: How to Rank at the Top with LSAs
Simply running LSAs isn't enough to guarantee pole position in those search results. You need to optimize them to truly dominate. Here are some pro tips.
Use High-Intent Keywords
Target keywords that scream "I'm ready to sell ASAP!" Think "sell my home fast", "best realtor near me", "home value estimate". You want sellers eager and motivated to list.
Flaunt Professional Photos
Your ad photos are a buyer's first impression of you. Make sure they ooze professionalism and personality. Use clean headshots, pics with happy clients, you holding up a "SOLD" sign - you get the idea.
Respond Like Greased Lightning
Your response rate is a huge ranking factor. The faster you jump on leads, the higher you'll rank to attract even more customers. Use the LSA app to fire off replies instantly, even on-the-go.
Get and Respond to Reviews
Reviews heavily influence your LSA rank and rep. Actively encourage sellers to review you, and respond to all reviews (positive and negative) quickly and like a total pro.
Monitor Performance Obsessively
Check your LSA performance metrics religiously to see what's working and what's not. The dashboard/app lets you track leads, bookings, reviews, spend, and ROI. Use Google Analytics for deeper LSA website behavior insights.
Adjust That Budget
Don't be afraid to tweak your budget based on performance and goals. If you're drowning in more leads than you can handle, consider increasing spend. If things are crickets, cut budget or optimize your profile/ads.
MaverickRE:
The data-driven real estate platform that skyrockets your business through predictability, efficiency and control.
Chapter 4: "I Can't Keep Up with All These Calls!"
Feeling like the LSA struggle is real? Like you're drowning in a tidal wave of leads?
You're definitely not alone. Many agents get super jazzed about LSAs...only to quit in frustration once the leads start pouring in.
The problem? Google sets the bar high and expects you to clear it consistently. Most teams get swamped trying to hit those lofty standards.For example, Google demands you answer at least 80% of LSA calls to maintain rankings. For busy teams without systems, that's a tough nut to crack - especially with all the spam calls muddying the waters.
Check out this quick video for the full scoop on common LSA headaches agents face:
Without sleek processes and the right tech in place, swiftly disputing nuisance calls from renters/photogs/PMs and scoring refunds is an uphill battle.
But as a savvy agent, you know "speed to lead" is everything.
When a hot LSA lead calls, you need them hooked automatically to strike while the iron's hot.
There's outside pressure too. Slip up on Google's metrics like missed calls or negative reviews, and watch your rankings plummet!
Keeping Google's algorithm satisfied is a must. But how?
Chapter 5: How Ylopo Helps You Put Your LSAs on Autopilot
Don't worry, we've got your back. Ylopo can put your entire LSA management process on lockdown autopilot!
We've invested massive time and resources into building a comprehensive, start-to-finish LSA solution designed to get you up and cranking leads with zero effort.
We handle everything soup-to-nuts - setting up your account, managing budgets, boosting performance, fielding every single lead. All you need to do is seal the deals.
Our LSA services cover all the bases:
Rapid account setup and eligibility verification
Complete LSA budget and bid management
Direct LSA call handling and lead vetting
Disputing invalid charges lightning fast
Continual LSA performance optimization
Detailed LSA results and ROI reporting
But don't just take our word for it. Here's what top Kalamazoo realtor Jason Veenstra had to say:
"Google LSAs are the real deal! I can't believe how ready these leads are to list. Six calls, two listings signed right then, and another appointment today. All for just $24 per lead! You better believe I'm ramping up my budget!"
Remember, LSAs can spark huge results in any market (whether things are hot or ice cold) for a fraction of typical lead costs!
Our LSA team handles every single Google call that comes in. We vet it, take notes, and if it's a quality lead, we ping you instantly and zap it straight to your CRM.
Want faster? We're THE fastest!
We can dispute bogus reviews or spam calls and recoup your money back in as little as 48 hours. Google normally takes 2 weeks or more!
We even have a Google insider on tap to quickly troubleshoot any curveballs and keep us looped on their latest backend changes.
That's not all - when prospects click your Facebook ads, we skip the basic lead form and instantly whisk them to your IDX site for a full, RESPA-compliant registration instead.
This "Dynamic Registration" nabs 10x more qualified leads!
Speaking of compliance, we make sure all your ad creatives and targeting follow HUD and RESPA rules to the letter across all platforms. We keep you 100% legit.
Start Hooking Leads on Autopilot with LSAs
LSAs are your lead gen turbocharger, flooding your pipeline with motivated seller leads and skyrocketing your client base. They simply blow traditional PPC ads out of the water with perks like:
Pay-per-call pricing instead of per-lead
Prominent placement at the very top of search
The Google Screened trustworthiness badge
Hands-off ad creation and optimization by Google
For hungry agents looking to massively amplify their online visibility and credibility, LSAs are a no-brainer way to go. And with Ylopo as your co-pilot, the entire process of setting up, optimizing, and managing your LSAs is 100% turnkey.
Why keep grinding away while your competition feasts on low-hanging fruit? Hit us up at Ylopo today and request your free demo.
See for yourself how we can help you unleash the full power of Local Services Ads and leave your real estate hustle in the dust. You'll be crushing it with LSAs in no time!
About the Author
Aaron “Kiwi” Franklin
Head of Growth
Aaron "Kiwi" Franklin is the Head of Growth at Ylopo and an innovative technologist and serial entrepreneur who has over 25 years of experience creating digital solutions for major brands and pioneering companies at the intersection of technology and real estate. His depth of expertise stems from leading development of the first website for Apple to founding a global community of over 1,000 elite athletes. Connect with me