Google is testing AI-generated search snippets that may replace your meta descriptions, potentially emphasizing the wrong details and hurting CTR and calls—especially for home service contractors. Over-automation can dilute your message, misquote offers, or omit important conditions, leading to mismatched expectations. To mitigate this, open pages with clear service, geography, and a direct CTA; front-load differentiators; clearly list service areas; and use structured data (schema), consistent NAP, and unique service pages. Monitor effects weekly via Search Console CTR and spot-check live SERPs to catch snippet shifts early.

Google’s AI Is Rewriting Your Snippets — Don’t Let It Rewrite Your Phone Volume

TL;DR: Google is testing AI-written search snippets. Your meta description may get ignored, and the AI may emphasize the wrong thing. Contractors: tighten your on-page intros, surface your differentiators (24/7, financing, service areas), use schema, and monitor CTR in Search Console weekly. Protect the pitch that gets you calls, not just clicks.

What Changed (and Why It Matters)

Google has long rewritten meta descriptions. Now they’re testing AI-generated descriptions for search snippets. Translation: your carefully written meta description may get replaced by a machine-picked summary from your page.

For home service contractors, the snippet is the 3-line elevator pitch that drives click-through rate (CTR). CTR affects how many searchers land on your site versus your competitors. And your headline + snippet combo is often the first exposure to your call to action. If the AI emphasizes something soft (“We’re passionate about quality”) instead of what makes the phone ring (“Same-day AC repair in Plano — call now”), you’ll lose calls.

The Risk: Over-Automation Dilutes Your Message

I don’t hand my pitch to a robot. Neither should you. AI snippets can be fine when your page is structured and clear. They can be messy when your page buries the lede, uses fluffy intros, or scatters key info (hours, cities, services) across tabs and images.

AI won’t invent services out of thin air, but it can lift the wrong line or compress nuance. “Free estimate on installs” can turn into “Free estimates,” which invites tire-kickers on repairs. If you sell “same-day when booked by noon,” the snippet may chop the condition and set you up for complaints.

What You Can Control Right Now

Make the AI’s Job Boringly Easy

• Open with a tight summary: The first 1–2 sentences of each service page should plainly state service, geography, and CTA. Example: “Emergency AC repair in Scottsdale. Same-day service available. Call 480-555-0199.”
• Front-load differentiators in plain text: 24/7, licensed/insured, financing, warranty, background-checked techs, years in business. Bullets near the top help AI pick the right points.
• List service areas clearly: Primary city + key suburbs in a short sentence or bulleted list. Avoid giant “service area” images with text baked in — AI can’t read pictures.
• Use simple, scannable language: Avoid fluffy intros and long company history above the fold. Lead with the job you solve.

Give Google Structure

• Schema markup: Use Organization/LocalBusiness, Service, and FAQ schema. It helps clarify services, areas, hours, and trust signals.
• Consistent NAP and hours: Match your site, Google Business Profile, and citations. Mismatches lead to confusion in snippets.
• Unique pages for core services: Thin, cookie-cutter pages produce generic AI summaries. Write unique copy for AC repair, furnace repair, drain clearing, panel upgrades, etc.

Control What Shouldn’t Be Quoted

• Keep “gotchas” and long disclaimers out of prime snippet real estate. If necessary, wrap non-snippet-safe text (promo legalese, edge-case conditions) in areas you’re comfortable if ignored.
• If you absolutely must limit snippet length, the robots “max-snippet” directive exists, and “nosnippet” blocks snippets entirely — but use sparingly; losing the snippet usually hurts CTR.

Monitor and Measure Like a Pro

• Search Console: Check Performance weekly. Track CTR for key pages and queries (“ac repair [city]”, “water heater install”). Annotate any on-page changes you make.
• Spot-check the live SERP: Search your top terms in an incognito window and screenshot snippets weekly. Look for shifts in

  User-provided content