Major Google Update: Local Service Ads Reviews Now Managed Through Google Business Profile
There’s an important update from Google that tree service business owners need to know about — especially if you’re running Google Local Service Ads (LSAs) to generate leads.
As of July 11, 2025, all customer reviews for LSAs will now be fully managed through your Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business). This means reviews collected directly through the Local Service Ads platform will no longer be supported separately. Instead, Google is consolidating reviews into one central location: your Google Business Profile.
What This Means for Your Tree Service Business
Previously, reviews could be collected in two different ways:
- Through your Google Business Profile (which shows on Google Maps and in local search), or
- Directly through the Local Service Ads platform.
These two systems operated independently. So, if a customer left a review on your LSA profile, it wouldn’t show on your Google Business Profile — and vice versa.
With this change, only reviews from your Google Business Profile will count and display on your Local Service Ads account. If you had reviews collected only via LSAs, there’s a chance they may no longer appear — unless Google decides to migrate those to your business profile (which is still unclear at this point).
Why This Matters
Your reviews are critical for two major reasons:
- They influence your local rankings in Google Maps and Search.
- They play a role in how your business is ranked and displayed within Local Service Ads.
If you’ve been focused on collecting reviews through LSAs alone, you’ll want to shift your strategy immediately.
What You Should Do Now
- Focus All Review Efforts on Google Business Profile
Use the review link available inside your Google Business dashboard. Share it with customers by text, email, or printed QR code to easily collect feedback. - Check Your Current Review Count
If you notice a drop in the number of reviews showing on your LSA profile, this is likely due to the merge. Google will now show only the verified reviews from your Google Business Profile. - Review Google’s Review Policy
Google may remove reviews that don’t meet its content guidelines during the migration process. Make sure all reviews follow policy and are left by real customers. - Monitor Your LSA Ranking
Star ratings and the number of verified reviews are factors that influence your LSA ranking. Stay proactive and continue requesting reviews after each job.
Final Thoughts
This update is part of Google’s continued effort to streamline its platforms and create a more consistent experience for users and business owners. While it may mean a temporary drop in visible reviews for some businesses, it also simplifies where and how you should collect feedback moving forward.
Bottom line: From now on, collect all customer reviews through your Google Business Profile to ensure they appear in both local search and your Local Service Ads.
Need help optimizing your Google Business Profile or generating more reviews? Contact us at Tree Service Digital or call us at 770-637-3707 — we’re here to help you grow your leads and dominate your local market.
