Google My Business (GMB) – Charging for Listings or Just Incorporating their Local Services Ads

Is Google My Business sending surveys to local business owners to see if they can charge local businesses for their own listings?

I say no. Oh hell no! They’re not out to screw you. My first reaction on Twitter:

They have sent survey question (survey now closed) about this. Joy Hawkins from Sterling Sky contacted Google and sent out this tweet.

I’m with that. There’s nothing to panic about. My assumption on this good Search Engine Land conversation is that the survey questions really closely mirror the minds of those who choose to participate in Google Local Services ads and not for GMB profile listing owners worried about if they’re going to be charged for Google’s already-free product.

Google Local Service ads in general do not integrate within your Google My Business (GMB) profile. So yes, I believe they are encouraging you to buy local service ads just like they visually encourage you for AdWords Express with their Create an Ad icon. I imagine in the future, they will use these survey Q&As to encourage GMB users to sign up for Google Local Services Ads.

I can certainly see an simple added tab for Google Local Services ads, written in their own very simple way.

I do suggest looking into Google Local Services ads on your own. We put a services page up for this over a year ago as well. Not many local Mpls/St. Paul industries qualify, but you check out your eligibility for yourself.

What are your thoughts? Is GMB out to charge your for your listings or is it just a survey to explore interest in Google Local Services Ads?