If you’ve started an advertising campaign on Facebook, you’re likely already familiar with the platform’s benefits for reaching your target customers. However, there’s a lesser-known risk that can catch even the savviest business owners off guard: phishing scams targeting Facebook advertisers.
These scams often take the form of deceptive messages or emails, crafted to look like official warnings from Facebook about account violations. When unsuspecting users respond, their account information is compromised, potentially resulting in a shutdown of their ad account — and a lot of headaches.
At Local Splash, we’re committed to helping you avoid this risk. That’s why we’ve developed a proprietary tool that automatically flags and blocks these phishing messages, allowing you to focus on growing your business without the fear of scammers gaining access to your advertising account.
Even if you’re not a Local Splash client, there are specific steps you can take to stay safe and keep your Facebook advertising running smoothly.
Facebook phishing scam example: Business owners should ignore and not click the link in this message.
Spotting a Scam: Recognize the Red Flags
Phishing messages are designed to look urgent and official. They might tell you that your account is at risk or that it’s been flagged for suspicious activity.
They usually contain a link or ask for personal information, such as your Facebook login details. Remember, Facebook does not send emails or messages of this nature for account violations or security updates.
If you receive a message like this, treat it as a potential scam.
Some common features of phishing messages include:
Urgent Language: Claims that your account is at immediate risk if you don’t take action.
Requests for Personal Information: Prompts to “verify” or “update” account details.
Suspicious Links: Links that direct you to login pages resembling Facebook’s but are actually fake sites created by scammers.
What to Do if You Receive a Phishing Message
After phishing compromise, Facebook will warn of pending deletion.
Do Not Engage: Never reply to or click on any links in a suspicious message. Interacting with these messages can expose your information.
Verify the Source: If a message claims to be from Facebook, it’s best to log in to your Facebook account directly (without using any links from the message) and check your account status.
Report It: On Facebook, you can report messages and users that appear suspicious. This helps Facebook monitor and address these scams.
Contact Us for Help: If you’re unsure about a message, feel free to reach out to us at Local Splash. We’re here to help you identify and handle suspicious communications.
Local Splash Has You Covered: Our Proprietary Tool
Facebook support message after page has been compromised in phishing attack.
At Local Splash, we recognize that you have enough on your plate without worrying about potential phishing scams. That’s why we developed a custom tool designed to detect and tag these scam messages as spam automatically. Our tool also blocks the sender, preventing further communication and giving you peace of mind.
For those already using our service, rest assured that our tool is continuously monitoring and securing your account. Should a phishing attempt arise, it’s handled swiftly. We then email and text you with a notification that we identified the attempted attack and took care of it.
Stay Vigilant and Protected
Protecting your advertising account is critical to maintaining your online presence. Phishing scams are constantly evolving, but armed with the knowledge we’ve discussed, you’re equipped to stay one step ahead. With these precautions, you can concentrate on what really matters: connecting with your customers and growing your business.
As a local service-based business, your service area choices can make or break your online visibility. You might be tempted to cast a wide net, covering as many areas as possible. However, when it comes to Local SEO and Google visibility, sometimes less is more. Let’s explore two powerful strategies to boost your local business presence: restricting your service areas and converting your Service Area Business (SAB) to a storefront.
Understanding Service Area Focus
Before diving into strategies, it’s important to clarify what we mean by service area focus. For businesses that serve customers at their locations, Google allows the creation of a Service Area Business (SAB) profile. This profile lets you specify the geographic areas where you offer your services.
However, the way you define your service area can significantly impact your visibility in local search results. Google’s algorithm favors businesses most relevant to the searcher’s location, creating what we call an “influence radius” around your business.
Local Business Relevance Matters Most
Your business is most relevant to your nearby area. Why? It’s simple:
Lower travel costs for you and your customers
More time-efficient service delivery
Stronger local connections and reputation
Local SEO works best in your immediate proximity. When you adjust your online profile to reflect this reality, you align with what Google’s algorithm prefers.
To emphasize this point, let’s consider an extreme example. Technically, you could offer your services worldwide. Imagine a home builder traveling overseas to construct a house! While it has happened, it’s clearly not a practical or efficient way to run a local service business. The key is to focus on your most relevant market without diluting your online presence.
Strategy 1: Restricting and Limiting Service Areas
If you’re listing too many service areas, you may be diluting your relevance. Limiting your service areas to a few key locations can help:
Focused Relevance: By selecting your most preferred 2-3 locations, you’re telling Google where you are most relevant.
Stronger Rankings: Fewer service areas often mean better rankings in those specific places.
