Setup Guide

Get your lead funnel running in 48 hours

Two steps: set up your Google Business Profile, then launch Local Services Ads. This guide walks you through both.

1 Google Business Profile

Claim & optimize your GBP

Your Google Business Profile is your listing that shows up in Google Maps and local search. This is the foundation — every other channel feeds into it.

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Claim your listing at business.google.com
Search for "Spotless Mobile Detailing [City]" — if it doesn't exist, create one. If it exists but you don't own it, claim ownership via the "Claim this business" flow.
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Choose the right category
Primary category: Car detailing service. Do NOT pick "car wash" — it's a different category and will hurt your relevance for detail searches.
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Fill in every field
Business name, phone number, website URL, hours, service area (zip codes you cover). Add your service area map — Google will suggest radius; accept it.
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Add your service description
150-300 words. Include: mobile service, what you offer (wash, ceramic, paint correction), service area, years in business, guarantee. No spam or offers — keep it factual.
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Upload 10+ photos
Before/after shots, equipment on-site, team in action, business logo. Businesses with photos get 2-3x more clicks. You can generate images here — use the "Feature" intent assets for this.
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Set your service menu
Under "Services" tab, add your 3 packages: Essential ($149), Premium ($249), Ceramic Coat ($599). Include descriptions and turnaround time.
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Verify your listing
Google will mail a postcard to your address with a PIN. This takes 5-7 days. While waiting, you can still complete everything else.
GBP Verification Status: Get verified first — unverified listings don't show in Local Services Ads.
2 Google Local Services Ads

Launch your first LSA campaign

Local Services Ads appear at the very top of Google search results, above even the map pack. They show your phone number directly in the ad. Cost-per-lead model — you only pay when someone calls or messages you.

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Go to ads.google.com/local-services-manager
Sign in with the same Google account that owns your verified GBP.
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Create a new campaign
Select "Car Detailing Service" as the category. Enter your business info — it will auto-pull from your GBP.
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Set your budget: $20–30/day
LSA uses cost-per-lead pricing. Average cost for mobile detailing: $15–35 per call/lead. $25/day gives you 1-2 leads/day in most markets. Start here and increase once you see conversion.
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Target your service area (1 zip code to start)
Pick the zip code with your highest density of target customers — typically affluent neighborhoods or high-traffic commercial areas. Start narrow to get cheap learning-phase data.
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Pick intent keywords
Google auto-targets based on your category, but add these as negative keywords to avoid bad leads: "auto show", "convention", "event", "fleet". Focus on: "mobile car detailing [city]", "car ceramic coating [city]", "car detail near me", "mobile auto detail [zip]".
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Complete identity verification
Google requires business license or registration. Have your EIN ready. This is a one-time process — takes 3-5 business days for approval.
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Add payment method
Set up monthly invoicing or card. Minimum budget $50/month. Google will review your ad before it goes live — typically 1-2 business days.
Emergency/intent keywords to target:
"mobile car detailing near me" · "car ceramic coating [city]" · "full detail car [city]" · "paint correction [city]" · "car detailing same day"
3 Track & optimize

Know what's working

Set up call tracking so you know which channel brings you customers. This is the data that decides whether to scale or pivot.

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Use a dedicated Google Voice number for ads
Create a free Google Voice number. Use it only in your LSA ads. Every call to that number = LSA lead. Forward it to your real cell.
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Log every lead in a spreadsheet
Columns: Date, Source (LSA/GBP/Word of mouth), Service requested, Quote given, Booked? (Y/N), Revenue. This is your feedback loop.
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Review GBP insights weekly
How many people found you in search vs. maps? What actions did they take? Phone calls vs. direction requests? This tells you if your listing is working.
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Check LSA lead quality
After 10+ leads, ask yourself: Are these real customers? Wrong area? Tire-kickers? Adjust negative keywords and budget based on what actually converts.
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