LSA Specialist
LSA Management
SOP: P3 Local Service Ads (LSA) Management
Section titled “SOP: P3 Local Service Ads (LSA) Management”Last Updated: 2026-03-26 Version: 1.0 Tier: P3 - Paid Advertising Phase
Purpose
Section titled “Purpose”Manage Google Local Service Ads (LSAs) for qualified clients. LSAs are a paid Google channel that appear at the very top of local search results with “Google Screened” or “Google Guaranteed” verification badges. This SOP covers account setup, verification, budget management, lead handling, performance tracking, and optimization to maximize ROI on LSA spend.
Why LSAs Matter:
- Top placement in local search (above organic, above Google Ads)
- Google Screened/Guaranteed badge builds trust and signals verification to customers
- Pay-per-lead model (only pay when qualified lead received)
- Complements organic SEO for comprehensive local presence
- Mobile real estate dominance (LSAs dominate “near me” searches)
Section 1: LSA Eligibility & Account Setup
Section titled “Section 1: LSA Eligibility & Account Setup”Trigger
Section titled “Trigger”- Client in P3 phase AND client service category eligible for LSAs, OR
- Client requests LSA service specifically, OR
- Client provides budget for paid local channels
- Onboarding decision: Scope B includes LSA
Owner & Responsibilities
Section titled “Owner & Responsibilities”- LSA Specialist: LSA strategy, account setup, verification coordination, ongoing optimization, reporting
- CSM: Client communication, budget approval, expectation setting, escalation liaison
- Ops Lead: Final approval for LSA accounts >$500/week budget
Pre-Launch Client Education
Section titled “Pre-Launch Client Education”During onboarding, educate client on LSAs:
Tell client: “Local Service Ads are Google’s premium paid channel for local businesses. Here’s how they work:
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What they are: When someone searches for your service on Google (especially mobile), they see your business at the very top with a ‘Google Guaranteed’ or ‘Screened’ badge—ahead of Google Ads, ahead of organic results.
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Mobile dominance: 75% of local searches happen on mobile. LSAs get prime real estate on those searches.
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How you pay: You only pay when someone actually contacts you through LSA (clicks your number, sends a message, requests a quote). It’s not a daily budget we can’t control—it’s per-lead.
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Lead quality: Google pre-qualifies leads (filters spam, bots, fake inquiries). You get only serious customer inquiries.
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Our role: We set up, verify, optimize bidding, monitor performance, and respond to all leads within 5 minutes. You respond and close them.”
Step 1: Verify LSA Eligibility
Section titled “Step 1: Verify LSA Eligibility”- Service category check:
- LSAs available for: Home services (plumbing, HVAC, electrical, locksmith), Professional services (legal, financial, real estate, contractors), and other eligible categories
- NOT available for: Retail stores, restaurants, some professional categories
- Location check:
- LSAs available in US and select international markets
- Not all small towns have availability
- Business qualification:
- Business must be locally licensed/registered (if required by service)
- Business must have valid business address and phone
- Owner/operator must pass background check (varies by service)
- Client capability:
- Client must be able to respond to leads within 5 minutes during business hours
- Client must have service capacity to fulfill leads (can’t handle 50 leads/month? Reduce budget)
- Client willing to manage lead response system (call forwarding, CRM integration, etc.)
