Wayne needs help repairing his plumbing, so he searches Google for a local plumber who can do the job. Your plumbing business is among the results — but with so many options, Wayne struggles to figure out which businesses are reliable enough to call.

But then he sees it. Next to your business, there’s a checkmark in a green circle, and next to it the words “Google Guaranteed.” Even before he’s sure what it means, he knows that’s a good sign — and once he reads up on it, he’s even more certain that your business is the right choice.

The above scenario can become a reality when you get the Google Guaranteed Badge for your business. On top of being helpful for users who are in a hurry to find a reliable local business, it can work wonders for your online marketing.

But what is the Google Guaranteed Badge, and how does it work? Read on for our Google Guaranteed overview, where we’ll answer both of those questions and more.

Then partner with WebFX — the digital marketing agency with over 500 client testimonials — for our Google local ads management services. Just call us at 888-601-5359 or contact us online to get started!

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Their focus on ROI and their innate ability to communicate this information in a way that I understand has been the missing link with other digital marketing firms that I have used in the past.

Leah Pickard. ABWE

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What is the Google Guaranteed badge?

The Google Guaranteed badge is a certification Google provides to certain local businesses to assure users of the quality of their services. It’s Google’s way of saying, “We guarantee that this business will provide high-quality service.”

The badge helps users determine the most reliable businesses in their local searches. When looking at a list of several companies in search results, seeing which ones have the Google Guarantee can help narrow down the potential choices.

Of course, the badge doesn’t just benefit potential customers. It also benefits the businesses. When your company has a Google Guaranteed badge, it’s like having the best testimonial possible. Google is telling users right up front that your business is trustworthy.

How does Google Guaranteed work?

Now that you understand the basic concept of what Google Guaranteed is, how exactly does it work? Read on to find out!

Where does the badge appear?

There are two main places the Google Guaranteed badge appears:

• Local search ads: Local search ads take the form of rectangular boxes, and they appear above regular PPC ads. Along with the badge, they contain basic information like business name, phone number, hours, and star rating.

• Google My Business: For applicable businesses, the badge can sometimes be spotted alongside their Google My Business profile — whether in Google Maps results or local search packs.

In either of these locations, the Google guaranteed badge appears the same — a checkmark in a green circle with the words “Google Guaranteed” next to it.

What is customer reimbursement?

The Google Guaranteed badge signifies Google’s guarantee that your services will prove satisfactory to your customers. If a customer is dissatisfied with your services, Google may reimburse them if they make a valid claim.

Of course, this only applies to specific circumstances. For reimbursement to be available, users have to go through a Google local ad. If they convert directly on your website, for example — without Google as the middleman — they’re not eligible.

Secondly, reimbursement is only available for 30 days after the service is completed. If a user wants to file a complaint, they must do so within that time.

Finally, even for eligible users, Google takes the time to investigate any complaints. It will ask you for information about the situation and give you a chance to make it up to the customer.

After all that, if Google deems the user’s complaint to be legitimate, it may choose to reimburse that user. The maximum reimbursement Google will provide for any service is $2000.

How much does a Google Guaranteed badge cost?

Google Guaranteed can come with a price.

To add the badge to your Local Services ads, you don’t have to pay to get the badge.

If you obtain the badge to use on your Google My Business profile, though, it costs a flat rate of $50 per month ($600 per year) to set it up.

How can you set up Google Guaranteed?

For the final section of our Google Guaranteed overview, let’s look at how you can set up Google Guaranteed for your business. Thankfully, it’s not a complicated process — just walk through the three steps listed below!

1. Make sure you’re eligible

The first step you should take to set up Google Guaranteed is to check whether you’re eligible. The badge isn’t yet available to every type of business, so you should start by making sure you’re on the list.

As of right now, the eligible industries are:

• Appliance repair
• Auto glass
• Auto maintenance and repair
• Carpet and upholstery cleaning
• Electrical
• Event planning
• Financial planning
• Garage door installation
• Home cleaning
• HVAC
• Junk removal
• Lawn care
• Locksmith services
• Pest control
• Pet grooming
• Photography
• Plumbing
• Roofing
• Tree services
• Water damage restoration
• Window cleaning and repair

If you’re not on that list yet, don’t worry — Google is always rolling out new industries in Google Guaranteed. Just keep an eye out for when yours is available!

2. Review your certification

When you apply for the Google Guaranteed badge, Google performs a thorough background check on your business. On top of looking into the business owner (and sometimes additional employees as well), it will check your business license, insurance, and online reviews.

To prepare for those checks, review all the information you expect Google to investigate. Start by verifying that your business license and insurance are up to date. Then look at your online reviews to make sure they present a positive image of your business.

If any of those items don’t look so good, work on improving or completing them before moving on to the application process.

3. Submit your application

Once you have everything in order, you can finally submit your application for the Google Guaranteed badge!

The application will begin by having you provide some basic information about your business to ensure that the badge is available in your geographic area. When you complete that initial section, the rest of the application is quick and straightforward.

You may have to wait some time to hear back — it won’t be immediate, as Google must perform its various background checks on your business. Eventually, though, if everything looks good, it will notify you of its approval and give you your badge!

Once you’ve set up Google Guaranteed, it’s simply a matter of maintaining the same standards that earned you the badge in the first place.

Let WebFX help you set up Google Guaranteed for your business

Now that you’ve finished our Google Guaranteed overview, it’s time to start setting up this fantastic feature for your business — and you don’t have to do it on your own. WebFX is intimately familiar with local search ads, and we’d love to help you navigate it.

With our Google Local Services Ads Management, you’ll get help working through each of the steps listed above. You’ll also receive a dedicated account representative to keep you in the loop about everything our team of over 300 experts does for your marketing.

Just give us a call at 888-601-5359 or contact us online to get started today!