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5 contributions to Local Lead Labs
Restoring GBPs -- the dreaded verification video
I have two HVAC clients, both small guys who work out of their truck/house. They both had functioning Google Business Profiles set as a local service area business (no published address). One is about 3 years old, another about 6 months old. We need to get the GBPs live again so they can apply and get GLSA ads for the upcoming AC season. The 6 month old listing was from a new incorporated business. We built some citations but probably not enough. The 3-year old one recently moved, and I think he updated his address. I'm working on updating his existing citations. Cittations have always been my go-to technique for getting locations verified. Build them out, let them age for a week or two, then do the verification video. Any other tips for getting them live? I've never had a local service area client do the verification video -- always had slightly larger companies with established & staffed commercial locations.
0 likes • 6h
I answered my own question with ChatGPT. I have a client with a google business profile listing that is suspended. Likely because he moved -- he is an HVAC tech and works out of his truck. But he updated the address in his profile and was suspended. It's asking for a verification video. Do you have any insight on the best approach for a local service area business to get re-verified? He doesn't have an office. ***** chatGPT REPLY ***** Yes — this is very common with HVAC / home service guys who are service-area businesses (SABs) and update their address. When a truck-based HVAC tech changes the address field, Google often flags it as a potential “location manipulation” and suspends the profile until they confirm: - The business is real - The business operates in the stated service area - The business is eligible (no virtual office, no UPS box, no co-working desk, etc.) Let’s walk through the right way to handle this. Step 1: Make Sure the Profile Is Structured Correctly (Critical) For a truck-based HVAC tech: He should be set up as a Service Area Business (SAB), meaning: - ✅ Address entered for verification purposes - ✅ Address hidden from the public - ✅ Service areas listed by cities/zip codes - ❌ No storefront - ❌ No public office if customers don’t visit If he entered his home address and left it visible, that’s often what triggers suspension. Step 2: The Verification Video — What Google Wants to See Google now requires a short video (usually under 2 minutes) proving: 1. The business exists 2. He has access to the business location 3. He owns or manages the business 4. He has real equipment/tools consistent with the category For HVAC, here’s the best way to record it: What To Show in the Video (Exact Formula) 1️⃣ Start Outside the Residence (10–15 seconds) - Show the street sign (to prove physical location) - Show the house exterior (do NOT make it look like a storefront) - Narrate: Important: Do NOT mention “home office” repeatedly. Just state it’s the registered address.
🚨 THE MARCH 2026 WIPEOUT: Surviving Google’s Local & Retail Hard Cutoff
Google just changed the ranking formula, and most local businesses are about to see their rankings vanish. As of late February 2026, "Openness" (your real-time business hours) has been confirmed as a top-tier signal, accounting for a staggering 32% of Local Pack influence. If you are closed when a customer searches, you are officially invisible. Join Ryan today at 2:00 PM EST to learn how to survive the March 2026 Feed Killer and the shift to SXO. 📚 3 Fresh Topics for Today: 1️⃣ The 32% Weighting: Hijacking the "Openness" Algorithm - The Meat: Google Search Liaison Danny Sullivan has confirmed that "Openness" is now a dominant signal for non-navigational local queries. Businesses open at the exact moment of search are receiving a massive real-time boost. - The Action: I’ll show you how to legitimately "gamify" your openness signal using "Special Hours" and staff-available call routing without getting flagged for "24/7 Misrepresentation." 2️⃣ The March 2026 Product ID Split: Protecting Lead Flow - The Meat: Starting March 2026, Google Merchant Center requires a mandatory Product ID split for multi-channel retailers. If your in-store version of a product differs from the online version (in price, availability, or condition), they must have unique IDs. - The Risk: If you miss this hard deadline, your Local Inventory Ads (LIA) will be disapproved, and your Performance Max (PMax) campaigns will lose 100% of their product visibility overnight. We’ll cover the 4-step segmentation protocol to save your feeds. 3️⃣ SXO & Search Journeys: Winning "Zero-Click" Citations - The Meat: Search has shifted from "keyword matching" to Search Experience Optimization (SXO). Google now generates personalized task-flows ("Step 1, Step 2...") based on implied intent rather than just blue links. - The Action: I’ll show you how to structure your "Services" page for machine extraction (chunking) so that your business becomes the mandatory "Next Step" cited by Gemini and AI assistants. In 2026, being the cited answer is the new #1 ranking.