Quality Over Quantity: It’s better to rank well in a few key areas than to have weak visibility across many.
To implement this strategy:
Analyze your current service areas.
Identify your top-performing or most profitable locations.
Select 2-3 core service areas that align best with your business goals.
Update your Google Business Profile and ensure your website and online listings reflect this change.
Strategy 2: Converting SAB to Storefront
Strategy 2: Converting SAB to Storefront
If you have a physical location where customers can visit, converting your SAB listing to a storefront can be a game-changer:
Preferential Treatment: Storefronts generally perform better in local search results.
Improved Ranking Potential: Physical locations are seen as more established and trustworthy.
Better Visibility: The combination of improved ranking and trust often leads to more customers.
Before making this change, ensure:
You have a physical location that customers can visit.
You’re comfortable displaying your business address publicly.
To convert your SAB to a storefront, update your Google Business Profile, and Google may require you to re-verify your profile before publishing the update.
Why These Strategies Work
Both strategies align with Google’s preference for relevant, localized results. By restricting your service area or establishing a storefront, you show Google where you are most relevant and trustworthy. This approach reduces competition, positioning you as a top choice in a focused area rather than being spread too thin.
Implementing These Strategies
Whether you restrict your service area or convert to a storefront listing, contact your Local Splash team. Our team can:
Update your Google Business Profile with the necessary changes.
Verify your business address and ensure compliance with Google’s guidelines.
Handle any additional verification steps required by Google.
Consistency across all your online platforms, including your website and directory listings, is key.
Potential Challenges
While these strategies are powerful, there are potential challenges:
Business Goals: Ensure that restricting your service area aligns with your overall objectives.
Customer Expectations: Communicate clearly about your service area to avoid disappointing potential customers.
Compliance: Make sure you fully comply with Google’s guidelines if converting to a storefront.
Conclusion
Sometimes, the path to greater visibility means narrowing your focus. By restricting your service areas or converting to a storefront listing, you can enhance your relevance and authority in the eyes of Google and potential customers.
Take a moment to assess your current service area. Could a more focused approach boost your visibility? By implementing these strategies, you can optimize your local presence and see a significant boost in online visibility and customer engagement. Contact Local Splash to get answers.
Establishing a niche for your home services business requires a comprehensive online marketing strategy. This strategy should encompass a strong online presence, optimized listings, a user-friendly website, targeted advertising, and active social media engagement.
Effective marketing increases brand visibility, builds trust with potential customers, and positions your business prominently in search results, particularly through Google Local Services Ads. These efforts collectively enhance brand awareness and provide a competitive advantage in a saturated market.
Listings
When building a successful online marketing campaign for your home services business, having up-to-date business listings is a critical component. Think of these listings as the digital equivalent of a phone book entry, but with more dynamic content and the ability to influence how your business appears in local search results.
Start with your NAP – Name, Address, and Phone number. Ensure this information is consistent across all platforms to boost yourlocal SEO. This consistency helps search engines trust your business’s legitimacy, which can improve your ranking in search results.
Claim andoptimize your Google Business Profile (GBP) profile. GBP is a powerful tool that allows customers to find, contact, and review your business directly from Google’s search results. Fill out every detail:
Business category and description.
Service areas.
Hours of operation.
Contact information.
Add photos of your work, team, and before/after comparisons to give a personal touch and showcase your quality. This visual appeal can have a substantial effect on potential customers searching for home services.
Encourage customer reviews and respond to them, demonstrating your engagement and customer service level. Positive reviews boost your credibility in the local search landscape.
Pro Tip: Local Splash prioritizes high-value listings over scattering efforts across numerous low-performing directories. Focusing on platforms that deliver the highest return on investment, such as Google Business Profile (GBP), Yelp, Facebook, and Bing, ensures that your business is prominently featured where it matters most. This targeted approach enhances visibility and drives more qualified leads to your services.
Remember: Regularly check your listings for accuracy, as outdated information can lead to lost opportunities and diminish trust with potential clients. Keep your listings updated with any changes in your business, such as new services or hours of operation. This attention to detail in your local listings can play a significant role in the overall success of your online marketing efforts.
Website
When considering your website design, it’s crucial that it looks professional and ranks well on search engines. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) should be at the forefront of your design process to ensure your website is visible to potential customers looking for your services online.
Create a User-Friendly Website: Your website’s usability is key. It should be easy to navigate, fast-loading, and mobile-responsive to cater to the increasing number of users who access the internet via smartphones.
