Earlier this year, Google introduced a new feature for Google My Business that allows businesses to add services menus to their profiles. While some businesses could access this option, others could not.
Several of my clients operate in the home services sector. Recently, Google began placing links on my clients’ Google My Business profiles that direct to a third-party website.
Clicking these links directs users to a lead generation form to “Request a Quote.” However, unless an account is set up with the third-party website, the leads are not forwarded to the actual business.
Instead, the leads are sent to another service.
If your customers submit service requests through this option, they may mistakenly believe you are ignoring them, or worse, a competitor could intercept these leads and take your potential business.
To begin receiving the leads your customers are submitting, you must “claim this business” and select a package costing either $99, $149, or $199 per month.
In other words: Pay the fee, or risk your leads being sold to competitors.
From my research, if you managed to set up a services menu before this implementation, these links will not appear on your listing.
Google announced that the option to add or edit service menus is not available if you haven’t already connected to a third-party supplier.
However, these businesses never opted to use a third-party supplier, and Google does not offer the option to remove these links through Google My Business.
Instead, Google advises that the only solution is to contact the third-party supplier and request the removal of the link from your account.
If you run a local business or advise clients who do, it’s essential to check to ensure this issue isn’t affecting you.