Introduction
Google Local Services Ads (LSA) and Reserve with Google are how you connect with new customers and manage bookings directly from Google search results. This article will guide you through what these tools are, how to connect them to your Housecall Pro account, and the key changes you need to know about managing Google bookings.
Housecall Pro makes it easier to manage your online bookings in one place, giving you a unified view and streamlined customer experience right in Job inbox. Let’s dive into how you can set up and make the most of these integrations.
Changes to Google Bookings
As part of Google’s updates, there are key changes to how bookings from Local Services Ads and Reserve with Google are handled in Housecall Pro:
One Google inbox within Job Inbox: Instead of having separate inboxes for LSA and Reserve with Google, all Google-generated bookings will appear in a single channel called "Google".
New booking screen for your customers: When customers click the "Book Online" button on Local Services Ads or Reserve with Google, they will be directed to the Housecall Pro Online Booking flow instead of Google’s own booking flow.
Simplified Google Price book: Previously, Google required a dedicated “Google” price book item to activate integrations. This is no longer necessary. Your existing price book items remain unchanged and unaffected by this update.
What is Google Local Services Ads (LSA)?
Google Local Services Ads (LSA) is a paid online advertisement that allows Pros to appear at the top of Google search results when customers are searching for local services such as “electrician near me”. These ads are designed to help customers quickly find and book trusted professionals in their area.
When you sign up for LSA, your business will need to register for a "Google Guaranteed" badge, which helps build trust with potential customers. Customers can contact you directly through the ad or book your services online. This feature ensures that your business is visible to the right audience at the right time, driving more leads and bookings to your Housecall Pro account.
Pros need to pay Google to participate in Local Services Ads.
What is Reserve with Google?
Reserve with Google is a free service that lets customers book your services through Google Search and Google Maps. Unlike LSA, Reserve with Google doesn’t require payment to Google. By enabling Reserve with Google, bookings go directly through your Google Business Profile, making it simple for customers to schedule services while boosting your appointments in Housecall Pro.
Reserve with Google is free for all Pros.
Difference Between Reserve with Google and Google Local Services Ads (LSA)
There are two ways customers can find and book you on Google, and both are integrated with Housecall Pro.
Reserve with Google is:
Completely FREE
Naturally captures the customers searching for your services
Links to your Google Business Profile
Invites customers to schedule an appointment with you directly
Powered by your Housecall Pro Online Booking
Google Local Service Ads (LSA) requires you to:
Sign up, complete a background check and become Google Guaranteed
Put a credit card on file
Pay fees for phone calls, messaging, and booking leads that come through Local Services Ads.
Choose Ads that can be phone calls, messages, or bookings powered by your Housecall Pro Online Booking
Why Should I Connect Google Bookings to My Housecall Pro Account?
Connecting your Google bookings to Housecall Pro offers several benefits:
Unified Booking View: See all your Google-generated bookings in one place with the "Google" channel in Job inbox, eliminating the need to manage multiple platforms.
Streamlined Customer Management: Automatically sync bookings with your calendar, job details, and customer information, reducing manual work and keeping everything organized.
Improved Business Efficiency: Manage all aspects of your bookings—from scheduling to payment—directly within Housecall Pro, saving time and effort.
Where Do I See My Bookings from Google?
All bookings from Google Local Services Ads and Reserve with Google will appear in the "Google" channel within your Job inbox in Housecall Pro (Inbox > Job inbox > Google). This unified channel provides a single location to view and manage all Google-generated bookings, simplifying your workflow.
Please note that while bookings from Local Services Ads and Reserve with Google appear together in this channel, they are not differentiated. To identify booking details such as type, you can log into your Google Local Services Ads account to view specific stats and analytics.
How to Connect Google Local Services Ads
Connecting Google Local Services Ads (LSA) to your Housecall Pro account is simple. Follow these steps:
Log in to Housecall Pro: Use your credentials to access your account.
Go to the Google Settings Page: Click the Settings button (cog icon) in the top-right corner of your HCP dashboard. Then, in the left sidebar, navigate to "Online Booking" and select "Google."
Initiate the Connection: If your Google account isn’t already connected, click the "Connect" button. Note: You must have a Google Business Profile before setting up Local Services Ads. Learn more about Google Business Profile.
Sign in to Google: Use the Google account linked to your Local Services Ads.
Grant Permissions: Follow the on-screen prompts to authorize the connection between Google and Housecall Pro.
Wait for Sync: Once connected, all Google Local Services Ads (LSA) and Reserve with Google bookings will sync with your Job inbox, and you will be alerted to new bookings. New bookings will appear under the "Google" channel.