Online Presence: A strong online presence is established through a combination of well-executed web design and ongoing SEO efforts. Your website content needs to be informative, relevant, and updated regularly to maintain its search rankings.
As Provided by Local Splash
Your website is the digital face of your home services business, and with Local Splash’s MySite service, it can stand out impressively. MySite offers customizable, SEO-optimized web designs that are mobile-friendly and fully secure, ensuring your business shines online.
From easy-to-use chat and scheduling options to integrated payment systems, MySite equips your site with the tools needed for success. Embrace the convenience of updating your website with no coding required, and let Local Splash’s expertise drive your online presence to new heights.
Key Elements of Your Website:
Homepage: Introduce your services and unique selling proposition.
About Page: Share the story behind your business and crew.
Services Page: Clearly list the services you provide with detailed descriptions.
Contact Page: Include an easy-to-use contact form and alternative contact methods.
Blog or Resource Section: Offer valuable advice and tips related to your in-home services to help your SEO and provide value to visitors.
Ensure that your website reflects the quality of your work – make it as impeccable, approachable, and professional as your services.
Ads & Social
Navigating the world of online advertising can be overwhelming, but mastering platforms like Google Ads and social media can lead to significant growth for your home services business. By harnessing the power of paid ads and effective social messaging, you can connect with your ideal customers and increase your leads and revenues.
Google Ads PPC
With Google Adwords, you’re investing in visibility at the top of search engine results, directly above organic listings. This pay-per-click model ensures you only pay when potential customers click through to your website.
Tailor Your Ads: Create ads specific to home services that resonate with your target audience.
Set a Budget: Google Ads allows for flexible budgeting, making it a cost-effective choice for all sizes of businesses.
Track and Analyze: Use Google’s robust tracking tools to monitor your conversion rate and adjust for the best ROI.
FB and Google Business Profile Post Generator
Effective use of social media starts with engaging content. Both Facebook and Google Business Profile offer post generators that can enhance your content marketing strategy.
For Facebook:
Ensure your content appeals to the local services ads market and utilizes Facebook’s extensive advertising strategies.
Engage with your community using posts that highlight customer testimonials and examples of your work.
For Google Business Profile:
Take advantage of this free tool to appear in local search results and connect with those seeking home services.
Regular posts about promotions or new services can improve your lead generation and keep your business top-of-mind.
The key is consistent, clear communication across these platforms, making sure your message aligns with your overall marketing campaigns. Use these spaces not just for advertising, but for building relationships with your audience.
LSA by Google
Local Services Ads (LSA) by Google have revolutionized the promotion of home service businesses online. These ads serve as an economical bridge, linking your business directly with potential clients who are in immediate need of the services you provide. Positioned at the very top of Google search results, LSAs ensure your business stands out prominently.
TheGoogle Guarantee enhances this service by adding a layer of confidence for both you and your customers. In instances where customers, who found your business through LSAs, are not satisfied with the work quality, Google may step in.
The company holds the discretion to provide reimbursements to the customer for the amount spent on the initial service, with this safety net being subject to a cumulative cap throughout the life of the guarantee.
How LSAs Work:
Targeted Exposure: LSAs help you appear to local customers based on their search queries.
Pay Per Lead: You only pay when someone contacts you through the ad, making it a budget-friendly option.
Creating a Winning LSA Campaign:
Verification: Ensure your business is properly vetted by Google to build trust with customers.
Accurate Information: Input your business hours, services, and any required licenses.
Budget Management: Decide how much you’re willing to spend on leads each week to control costs.
Benefits for Home Services:
High Intent Leads: LSAs connect you with users who are ready to book a service, increasing the likelihood of conversion.
Reviews and Ratings: Showcasing your positive reviews from satisfied customers can enhance your credibility.
By optimizing your LSA profile and managing your budget, you can develop an advertising strategy that boosts your visibility and is aligned with your financial goals. The key is to maintain an updated and detailed profile to maximize your lead generation efforts.
Tip: In the Local Splash client dashboard, you’ll find FBAds leads and LSA leads under the “Leads” tab.
Partner with Local Splash
To succeed in online marketing for your home services business, you need to establish a strong digital presence. This includes having optimized listings, a user-friendly website, strategic advertising, and active social media engagement.
With tools like Google Local Services Ads and effective use of platforms like Google Ads and Facebook, you can connect with potential customers and grow your business.
Local Splash stands ready to guide you through these complexities, ensuring that you can focus on what you do best – running your business. For a tailored approach to online marketing success, reach out to us today and discover how having the right partner makes all the difference!
When considering your 