- Document eligibility check: Create Task Tracker ticket with findings
- If NOT eligible: communicate to CSM, explore alternative channels
- If eligible: proceed to account setup
Step 2: Create LSA Account
Section titled “Step 2: Create LSA Account”- Navigate to Google Ads → Local Services Ads (or go to ads.google.com/local-services-ads)
- Sign in with client’s Google account OR create client-specific Gmail account:
- Email format:
[clientname]-lsa@gmail.com(for agency management) - Store credentials in 1Password with access for both agency and client
- Email format:
- Click “Get Started” or “Create Campaign”
- Business Information:
- Business name (must match GBP exactly)
- Business address (must match GBP exactly)
- Business phone (must match GBP exactly)
- Website URL
- Business hours
- Select Service Category:
- Choose primary service category (e.g., “Plumber”, “HVAC Contractor”, “Real Estate Agent”)
- Add up to 5 service subcategories if applicable (e.g., “Emergency plumbing”, “Water heater repair”)
- Service Area Definition:
- Define geographic service area: cities, zip codes, or radius served
- Can be as small as single zip code or multi-state
- Must match where client actually services (don’t overstate)
- Business Photos (Required):
- Team/staff photos (2-3 professional photos)
- Work examples/portfolio (3-5 photos)
- Storefront/office photos (if applicable)
- All photos must be high quality (1200x800px minimum), professional, clear
- Customer Service:
- Verify business hours align with lead response capacity
- Set preferred communication channels (phone, SMS, email)
- Review account settings and save
Step 3: Initial Budget & Lead Volume Discussion
Section titled “Step 3: Initial Budget & Lead Volume Discussion”- CSM discusses with client:
- Lead volume goals (5 leads/week? 20 leads/week?)
- Lead capacity (how many jobs/month can they actually handle?)
- Budget ceiling (what’s the max monthly spend they’re comfortable with?)
- ROI timeline expectations (60-90 days)
- LSA Specialist creates budget plan:
- CRITICAL: Always set max possible budget. NEVER lower it.
- Why? Google’s ranking algorithm favors advertisers with higher budgets (higher rank = lower cost-per-lead)
- Manage spend by toggling ads ON/OFF when client hits their budget, not by reducing daily limit
- Conservative budgets:
- Low competition area: $200-400/week
- Medium competition area: $400-800/week
- High competition area: $800-1500/week
- Example strategy:
- Client says: “I can handle 5-10 jobs per month”
- Average CPL in industry: $50-80
- Budget needed: 5 jobs ÷ 15% booking rate = 33 leads needed ÷ $65 CPL = $2,145/month ($500/week)
- Set MAX budget to $500/week
- If leads slow down, INCREASE budget to get more leads
- If client hits 10 jobs and is at capacity, PAUSE ads (turn off) to stop spend, don’t reduce budget
- Document in Task Tracker: Save budget agreement with client approval
Step 4: Submit for Verification
Section titled “Step 4: Submit for Verification”- Google will schedule verification call/visit (timeline varies by service type)
- Send client notification that verification is starting (set expectations: 2-6 weeks typical)
- IMPORTANT: Do NOT activate paid campaigns until verification is complete
- LSA Specialist monitors status in LSA dashboard weekly
- Prepare client for background check (see Section 2)
QC Checklist — Account Setup
Section titled “QC Checklist — Account Setup”- Service category confirmed eligible for LSAs
- Geographic service area aligns with client capability (not overstated)
- All business information accurate and matches GBP exactly (name, address, phone)
- Photos uploaded (team, work examples, storefront) — high quality, clear, professional
- Business hours and contact methods configured correctly
- Budget approved by CSM and client (documented in Task Tracker)
- Account created and credentials stored securely (1Password)
- Verification submitted to Google
- Client education completed (they understand LSA model)
KPIs — Account Setup Phase
Section titled “KPIs — Account Setup Phase”- LSA account created within 1 week of P3 kickoff
- All required information complete and accurate (0 correction requests from Google)
- Budget approved before any spend initiated
- Verification submitted immediately after account creation
- Client education: client can explain LSA model back to us
Section 2: Google Verification (Guaranteed/Screened)
Section titled “Section 2: Google Verification (Guaranteed/Screened)”Trigger
Section titled “Trigger”LSA account created, awaiting Google verification to go live.
