Sean Walsh
Sean is a Director at Intelligency heading up our digital marketing and client services operations. Sean has 15+ years experiencing working both in-house and agency with brands including Lloyds, Alstom, Hitachi, Lufthansa, Viaplay, DFDS Seaways and Mercedes-Benz.
Google has recently introduced a new feature for Local Services Ads (LSA) that automatically selects and displays photos from your business profile. This update aims to enhance engagement and improve the ranking of your ads, making it a significant development for businesses relying on LSAs to reach local customers. Here’s how you can take advantage of this update to boost your business.
Why this update is crucial for local businesses
Local Services Ads are designed to help service-based businesses, such as plumbers, electricians, and cleaning services, connect directly with customers in their local area.
With the new photo selection feature, high-quality and relevant images can make your ad more appealing to potential customers. This increased appeal can lead to higher engagement—more clicks, and ultimately, more leads.
Additionally, better engagement contributes to improved ad rankings, meaning your ad is more likely to appear prominently in search results, giving you greater visibility.
The key benefits of adding photos to your LSA profile
Incorporating photos into your Local Services Ads profile offers multiple advantages:
- Better Customer Understanding: Quality images provide potential customers with a clearer idea of what your business offers, helping them make more informed decisions.
- Increased Visibility: Photos help your ad stand out from competitors, catching the eye of potential customers.
- Improved Ad Ranking: Google notes that including high-quality photos can enhance your ad’s ranking, making it more likely to be seen by users.
- Enhanced Engagement: Businesses that include photos in their LSA profiles tend to see higher engagement rates, which can translate into more inquiries and bookings.
- Boosted Leads: According to Google, businesses that upload at least one photo to their LSA profile could see up to 16% more leads compared to those without photos.
How Google’s automatic photo selection works
Google has made it easy to upload and manage photos in your LSA profile. You can add images directly through the Profile and Budget page, using tools for bulk uploading and editing. Google will then automatically select the most engaging photos to display in your ads. If you have photos on your Google Business profile, be sure to add them to your LSA profile as well to benefit from this feature.
What you can expect from these changes
Photos will now be prominently displayed in your ad listings, along with other essential business information and credibility badges. This visual enhancement is designed to make your ads more attractive to potential customers, increasing the chances they’ll choose your services.
This update offers a valuable opportunity for local service providers to enhance their online presence. By ensuring that your LSA profile includes high-quality, relevant photos, you can improve your ad performance, stand out from competitors, and ultimately attract more customers. Don’t miss out—update your profile today to take full advantage of Google’s new automatic photo selection feature.
