Google has updated the local service ads requirements to require you to have five reviews. This is up from the previous requirement of having to have only one review.
Len posted an email he received about this change on Twitter that says "starting June 30, 2022, real estate agent businesses will need at least 5 customer reviews to run a new ad."
Here is that tweet:
#LSA Mystery message going out right now telling real estate agents they'll need 5+ reviews to run ads after June30..
— Len 🌴 (@lenraleigh) June 17, 2022
5 reviews to their Google Biz Profile, or 5 LSA specific reviews? 🤔
cc @adsliaison @rustybrick pic.twitter.com/736WHuueuE
Google's AdsLiaison said on Twitter that the only change here is the requirement went from one review to five reviews. Ginny Marvin said "The process to advertise with Local Services Ads hasn’t changed, it’s just that the reviews requirement has changed from 1 to 5. More customer reviews help build trust and will mean more opportunities to connect with potential clients."
I suspect the one review requirement was pretty easy to achieve and that five will be five times as hard to achieve (how is that for some math).
Here is the direct link to this review requirement change in the help docs.
The specific professions that require five reviews now are:
- Real estate agents and brokers
- Personal injury lawyer
- HVAC
- House cleaning
- Tree service
- Roofing
Forum discussion at Twitter.
Update: More clarification that this applies to new accounts:
Hi Len, to clarify, the updated reviews threshold only applies to new accounts in certain categories. More details are available in the Help Center: https://t.co/77IUFatj0U
— AdsLiaison (@adsliaison) July 26, 2022
