5 Key Factors that Influence your LSA Ranking

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Alex Sparks Co-Founder of OmniLocal
Alex Sparks
Updated - May 27, 2025

Google's Local Services Ads (LSAs) have proven an effective tool for service-based firms to interact with clients in their immediate vicinity. However, having an LSA is insufficient; it must also rank prominently. While Google's algorithm evaluates a variety of signals, understanding key ranking variables can dramatically improve your visibility and lead creation.

Here are five key factors that influence your LSA ranking:

1. Total Number of Reviews

It is no secret that reviews show trust. Google considers the total quantity of reviews your business has received as one of the highest ranking factors. In general, more reviews indicate that the business is more established and trustworthy. While quality (your star rating) is important, a high volume of reviews has a major impact on how frequently your ad is displayed.

2. Frequency of Reviews

The frequency of reviews is important in addition to the total number of reviews. Are your reviews recent, or do they date back months or even years? Google prefers businesses that often receive new reviews. This demonstrates that your company is actively serving clients and maintaining a current reputation. A consistent stream of new reviews implies that your business is providing exceptional service and engaging customers, making it more enticing to the algorithm.

3. Responsiveness & Answer Rate

This is one that always slips by. Google closely watches how fast and regularly you reply/answer leads from your LSAs. It is vital that you respond quickly and answer every inbound phone call. If you often skip calls, leave them on voicemail unanswered, or take too long to respond to messages, your rating will suffer. Google aims to match searchers with companies that are prepared and eager to assist. Google will reward you with more ad placement if you respond quickly and consistently, as this shows them that you provide a satisfying user experience.

4. Competition Level

The level of competition in your service area and industry will inevitably affect your LSA visibility. While not directly under your control, like reviews or responsiveness, it is important for your LSA approach. In highly competitive areas, your ad may appear less frequently unless other your profile strength is really strong from the other ranking factors.

5. AD Schedule

The Ad schedule you specify on your LSA listing have a direct bearing on when your ad is likely to be shown. Google wants to connect people with businesses that are open and available at the moment they search. Ensure that ad schedule hours are accurate and reflect your genuine availability. It's tempting to advertise 24-hour availability, but if you can't sustain a high response rate throughout those longer hours, it may backfire. Align your listed hours with your ability to reply to leads swiftly.

By concentrating on these five critical areas, businesses may drastically increase their Local Services Ads performance, resulting in more quality leads and a better local presence. It's a continuous process of providing good service, soliciting feedback, remaining responsive, and effectively managing your listing information.