Owner & Responsibilities
Section titled “Owner & Responsibilities”- LSA Specialist: Coordinate documents, monitor verification status, troubleshoot
- CSM: Client liaison, help gather documents, manage timeline expectations
- Client: Provide documents, submit to Google, arrange background checks
Verification Types
Section titled “Verification Types”Google Guaranteed (Home Services — plumber, electrician, HVAC, locksmith):
- Verification type: Business license + Proof of insurance + Background check
- Timeline: 2-6 weeks typical (background check is longest)
- Common blockers:
- Expired insurance
- License number doesn’t match state records
- Background check delay (can be 4-6 weeks in some states)
Google Screened (Professional Services — lawyers, CPAs, real estate agents, contractors):
- Verification type: Professional license + Business formation documents + Background check
- Timeline: 2-4 weeks typical
- Common blockers:
- License not current
- License number mismatch
- Address inconsistencies
Step 1: Collect & Verify Documents
Section titled “Step 1: Collect & Verify Documents”- Request from client (via Task Tracker):
- Business license (PDF or clear photo, must be readable)
- Proof of liability insurance (certificate of insurance, must show coverage limits and effective dates)
- Professional license (if applicable)
- Business formation documents (articles of incorporation, business license registration)
- Verify document quality:
- All text readable (no blurs, no dark shadows)
- All dates current (not expired)
- Business name on documents must match LSA account/GBP exactly
- For insurance: Must show coverage type, limits, and coverage dates
- Upload to LSA dashboard:
- Go to LSA account → Verification → Upload Documents
- Follow on-screen instructions
- Confirm submission: Google sends confirmation email with case number
- Document in Task Tracker: Log case number, submission date, document list
Step 2: Background Check Process
Section titled “Step 2: Background Check Process”- Google initiates background check via verification partner (Evident, Pinkerton, or third-party)
- Client may receive emails/calls from verification company (verify sender domain is legitimate)
- Client must complete background check process:
- Provide ID/Social Security Number to verification company
- Answer background questions
- May need to authorize additional checks
- Timeline: 1-6 weeks depending on state and verification company
- LSA Specialist monitors: Check LSA dashboard weekly for status updates
- Help client troubleshoot:
- Verification company needs more info (monitor emails for requests)
- Name match issues (legal name vs. business name)
- Address history questions
Step 3: Troubleshoot Common Issues
Section titled “Step 3: Troubleshoot Common Issues”- Expired insurance:
- Client renews immediately
- Submit updated certificate to Google
- Typically adds 1-2 weeks to verification
- License number mismatch:
- Double-check state license database (Secretary of State, professional board)
- Correct license number in LSA account
- Resubmit documentation if needed
- Background check delay:
- Monitor weekly; no action needed from agency side
- Can take 4-6 weeks in some states (normal, not a problem)
- Follow up with client if exceeds 6 weeks
- Background check rejection:
- If criminal history disqualifies: typically unrecoverable
- Escalate to Ops Lead
- May need to use different owner/officer name
- Address/identity inconsistencies:
- Verify current address matches all documents
- Submit corrected documentation
Step 4: Go-Live & Activation
Section titled “Step 4: Go-Live & Activation”- Receive Google approval notification (email and dashboard)
- Verify badge appears live:
- Google your client’s business on mobile
- Confirm LSA ad appears at top with Google Guaranteed/Screened badge
- Check that service categories and areas are correct
- Activate campaigns:
- LSA Specialist turns on budget allocation
- Set weekly spend limit (the max budget approved in Section 1)
- Confirm bidding is active
- Brief client:
- LSAs now live, leads will start coming in
- Remind of lead response requirements (5 minutes for calls/messages)
- Confirm phone routing and lead capture process
- Send them the Lead Management guide (see Section 4)
- Alert CSM: Update client status in Task Tracker
QC Checklist — Verification Process
Section titled “QC Checklist — Verification Process”- All required documents collected and verified (readable, current, names match)
- Documents uploaded to LSA dashboard with confirmation
- Verification case number documented in Task Tracker
- Background check initiated and client informed of process
- Verification status checked weekly (no silent surprises)
- Any issues addressed immediately (expired insurance, license mismatches)
- Verification completion confirmed from Google
- LSA ad tested and verified live in Google search
- Client briefed on go-live and lead response expectations
KPIs — Verification Phase
Section titled “KPIs — Verification Phase”- Verification submitted within 1-2 days of account creation
- Verification completed within 6 weeks
- Zero rejected applications due to incomplete/inaccurate documents
- Client fully prepared for lead response on day of go-live
Section 3: Budget Management & Lead Ranking
Section titled “Section 3: Budget Management & Lead Ranking”Trigger
Section titled “Trigger”LSA account live and receiving leads.
Owner & Responsibilities
Section titled “Owner & Responsibilities”- LSA Specialist: Budget optimization, lead ranking feedback collection, performance monitoring, weekly reviews
- CSM: Client budget discussions, lead ranking form delivery, escalation if issues
- Client: Provide lead quality feedback, manage lead response
CRITICAL: Maximum Budget Strategy
Section titled “CRITICAL: Maximum Budget Strategy”Key Principle: Always set max possible budget. NEVER lower the daily limit.
Why?
- Google’s algorithm shows LSAs with higher budgets in higher positions
- Higher position = fewer competitors shown = lower cost-per-lead (CPL)
- Lowering daily budget signals to Google “this client isn’t serious” → lower ranking → higher CPL
- You manage VOLUME by toggling ads ON/OFF, not by reducing budget
Example:
- Client says: “I don’t want to spend more than $500/week”
- Set weekly budget limit to $500
- Don’t lower it to $350
- If leads exceed client capacity, turn OFF the ads for a few days
- When they have capacity again, turn ads back ON at full $500
- This keeps your ranking optimal
Step 1: Set Initial Budget (First Week Live)
Section titled “Step 1: Set Initial Budget (First Week Live)”- Activate the approved max budget:
- From Section 1, use the approved amount (e.g., $500/week)
- Configure in LSA dashboard: Settings → Budget
- Set weekly limit (Google distributes across days)
- Configure payment:
- Link client’s credit card or agency card (if managing for client)
- Ensure payment method is active
- Monitor first week closely:
- Track daily spend
- Track daily leads
- Calculate CPL (cost per lead = total spend ÷ leads)
- Note any unusual patterns
Step 2: Lead Quality Feedback System (Weekly)
Section titled “Step 2: Lead Quality Feedback System (Weekly)”-
Every 1-2 weeks, LSA Specialist sends client simple feedback form:
Form Template (via Task Tracker message):
Hi [Client], we've sent you 12 LSA leads this week. Quick feedback:For each lead, rate it as:- Good lead (serious inquiry, good fit for you)- Okay lead (real inquiry, but maybe not ideal)- Poor lead (spam, wrong service, not your target)Lead 1: [Name, Service, Date] - Rate: ____Lead 2: [Name, Service, Date] - Rate: ____[etc.]This helps us rank leads better in the dashboard and optimize your targeting. -
Client responds with ratings
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LSA Specialist uses feedback to:
- Rank leads in LSA dashboard (Google uses this to improve matching)
- Adjust service categories (if certain services are poor quality, remove them)
- Adjust service area (if certain areas produce bad leads, narrow zone)
- Adjust bidding strategy (if certain services are gold, bid higher for them)
Step 3: Weekly Performance Review
Section titled “Step 3: Weekly Performance Review”- Every Monday or Friday, LSA Specialist reviews:
- Weekly spend (actual vs. budget)
- Leads received (weekly count)
- Cost per lead (CPL)
- Lead quality feedback (from client)
- Bid strategy performance
- Actions based on performance:
- CPL too high (2x+ industry benchmark): Lower bids or narrow service area/categories
- Lead volume too low: Increase bid, expand service area
- Lead quality poor: Use feedback to adjust targeting and ranking
- Budget spent but no leads: Check if ads are even showing (verify in Google search, may need to increase bids)
Step 4: Monthly Budget Discussion
Section titled “Step 4: Monthly Budget Discussion”- CSM has monthly call with client:
- “We got X leads this month at $Y average CPL”
- “You booked Z jobs (booking rate X%)”
- “ROI calculation: leads × booking rate × average job value - spend = net profit”
- Example: 12 leads × 20% booking = 2.4 jobs × $1000 avg = $2400 revenue - $400 spend = $2000 profit
- Decisions:
- Spend good, ROI positive, client wants more: Keep budget at max (don’t lower, don’t raise)
- Spend good, ROI positive, client happy: Maintain status quo
- CPL rising: Investigate ranking position, consider narrowing targeting
- Client at capacity: PAUSE ads (turn off) until they have availability again
- Client unhappy with lead quality: Use feedback to retarget
Step 5: Pause/Resume Decisions
Section titled “Step 5: Pause/Resume Decisions”- Pause when:
- Client at full capacity (no more jobs available)
- Off-season (HVAC in spring, snow removal in summer)
- Vacation/closure periods
- Negative ROI (rare, usually fixable with bid adjustment)
- How to pause:
- LSA dashboard → Settings → Budget → Set to $0/week, OR
- Turn off individual service categories
- Resume:
- Increase budget back to max when ready
- May need to re-bid if competition has changed
QC Checklist — Budget & Lead Ranking
Section titled “QC Checklist — Budget & Lead Ranking”- Weekly budget set to maximum approved amount (not reduced)
- Payment method configured and active
- Lead quality feedback form delivered every 1-2 weeks
- Client feedback collected and used to rank leads
- Weekly performance review completed (notes in Task Tracker)
- Budget/bid adjustments made with documentation
- Client informed of spend and strategy changes
- All communication in Task Tracker
KPIs — Budget & Lead Ranking Phase
Section titled “KPIs — Budget & Lead Ranking Phase”- Weekly budget maintained at maximum (no arbitrary lowering)
- Lead quality feedback collected 100% of cycles
- CPL within industry benchmarks (±20%)
- Leads ranked in dashboard based on quality feedback
- Weekly review completed every week
- Positive ROI achieved within 60 days of go-live
Section 4: Lead Management & Client Response
Section titled “Section 4: Lead Management & Client Response”Trigger
Section titled “Trigger”LSA account live, leads coming in to client’s phone/email.
Owner & Responsibilities
Section titled “Owner & Responsibilities”- Client: Answer calls, respond to messages, manage leads (5-minute response requirement)
- CSM: Monitor client responsiveness, coaching, escalation if response rates drop
- LSA Specialist: Lead quality tracking, dispute decisions
CRITICAL: Response Time = Google Ranking
Section titled “CRITICAL: Response Time = Google Ranking”Google tracks and ranks LSAs based on response time. Slow response = lower ranking = higher CPL = fewer leads. Fast response = higher ranking = lower CPL = more leads.
Step 1: Client Lead Response Training (Pre-Launch)
Section titled “Step 1: Client Lead Response Training (Pre-Launch)”- CSM schedules 15-minute training call with client:
- Explain what LSA leads look like (phone calls, SMS messages)
- Explain response time requirements:
- Phone calls: Answer OR return within 15 minutes during business hours
- SMS/email: Respond within 5 minutes
- Google MONITORS these and adjusts your ranking accordingly
- Explain business impact: “Slow response costs you money. Higher CPL, lower ranking. Every minute counts.”
- Help client set up lead response system:
- Dedicated person/phone for LSA leads during business hours (if possible)
- Intake script (name, service, address, availability)
- Calendar integration for scheduling follow-ups
- CRM or tracking system to monitor leads
- Call forwarding if primary person unavailable
- Auto-responder message (if after hours)
- Set expectations:
- Not all leads convert (some just shopping, comparing prices)
- Target: 30-50% of leads to booking conversation, 10-20% to actual job
- Lead quality improves over time as Google learns your preferences
- Confirm they’re ready before we go live
Step 2: Daily Lead Monitoring (LSA Specialist)
Section titled “Step 2: Daily Lead Monitoring (LSA Specialist)”- Check LSA dashboard daily (or every 2 days):
- View leads received
- Check response times per lead
- Identify any missed calls or delayed responses
- If response rate drops below 80%:
- Notify CSM immediately
- CSM reaches out to client for coaching
- Discuss blockers (understaffed, overwhelmed, technical issue, misunderstanding)
- If response rate continues poor (<70%):
- CSM sends formal notice that slow response increases costs
- Consider budget reduction or pause if issue not resolved
Step 3: Lead Quality & Feedback Loop
Section titled “Step 3: Lead Quality & Feedback Loop”- LSA Specialist tracks lead quality weekly:
- Are leads legitimate (actual service inquiries)?
- Are leads from target service area?
- Are leads target service type?
- Are leads converting to bookings? (via client feedback)
- Client provides feedback (see Section 3, Step 2)
- Feedback is used to optimize:
- Rank leads (Google uses this to improve matching)
- Adjust bidding (bid higher for “Good” service types, lower for “Poor”)
- Adjust targeting (narrow service area if certain zones produce bad leads)
QC Checklist — Lead Management
Section titled “QC Checklist — Lead Management”- Client trained on response requirements and system before go-live
- LSA notifications enabled on client’s phone
- Client has lead intake process and script
- Response time monitoring weekly (notes in Task Tracker)
- Poor response issues addressed immediately (coaching or action)
- Lead quality feedback collected 1-2x weekly
- Client education reinforced monthly
KPIs — Lead Management Phase
Section titled “KPIs — Lead Management Phase”- 80%+ of calls answered or returned within 15 minutes
- 100% of SMS/email responded to within 5 minutes
- Average response time <10 minutes for calls, <2 minutes for SMS
- Lead booking rate 10-20% (varies by service, market, client)
- Lead quality: 70%+ rated Good/Okay (not spam)
- Client satisfaction with lead quality (feedback)
Section 5: Monthly Reporting & Optimization
Section titled “Section 5: Monthly Reporting & Optimization”Trigger
Section titled “Trigger”Ongoing management (weekly monitoring, monthly reporting).
Owner & Responsibilities
Section titled “Owner & Responsibilities”- LSA Specialist: Data compilation, analysis, optimization recommendations
- CSM: Monthly report delivery, client call, strategy decisions
Step 1: Weekly Data Compilation
Section titled “Step 1: Weekly Data Compilation”- Every Friday, LSA Specialist compiles:
- Weekly spend (actual)
- Leads received (count)
- CPL (spend ÷ leads)
- Response rate (%)
- Lead quality breakdown (Good/Okay/Poor %)
- Booking rate (jobs booked from leads)
- Any disputes or issues
- Document in Task Tracker → LSA tracking section
Step 2: Monthly Report (By 5th of Month)
Section titled “Step 2: Monthly Report (By 5th of Month)”- Compile 30-day performance:
- Total spend vs. budget
- Total leads received
- Average CPL
- Response rate %
- Lead quality %
- Booking rate
- Disputes filed and approved
- ROI calculation
- Compare to benchmarks:
- Industry CPL (varies by service: plumbing $50-100, HVAC $60-120, legal $40-80, real estate $25-60)
- Target response rate (90%+)
- Target booking rate (10-20%)
- Calculate ROI:
- Formula: (Leads × Booking % × Avg Job Value) - Spend = Net Profit
- Example: 12 leads × 18% booking = 2.16 jobs × $900 = $1944 revenue - $400 spend = $1544 net profit
- If job margin is 40%: $1944 × 40% = $778 - $400 = $378 actual profit
- Create visual report:
- Charts: spend trend, leads trend, CPL trend
- Month-over-month comparison
- ROI calculation with narrative
Step 3: Optimization Recommendations
Section titled “Step 3: Optimization Recommendations”- Scenario: Low lead volume (<5/week)
- Action: Increase bid or expand service area
- Increase budget by 20-30%
- Verify ads are even showing (search your business, check LSA placement)
- Scenario: High CPL (2x+ benchmark)
- Action: Lower bids or narrow targeting
- Reduce bids by 10-20%
- Narrow service area or remove underperforming categories
- Scenario: Low booking rate (<10%)
- Action: Client lead response training (may be missing good leads)
- Verify response times are good
- Review lead quality (are leads real?)
- Client pricing competitive?
