Need a plumber? Google's on it

Google

Google has starting testing ads in the San Francisco area that can connect you directly with a qualified home service provider.

Currently, if you're in the area that is being tested and you search for a plumber or a locksmith, a selection of different professionals will appear with a photo, a rating, a link to their profile and a contact number at the top of the search page.

Google says it will provide an easier way for you to connect with qualified home service professionals in your area.

"Traditional ads point to websites, but when your sink is clogged or you are locked out of your car, you might not have time to jump from page to page to book a service," it said on its ad support page.

According to Google, all the service professionals go through a screening process and they can't pay to be ranked higher within the ad unit.

The links to the service provider's profile also includes contact and hours of operation information, but also information about the contractor's background check, insurance and license information.

The new ad unit is still in beta and only available on desktop. It also only covers in certain parts of San Francisco, with ads only for locksmiths and plumbers right now, but we expect Google to end up expanding its testing area as well as the kinds of service providers being listed.

Via Buzzfeed

TOPICS
Latest in Search Engines
Perplexity search on a laptop.
How to replace Google Search with Perplexity AI
Google Learn About
Google Learn About is the patient teacher with a bag full of tricks we all wanted as kids
Bing
Microsoft is so desperate for people to drop Google for Bing it’s offering a $1 million reward
ChatGPT Search
I tried ChatGPT Search and now I might never Google again
Google AI Overviews
Google’s AI Overviews are now available to help a billion people avoid reading full articles
A person holding an iPhone close to the camera with the Google search homepage displayed onscreen
Judge rules Google has illegal search monopoly and you might not like what comes next
Latest in News
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #1147)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #378)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #644)
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough