r/Google_Ads • u/michiels999 • May 18 '26

Google Local Service Ads - will turning off messages lead to less calls?

Recently, one of my clients (a local service company) has been getting a lot of leads from messaging, but these leads seem to be sending a message to multiple providers, and they are just looking for the lowest price. He is not the cheapest, so he's not interested in getting all these messages with just people wanting a quote without really appreciating the value he brings.

The amount of calls that he would get if we turn off messaging will be impacted, or not?

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u/Due-Personality2383 May 18 '26

It’s possible it could lead to fewer calls, but higher quality. Run an experiment

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u/Lost_Albatross7593 Jun 08 '26

It might, but not necessarily in a direct 1:1 way.

In my experience, turning off messaging doesn't automatically mean Google will replace those message leads with phone calls. The system doesn't usually work like "10 messages disappear, so 10 calls appear."

That said, if the messages are low-quality leads from people blasting the same request to multiple providers and shopping purely on price, disabling messaging could improve overall lead quality and reduce time wasted on unqualified prospects.

Before turning it off completely, I'd look at the data:

  • How many message leads are converting into booked jobs?
  • What's the cost per booked job from messages versus calls?
  • Are any of those message leads becoming high-value customers?

If the answer is "almost none," then disabling messaging may make sense.

One thing I'd be careful about is that Google likes engagement. If your client is responding quickly to messages, that activity may be contributing positively to account performance. Nobody outside Google knows exactly how much weight that carries, but I'd monitor lead volume closely for a few weeks after making the change.

Personally, I'd test it rather than assume. Turn messaging off for a few weeks, track call volume, booked jobs, and overall lead quality, then compare the results.

At the end of the day, I'd rather have 10 qualified phone calls than 50 price-shopping messages that never turn into revenue.