- Scenario: Poor lead quality (50%+ rated Poor)
- Action: Retarget based on feedback
- Remove underperforming service categories
- Narrow service area
- Adjust bid strategy (bid lower for “Poor” services)
Step 4: Monthly Client Call
Section titled “Step 4: Monthly Client Call”- CSM delivers report to client via Task Tracker:
- “We got 14 leads for $420 ($30 CPL)”
- “You booked 3 jobs (21% booking rate)”
- “ROI: $2700 gross revenue - $420 spend = $2280 net profit”
- Visual charts and trend data
- Discuss performance:
- “Here’s where we’re strong and where we can improve”
- Lead quality: What types are converting?
- Response times: Any issues?
- Budget: Should we increase/maintain/pause?
- Plan next month:
- Any strategy adjustments?
- Budget changes?
- Targeting changes?
- Celebrate wins:
- Highlight positive trends
- Show ROI impact
- Confidence building
QC Checklist — Reporting & Optimization
Section titled “QC Checklist — Reporting & Optimization”- Weekly data compiled every Friday
- Monthly report delivered by 5th of month
- ROI calculated and included in report
- Benchmarking completed vs. industry
- Optimization recommendations documented
- Client call completed (notes in Task Tracker)
- All changes documented with rationale
KPIs — Reporting & Optimization Phase
Section titled “KPIs — Reporting & Optimization Phase”- 100% of weekly monitoring completed (no skipped weeks)
- Monthly report delivered by 5th of month
- CPL stable or improving month-over-month
- Lead volume increasing or stable
- Positive ROI achieved within 60-90 days
- Client satisfaction (feedback in monthly call)
Escalation Tiers
Section titled “Escalation Tiers”LSA account suspended by Google:
- LSA Specialist investigates immediately (policy violation, verification issue, payment issue)
- CSM notifies client same day
- If fixable: submit appeal/correction immediately
- If not fixable: Ops Lead determines next steps (new account, different service, exit LSA)
- Response time: <24 hours
Client not answering leads (response rate <70%):
- CSM calls client for coaching (explain impact on ranking and cost)
- Help troubleshoot system (missed calls setup, notifications, staffing)
- If continues: CSM sends formal notice that slow response increases costs
- If still continues after 1 week: Pause LSA budget until resolved
CPL 2x+ industry benchmark:
- LSA Specialist analyzes positioning and lead quality
- Recommend bid reduction or area/category narrowing
- CSM discusses budget impact with client
- Implement changes, monitor 2 weeks
- If CPL doesn’t improve: may not be viable market for this client
Lead quality extremely poor (70%+ rated Poor):
- LSA Specialist investigates pattern: wrong categories? wrong area? spam source?
- Recommend service area narrowing or category removal
- If pattern continues: escalate to Ops Lead
Cross-References
Section titled “Cross-References”- 00-client-lifecycle-playbook.md — P3 phase definition
- 02-sop-gbp-management.md — Integrated GBP + LSA strategy
- 06-sop-rank-tracking.md — Tracking LSA impact on organic rankings
- 10-client-deliverables-reporting.md — Included in monthly client reports
LSA Tracking Template
Section titled “LSA Tracking Template”Save in Task Tracker as: /[Client Name] - LSA Performance - 2026
| Week | Spend | Leads | CPL | Response % | Bookings | Booking % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/2-3/8 | $425 | 11 | $38.60 | 82% | 2 | 18% | Verification just completed, strong start |
| 3/9-3/15 | $400 | 9 | $44.40 | 78% | 1 | 11% | Client response slower mid-week |
| 3/16-3/22 | $400 | 13 | $30.77 | 92% | 3 | 23% | Response improved, CPL excellent |
| 3/23-3/29 | $450 | 14 | $32.14 | 88% | 2 | 14% | Steady performance, budget at max |
Version Control:
- v1.0 (2026-03-26): Rewritten with LSA Specialist role, maximum budget strategy, lead ranking feedback system, Task Tracker communication
- v1.1 (TBD): [Updates as process refined]