Important Notes:
It may take up to 24 hours for the integration to activate. This does not mean you will begin to receive bookings or leads immediately. To confirm a successful integration, check for the "Book online" button on your Google Business Profile.
Ensure that "booking leads" are enabled in your Google Local Services account to receive bookings. Learn more about booking leads in Local Services Ads.
Requirements for Google Local Services Ads
To connect and receive bookings from Google Local Services Ads (LSA), ensure you meet these requirements:
Google Business Profile: Your business must have a verified and active Google Business Profile. Remember, this is the free offering from Google that allows your business to show in organic search results from potential customers. Learn how to create a Google Business Profile.
Google Guaranteed: Your business needs to qualify for the "Google Guaranteed" program. This badge is required to activate LSA. Learn more about Google Guaranteed.
Online Booking Enabled: Ensure that "online booking" is enabled in your Google Local Services account.
Housecall Pro Online Booking: Your Housecall Pro account must use the new online booking version for compatibility. Learn more about setting up your Housecall Pro online booking.
To learn more about Google Local Services, check out this help desk article or learn how to connect Google LSA with your HCP account
How to Connect Reserve with Google
Connecting Reserve with Google to your Housecall Pro account is just as straightforward. Here’s how:
Log in to Housecall Pro: Access your account using your credentials.
Go to the Google Settings Page: From the Settings menu (cog icon), find "Online Booking" in the left-hand sidebar and click on "Google."
Enable Reserve with Google: Locate the Reserve with Google section and click the "Enable" button.
Verify Your Google Business Profile: Make sure your Google Business Profile is active and verified, as this is required to enable Reserve with Google. Learn more about verifying your Google Business Profile.
Sign in to Google: Log in using the Google account associated with your Business Profile.
Grant Permissions: Follow the prompts to complete the connection process and link Reserve with Google to your Housecall Pro account.
Confirm Integration: Once connected, bookings from Reserve with Google will sync automatically with your Job inbox under the "Google" channel.
Requirements for Reserve with Google
To connect and receive bookings from Reserve with Google, ensure you meet these requirements:
Google Business Profile: Your business must have a verified and active Google Business Profile. Remember, this is the free offering from Google that allows your business to show in organic search results from potential customers. Learn how to create a Google Business Profile.
Reserve with Google Enabled: Ensure that the Reserve with Google feature is activated on your Google Business Profile. Go to your Business Profile. On Google Search, select Bookings, or on Google Maps, select “Manage your Business Profile > Bookings”. Learn more about turning on bookings for Google Business Profile.
Housecall Pro Online Booking: Your Housecall Pro account must use the new online booking version for compatibility. Learn more about setting up your Housecall Pro online booking.
To learn more about Google Reserve, check out this help desk article.
Resources & Support
If you have additional questions or need more assistance, here are some resources and support options available to you:
What happens if I’m not "Google Guaranteed"?
To receive bookings through Google Local Services Ads, being "Google Guaranteed" is mandatory. Visit Google’s Google Guaranteed Program to learn more about the qualification process and requirements.
How do I enable the new online booking in Housecall Pro?
Ensure your account is upgraded to the latest version of online booking for compatibility with Google integrations. Check our step-by-step guide on Housecall Pro Online Booking Setup.
Who can I contact for support?
If you encounter issues or have questions about connecting Google Local Services Ads or Reserve with Google, reach out to:
Housecall Pro Support: Contact Chat Support via the Blue Chat Bubble in your Housecall Pro account or call 1 (877) 944-9010.
Google Support
What if I was using LSA previously, but I’m no longer getting bookings?
Verify your Google Business Profile is active and properly verified. Bookings will not work without an active profile.
Check if your business still qualifies as Google Guaranteed. Reapply if your badge has expired or has been revoked.
Ensure Online Booking leads are enabled in your Google Local Services Ads account. Go to your LSA settings and confirm this option is turned on.
Confirm your Housecall Pro Online Booking is active and correctly set up to receive bookings.
If none of the above resolve the issue, contact Google Support or Housecall Pro Support for further assistance.
Google LSA January 2025 Update: What This Means for You
Unified Google Inbox: All bookings from both Local Services Ads (LSA) and Reserve with Google will now appear together in the "Google" channel within your Job inbox, simplifying your workflow.
Google Business Profile Requirement: A verified and active Google Business Profile is now mandatory to maintain your Google Local Services Ads account. Without it, your LSA integration will not work.
Updated Customer Booking Experience: The LSA booking flow will match the Reserve with Google flow, providing a consistent and simplified experience for your customers booking online.
Having trouble finding what you need?
For further assistance, please reach out to our Chat Support team
via the Blue Chat Bubble in your Housecall Pro account, or
contact our Phone Support team at (858) 842-5746.