Google Assistant can now help people find local home services relevant to their needs.
To get started, you can say something like, “Ok Google, find me a plumber.” The Assistant will ask follow-up questions to determine exactly what you need help with.
After specifying, for example, that you need help to unclog a drain, the Assistant will confirm if it’s for the address listed in your Google account.
Once the address is confirmed, the Assistant will offer options to call a plumber immediately or show a list of local plumbers who can assist. Choose the one that interests you, and Google Assistant will initiate a call. Here’s an example of this process in action:
This feature can be accessed on both smartphones and smart speakers like Google Home.
When possible, Google will suggest service providers that have been prescreened by Google and third-party companies such as Home-Advisor and Porch.
This feature will initially be rolled out in the US and is expected to launch within the week.
To optimize your local service business for Google Assistant, ensure it has a strong presence in local search results. For example, if you show up for searches like “plumbers in [city name],” Google Assistant should be able to find you. It appears that the Assistant lists businesses based on star reviews, so keep that in mind.
