In August 2026 Google broke broad Local Services Ads categories into far more specific ones, especially for restaurants, auto and beauty. The category and job types you choose decide which customers Google sends you. This lesson shows you how to choose well.
At a glance
- New categories include cuisine types for restaurants, brake shop, oil change and transmission shop for auto, and eyelash salon, makeup artist and more for beauty (Search Engine Land, Search Engine Roundtable).
- Pre-badge ads let a business receive leads after passing preliminary checks while it finishes onboarding; not available for garage door services, health care or locksmiths (Google).
- Google says the Google Verified badge is currently unavailable for auto, beauty and dining.
- Google no longer credits leads for job types or areas you don't serve (Google).
The steps
- List what you actually do.Write down the services you perform and want more of, and the ones you don't do.
- Pick the most specific category.Check Google's eligibility list and choose the category that matches your main work. Specific beats broad.
- Turn off job types you don't do.Even occasional ones. A lead for a job you don't do is a cost you usually keep.
- Set your service area honestly.Only where you'll travel for the work you want.
- Build trust where there's no badge.In auto, beauty and dining, customers rely more on your reviews, rating and Business Profile. Keep them current.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a broad category because it looks like more volume.
- Leaving every job type on by default.
- Starting pre-badge ads before categories, areas and hours are right.
How CallRadius handles this
An experienced CallRadius manager sets categories, job types and service areas with each business, and the CallRadius LSA AI management system classifies every lead so recurring mismatches show up as patterns to fix.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What are pre-badge ads?
In Google's words, they let you receive leads from Local Services Ads after you've passed the preliminary checks, while you complete the remaining onboarding checks.
Can auto, beauty and dining businesses get the Google Verified badge?
Google says the badge is currently unavailable for verticals in the auto, beauty and dining categories.