Your customer is pointing their camera at the leak. Google finds a tradesperson. Is that you?

What is Google Live Search Precisely?

Imagine: a customer is in their bathroom. They see a brown stain on the ceiling. They don't know if it's a leak, a condensation problem, or if the neighbour upstairs has had an overflowing bath. In the past, they'd type something like “leak ceiling bathroom cause” into their phone. We're all familiar with that kind of search behaviour.

But that's no longer how it always works. As of 26 March 2026, Google Search Live is available in the Netherlands. This means your customer can simply point their camera at that brown spot, activate Google Live, and within seconds see what the likely problem is and which local tradespeople can solve it. No typing. No having to come up with search terms. Just point and look.

Google Search Live is the next step after Google Lens, which you've been able to analyse still images with for years. The difference is that Live works in real-time: the camera is the search engine. Google recognises the object, the problem, the situation, and directly links that to local information. Including businesses near you.

It's never been easier for the customer. For you as a tradesperson, it means you'll be found in a way you never set up, but on which Google judges who is recommended. That judgment is based on what Google knows about you.

This is how it works in practice at your client

Let's make it concrete. Bas is the owner of a terraced house in Tilburg. His gutter overflows when it rains heavily. He picks up his phone, opens Google, taps the camera icon, and points his phone at the spot where the water is running down the wall. Google Search Live immediately recognises: overflowing gutter, possible roof damage, blocked drain.

And then? Google shows the top three roofers in his area. With stars, reviews, opening hours, and a direct call button. Bas clicks on the first company that looks reliable: four stars, eight reviews, photos of previous jobs. He calls. You know what comes next.

This scenario is no longer a pipe dream. It's already happening daily in the Netherlands. And the remarkable thing is: Bas didn't type any search queries at any point. He didn't even have a specific professional in mind. Google made the recommendation based on what it saw and what local businesses like yours have showcased online.

That is a fundamental shift. The customer no longer has full control over who they will search for. Google chooses who they get to see. And Google bases that choice on your digital presence: your reviews, your photos, your profile, your replies to questions.

Why search for a camera Anders is and regular SEO

In traditional searches, someone types a combination of words. “Roofer Tilburg cheap” or “painter Oisterwijk exterior painting”. Those words are the bridge between the customer's question and your website. You can influence that bridge with the right pages, the right texts, the right keywords on your site.

When searching with a camera, that bridge doesn't exist. There are no keywords. There is only the image. Google itself interprets what can be seen and what type of service provider is a good fit. This calls for a completely different approach. It's no longer just a question of whether you have the right words on your website. It's now also about whether Google recognises you as a relevant party for the types of problems people capture with their cameras.

And that's precisely where your Google Business Profile becomes so important. Because that profile is how Google knows you as a local service provider. If there's no category listed? Then Google doesn't know what you do. Do you have no photos of your work? Then Google can't associate you with the images customers capture. Reviews without replies? A signal to Google that you're less active.

In short: finding a camera makes local SEO more urgent. But the focus is shifting from text to images and signals. Those who take their Google Business Profile seriously have a significant advantage.

What you can already do to to be found

The good news is that the fundamentals are the same. You don't need to learn new technology or build a completely new website. However, you do need to be active in the places Google looks when someone uses their camera.

Start with your Google Business Profile. Check that all the categories are correct. A handyman business should be listed as a handyman business on Google, not vaguely as a “contractor” or “construction”. Add photos of recent work, preferably showing recognisable problems: a leaking roof before repair, a weathered facade before painting, an overgrown garden before cleaning. These photos are not only attractive to customers, but they are also the visual signals that Google uses for camera searches.

Afterwards, ensure you gather recent reviews. Not a one-off, but continuous. Ask every customer for a review after a job is completed. Send a WhatsApp message with a direct link to your review page. Reviews are one of the strongest signals for local visibility, and that applies doubly to AI-driven camera search results.

Finally, keep your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) details consistent everywhere. Name, address, phone number: the same on your website, your Google profile, and any other directories. Google cross-references this information and inconsistencies count negatively.

• Keep your Google Business Profile complete and up-to-date
• Add a minimum of ten photos of recent work
• After each job, actively ask for a review
• Name, address, and phone number consistent across all platforms
• Answering messages and questions in your profile

The missed corner Photos as clickbait

Most DIYers, painters, and gardeners who have filled out their Google Business Profile post photos of their best work. Naturally, because you want to present yourself well. But that is not the fully optimal strategy for camera searching.

Think from the perspective of the customer using their camera. That customer sees a problem. Rotten wood on the window frame. A fence that's sinking. Roof tiles that have shifted. They photograph the problem, not the solution. So, Google needs to understand: this is the kind of problem you solve.

This means it's a smart move to also upload photos of before situations. Not just the brightly painted front wall, but also the weathered, peeling situation beforehand. Not just the beautiful new fence, but also the crooked, rotten variant that you replaced. Google matches the customer's camera footage with the images belonging to your profile. The more they match, the higher the chance that you will appear.

This is an insight most crafts people miss. They think they need to show their best work. That's true for the human visitor. But for AI-driven camera matching, the problem photo is just as valuable as the solution. Add both.

The same logic applies to the Q&A section of your Google Business Profile. Add your own questions that customers ask about problems you solve. “Can you also fix leaky taps?” or “Do you also work for private individuals on small jobs?” Those questions and answers are text that Google can read and link to visual searches.

Frequently asked questions about Google Search Live