Google Business Profile calls and clicks are dropping as AI answers local searches
Google calls and clicks are down, but less than you fear. See what the numbers show, how to check your dashboard fairly, and what to fix this week.
Keeping Up
13 articles
Google still shows you as open on Thanksgiving. How do you set the holiday hours?
Google shows your regular hours on Thanksgiving until you add Special hours. Here's how to set holiday hours and stop paying for missed calls.
Who answers the phone on Halloween if you are out with your kids?
Compare voicemail, automated answering, and live receptionists for Halloween evening, then test your setup by Friday so no caller goes unanswered.
The Shop Down the Road Just Sold to a National Brand. Here's What You Do Next.
Your competitor just got bought by a national brand. Here's why local pros often come out ahead.
One Halloween Post Is Enough. Make It About the House.
One Halloween post about house safety reaches customers better than a campaign. Here's when, where, and how to post it.
Call Recording Laws in Plain English, Before You Turn On an AI Receptionist
Most AI answering tools record and transcribe calls. Some states require everyone on the call to agree. A plain-English rundown and the one sentence that covers most shops. Not legal advice.
Why Putting AI on Your Whole Phone System Can Cost You Jobs
Dozens of AI receptionists launched this fall. Handing every call to a bot can lose the customers who just want a person. Where an AI answering tool helps, and where it hurts.
Google's AI Is Calling Contractors for Prices. Here's What to Say
Google's 'Ask for Me' now calls home-service businesses on a homeowner's behalf to ask about price and availability. What these calls sound like, why giving a flat price is a mistake, and…
Running Local Services Ads Alone? Five Things to Set Up This Week
Google now charges for some missed calls. If you're the only one answering the phone, here are five settings and habits that keep you from paying for jobs you never get.
How to Dispute a Google Local Services Ads Lead You Never Talked To
Google now bills some missed calls as leads. Here's how lead disputes and credits work in Local Services Ads, what to keep track of, and what Google no longer gives credit for.
Google Now Charges You for Local Services Ads Calls You Didn't Answer
Since October 1, a missed call from your Local Services Ad can be billed as a lead if the caller stays on the line more than 20 seconds during business hours. What…
Customers Expect an Answer in 5 Minutes Now
Homeowners contact several pros at once and hire whoever answers first. What the research says about response time, and how a one-man shop can answer fast without dropping the tools.