GOOGLE GUARANTEED BADGE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT
To support local businesses and their Google My Business management goals, Google has launched many new features recently. One useful feature for better GMB profile management is the Google Guaranteed Badge. It is a green badge enclosing a white checkmark showing a local business’s trustworthiness and providing its customers’ extra assurance.
In July 2020, Google began to offer upgraded Google My Business Profile and Google Guaranteed Badge to businesses that pass its screening and qualification process. The badge started appearing beside the local search ads. They always show up above regular PPC ads and next to businesses’ Google My Business profile in local search packs and Google Map results. The most striking feature is their proximity to the business name, phone number, working hours, and star rating.
What does the badge signify?
The Google Guaranteed badge is the search engine’s guarantee that a business’s services will provide the necessary value to customers. If any customer is dissatisfied, they can claim, and Google will reimburse them.
Customers, however, need to claim within 30 days after a business offers its services, which they aren’t satisfied with. Google carefully looks into the complaints and gives the businesses a chance to make things right with their customers.
If the customers are still unsatisfied, and the search engine finds their complaints justifiable, it reimburses them. The search engine’s maximum reimbursement in the U.S. and Canada is $2000.
Google Guaranteed is available in nine other countries, apart from the two countries. Here are the maximum lifetime limits.
The following are the upper limits per customer in each country:
- United Kingdom: GBP 1,500
- Ireland: EUR 1,500
- Spain: EUR 1,500
- France: EUR 1,500
- Italy: EUR 1,500
- Germany: EUR 1,500
- Austria: EUR 1,500
- Belgium: EUR 1,500
- Switzerland: CHF 2,000
Is Google Guaranteed Badge available for all types of businesses?
The Google Guaranteed Badge is available for some specific home services businesses. Here are the types of businesses eligible for the Google Guaranteed Badge:
- Air duct cleaning
- Appliance repair
- Auto glass, auto repair
- Carpet cleaning
- Electrician
- Event planning
- Financial planning
- Garage door installation
- Home cleaning
- HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
- Immigration lawyer
- Junk removal
- Lawn care
- Locksmith services
- Moving services
- Pest control
- Pet grooming and boarding
- Photography
- Plumbing
- Real estate agent
- Roadside assistance
- Roofing
- Tree services
- Tutoring
- Water damage restoration
- Window cleaning
- Window repair
How can a business get the Google Guaranteed Badge?
Any business using Local Services Ads can apply to the program. Local Services Ads are the advertisements that help businesses connect with local Google users who search for specific products or services.
Google also sends notifications to eligible businesses, informing them that they are qualified for the upgraded Business profile and Google Guaranteed certification.
After applying, Google will verify the business license, insurance coverage, and online reviews. It will check the backgrounds of all owners. It will also screen employees’ backgrounds at no cost to the businesses.
After businesses pass the checks, they will receive a green and white badge. It reassures their local customers if they are dealing with a genuine and trustworthy company in the area.
How much does it cost businesses to get a Google Guaranteed Badge?
The Google Guaranteed Badge costs a flat rate of $50 per month and an annual fee of $600. There are costs for each lead as well. It, however, is different from pay-per-click ads. A business does not pay every time a prospective customer clicks on the advertisement. Instead, they will only pay when a customer connects with them to engage with their services. Costs differ depending on industry and market. The average cost per lead is about $25.
Advantages of the Google Guarantee badge
Here are the following advantages of a Google Guarantee badge:
Higher rankings and visibility: Google Guarantee badge puts businesses at the top of Google search results, even above the regular pay-per-click (PPC) Google Ads. This gives them the top rankings and greater visibility.
Increased click-through rates (CTR): Search engine users are most likely to click on the results they see at the top. They are even more likely to click on the results that assure them quality and satisfaction. As the Google Guaranteed businesses are displayed above the normal pay-per-click (PPC) Google Ads, they have higher click-through rates.
More leads and sales: When more and more people click on the advertisements with the Google Guarantee Badge, it will generate more leads and sales for the businesses enrolled in the program.
Increased revenue: More traffic and sales leads to more revenue.
Lower cost per lead: Pay-per-click advertising can involve a monthly cost of hundreds of dollars for website visits. The average Local Services ad costs between $25–30 cost per lead.
Trust with customers: The Google Guarantee checkmark indicates that the business is trustworthy and will provide satisfactory services. It provides a safe shopping experience to customers.
Protect customer’s money: Under the Google Guarantee, customers can claim the amount on the job invoice. However, the maximum amount is $2000 in the U.S. and Canada.
Summing up,
The Google Guaranteed Badge makes businesses appear more trustworthy and help them generate more leads and sales. At PeddleWeb, we help businesses with Google My Business management and GMB profile management.
