Google has updated its webpages in San Francisco, to show its sponsored home services providers when people search for things like “lock repair”
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has made its entry into the home services market. Users in San Francisco will now be able to call someone to their home through Google when they search for things like, “clogged toilet” and “lock repair”. The company already has a team of professionals that have been vetted to pair with these kind queries.
Sponsored results are showing up from Google when people require an electrician or a plumber. The search engine giant has developed a model where these professionals can contact Google and show up on the sponsored results once they have been screened and vetted by the company. In addition, this is part of Google’s advertising program which is called AdWords Express. A spokesperson for Google told the Journal that at the moment plumbers, handymen, locksmiths and house cleaning can register with the company. To be entered into the system, these companies must first pass background, license and insurance checks within which a mystery shopping test is also conducted.
Users who are looking for these home services will be on Google all throughout the process, which saves clicks and lets the customer not get lost into clicking multiple links. It also makes it possible for Google to have someone on its site for longer times. Customers will also be able to review the services and also send feedback through a messaging system or calling the company.
The home services market is quite different than the other markets. While there are different companies and startups that cater to people’s home needs, giants like Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Google will give a tough competition for the crowd to see. One of the prominent home services providers in the industry is Angie’s List, which launched in 2011 and captured a market for pest control and remodeling worth $400 billion. Among others, Amazon also launched its home services in March, wherein the retailer also got in trouble for trying to poach Angie’s Lists servicemen.
Bidness Etc believes that Google has launched yet another service which aims to capture a big chunk of the home market. In addition, the service providers being vetted and thoroughly checked by the search engine giant is a good move that will keep customers happy and the providers in check. It’s a well known fact that when Google introduces a service in competition to others, it makes sure that it’s cost effective and simple to use.
One example for this being the introduction of the Nexus 5 which was a $300 phone and had internal hardware, which could have made the phone cost around $600 otherwise. The company’s slow but dangerous rollout of Google Fiber has had internet providers around the US scared and prone to a market wide exodus. The search engine is promising speeds 100 times faster than regular broadband.
There is enough evidence to see how Google is slowly making a difference in people’s physical lives by offering products and services that are extensively useful. The company’s new CEO Sundar Pichai is making sure of the smooth rollout of all the services, that have been in the pipeline for quite a while, and it’s exciting to hope that there are greater things in the future.
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