Solved: Can't list "Sliding Door Repair" on Google LSA profile

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. Happy to give you some initial thoughts and guidance on getting your sliding door repair service visible online, especially given the challenges you're facing with Google Local Services Ads.

Understanding the LSA Category Hurdle

It's definitely frustrating when you know your service is perfect for a platform like LSA and your competitors are there, but you can't seem to list it. Google Local Services Ads are fantastic because they connect you directly with people searching for services right in their area, and the 'pay per lead' model feels safer than just paying for clicks that might not convert. The issue you're hitting with "Sliding Door Repair" not being a direct category is actually more common than you might think for very specific niches.

LSA categories are often designed to be quite broad. While "Sliding Door Repair" is clearly your core business, Google's system might lump it under a wider umbrella term. Think about how they structure services – they try to cover a lot of ground with a finite list of main categories and sub-services. My first thought here is that your service likely sits within something like:

• "Door Repair" (this seems the most obvious fit if it's available)
• "Window Repair" (sometimes sliding doors are considered part of window/glass services)
• "Handyman Services" (many general handymen offer door repair)
• "Home Repair" or "Home Improvement Services"

When you were setting up your LSA profile, did you thoroughly explore all the options within these broader categories? Sometimes you select a main category, and then a list of more specific services appears underneath that you can tick. It's possible that "Sliding Door Repair" or something very close like "Patio Door Repair" is hidden away as a sub-service you need to specifically enable once you're inside one of those wider categories.

Another possibility, though less likely, is regional variation. Google sometimes tests categories in different areas, or a competitor might have been grandfathered in under an older system, or perhaps they're listing under a slightly different, less accurate category and still getting leads because Google's algorithm matches their broader service type to specific user searches. But usually, if competitors are showing up, there's *a* way, even if it's not straightforwardly named "Sliding Door Repair".

My recommendation would be to go back into your LSA settings and spend some time meticulously reviewing every option within related broader home service categories. Look for checkboxes that might include doors, windows, or general repair work and see if expanding those sections reveals a more specific option for sliding doors.

If LSA Still Isn't the Right Fit...

If after a thorough check you still can't make LSA work for your very specific service, or if you find the volume of leads isn't sufficient even if you get listed under a broader category, you absolutly need a plan B. And for a local service business like yours, the most powerful alternative for capturing people with high intent to hire someone *right now* is Google Search Ads.

Unlike LSA, where you're limited to pre-defined categories, Search Ads let you target the exact keywords people are typing into Google. This is incredibly powerful for a repair service because people usually search when they have an urgent need. They're not browsing; they're looking for a solution to a broken door.

With Search Ads, you can build campaigns around terms like:

• "sliding door repair [your city/area]"
• "patio door repair near me"
• "fix broken sliding glass door"
• "sliding door roller replacement"
• "emergency sliding door service"
• Specific types of doors you fix (e.g., "aluminium sliding door repair")

You control which searches trigger your ads (using careful keyword selection and negative keywords to filter out irrelevant searches), you control the ad copy (writing headlines and descriptions that speak directly to someone with a broken sliding door), and you control where the ad click takes them (ideally, a specific landing page on your website about your sliding door repair services).

We've run successful campaigns for other local service businesses where Google Search Ads were the primary driver of leads. For instance, we're currently working with an HVAC company who, in a pretty competitive area, sees leads come in at around $60 each. While LSA is great when it works, Search Ads offer more control and precision for niche services like yours, especially when someone is actively searching with high intent. It's less pay-per-lead and more pay-per-click, but with the right targeting, those clicks turn into valuable phone calls and enquiries.

Making Search Ads Work: Your Website is Key

Running effective Google Search Ads isn't just about setting up keywords and writing ads. Where you send that traffic is just as, if not more, important. If you're directing clicks to a generic homepage or a page that doesn't clearly address their need for sliding door repair, you'll waste money on clicks that don't convert into leads. Your website needs to be set up to immediately convince visitors that you are the right person to fix their door.

Think of the journey someone takes: their sliding door breaks, they search Google, they see your ad, they click. What do they need to see immediately? They need reassurance that you fix *their* specific problem, proof that you're reliable, and an easy way to contact you.

Your landing page (the page people land on after clicking the ad) should focus specifically on your sliding door repair service. It should have:

• A clear, prominent headline stating you offer sliding door repair.
• Compelling copy explaining the benefits of your service (e.g., fast response, experienced technicians, fixing common issues like rollers, tracks, locks).
• Clear calls to action (CTAs): "Call Now for a Free Estimate", "Request a Quote", "Schedule Repair". Make your phone number highly visible and clickable on mobile devices. Include a simple contact form as well.
• Trust signals: Testimonials from happy customers, photos of completed work (before/after), mention of any local certifications or insurance, maybe even a photo of yourself or your team. People are letting you into their home, trust is crucial.
• Details about your service area.

Consider adding features like a click-to-call button that is visible on mobile, or even a callback widget where people can leave their number for you to ring them back quickly. This is essential for a service where people often need help fast and prefer to speak to someone directly.

Tracking and Optimisation is Vital

Once you have Search Ads running and your website optimised, you can't just set it and forget it. You'll need to monitor performance closely. Key metrics to watch include:

• Click-Through Rate (CTR): How many people who see your ad click it? A low CTR might mean your ad copy isn't compelling enough or isn't matching the search query well.
• Cost Per Click (CPC): How much are you paying each time someone clicks? This is influenced by competition and your Quality Score (which Google assigns based on ad relevance, landing page experience, and expected CTR). Improving Quality Score lowers CPC.
• Conversions: This is the big one. How many clicks result in a lead (a phone call from an ad extension, a phone call tracked on the website, a form submission)? Set up conversion tracking correctly in Google Ads and Google Analytics to measure this.
• Cost Per Lead (CPL): This is your total ad spend divided by the number of leads generated. This is the number you need to make sure is profitable for your business based on how many leads you can close and the average value of a repair job. As I mentioned before, CPLs for local services can vary, but aiming to get this as low as possible through optimisation is the goal.

Regularly test different ad copy, refine your keyword lists (adding new relevant terms, adding negative keywords to block irrelevant searches), and make tweaks to your landing page based on how users are behaving (e.g., if lots of people visit but few call, maybe the phone number isn't prominent enough, or there's not enough trust built on the page). This ongoing optimisation is how you improve performance and lower your cost per lead over time.

Putting it Together: Your Action Plan

Based on what you've described, here's a possible actionable plan:

I'd say step 1 and 2/3 can happen in parallel. Get the website page ready while you investigate LSA again. If LSA works, great, you have an extra channel. If not, you're ready to launch Search Ads effectively.

Why Consider Expert Help?

Dealing with platforms like Google Ads and ensuring your website is truly optimised can take a significant amount of time and technical know-how. It requires setting up tracking correctly, understanding how to structure campaigns for efficiency, conducting thorough keyword research, writing ad copy that converts, and then constantly monitoring and adjusting everything based on performance data. Making the wrong choices early on can lead to wasted budget.

Someone with experience in paid advertising, particularly for local service businesses, can help you navigate these complexities, set up your campaigns for success from day one, and optimise them efficiently to get the best possible cost per lead. They can dedicate the time needed to monitoring and testing that might be difficult when you're also busy running your core business - which is fixing sliding doors!

If you'd like to discuss your situation in more detail and explore how expert help could accelerate your results and free up your time, I'd be happy to book in a free consultation. We can look at your specific business, your service area, and your goals to see what the best path forward looks like.

Regards,
Team @ Lukas Holschuh