1 like • 7d
@Roxanne Escolano Do you ever do replays for these webinars? I always seem to have something else on my calendar.
0 likes • 7d
@Roxanne Escolano Tremendoug! Thanks so much
Google Ads recommendation
Google Ads recommendation auto-apply is enough to destroy your campaign and waste your ad spend. So before applying blindly, you should review everything carefully, because Google always pushes you to apply its recommendations.
0 likes • 7d
@Arif Hossain Their recommendations don't always mean the best for the advertiser -- they're the best for GOOGLE. I'm sure they'd love for us to have ad success, but I believe these "advisers" single goal is to generate more ad spend.
LSA Workshop Today! You're Invited!
Hey everyone! Get ready to dive deep into all things Local Services Ads! We're holding our LSA workshop today, and we'll be discussing everything you need to know to get the best possible results for your clients. Our topic today is Visibility & Leads: Mastering Google Business Profile + Local Service Ads in the Age of AI. If you’re a small or medium business owner, getting seen and trusted locally is everything. In this live session, we’ll break down the latest changes in Google Local Service Ads & Google Business Profile and show you how Conversational AI can plug into your profile & ads to win more leads and convert faster. You’ll learn: - What the new Google Verified badge means and how to make sure you’re using it so customers trust your business. - How lead types, message response speed & profile completeness now affect visibility & cost in LSA. - How to use AI tools to streamline responses, schedule appointments, answer FAQs, and keep your GBP & LSA profile in top shape. - What to watch out for: policy ownership, content rules, and staying compliant so you avoid penalties or suspensions. If you want more leads, better trust, and less guesswork, this is for you. We encourage you to bring your questions! Details: - Date: Today, September 24th - Time: 2 PM - 3 PM New York Time - Link: https://streamyard.com/avdy8ut293 We're excited to see you there!
0 likes • Sep '25
@Roxanne Escolano We know everything Big G does is all about profit. When GLSA started, it was almost impossible to get in touch with a Google rep if you got denied or had questions. Eventually they had a great staff of English speaking reps that were dedicated. Soon after they, they switch to overseas agents who had trouble understanding complex issues... then, as more companies joined the program, prices increased and they removed the ability to dispute. It's much better than Google Ads (AdWords) at delivering customers, but it's slowly losing its efficiency.
0 likes • Sep '25
@Roxanne Escolano Sorry about the sour grapes. I'm just old and tired of trying to keep up with Google :)
Create Free amazing photos for your Google Business Profile or Google Local Service Pages
@Randy Allen and Sam were on the LLL Live call on Tuesday and Randy implemented one of our suggestions right away. Let me know what you think. https://www.loom.com/share/7c4163cd38fe4a0a88e7d4d25d52d6a8?sid=72533233-9654-47e3-9528-58864426b4c3
Create Free amazing photos for your Google Business Profile or Google Local Service Pages
1 like • Sep '25
I’m curious if Google allows images like this added to a Google business profile by the account manager without issues? My experience is that G prefers natural, unedited photos and may prevent these types of photos showing.
1 like • Sep '25
@Ryan Steinolfson I have a client who just hired a marketing manager who has convinced the client that AI photos "ain't where it's at" - even though I've been using them on their website for awhile (they thought they were stock photos.) As an aside I just canceled my Adobe Stock membership (10 images/$30/month) because most of the images in there are AI generated.
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Sherm Stevens
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@sherm-stevens-9695
I help home service contractors add 30+ new appts each month by capturing + nurturing leads. AI Voice + Chat Expert. BioHacker. Lover of Jesus.

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Joined Jul 16, 2025
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