Calls from Google ads don't always start with your customer. Before the caller is connected, you may hear a short announcement, a beep, or a call-screening prompt. This guide explains how these calls reach your SkipCalls AI receptionist and which settings help it hear every caller.
How calls from Google ads reach your receptionist
Google Ads call ads and call assets. When call reporting is turned on, Google shows a Google forwarding number in your ad and forwards each call to the business number you entered. Your receptionist still sees the caller's real phone number. In the US and Canada, Google can record these calls, and the caller hears a short notice that the call may be recorded.
Google Local Services Ads. These calls also go through a Google number. The caller hears a recording notice, and the business side hears a short "Call from Google" announcement before the conversation starts. Google notes that the announcement may not play when the call is forwarded or goes through an internet phone service.
Call-tracking and lead services. Many call-tracking services and pay-per-call lead networks play a short message to whoever answers, such as "Call from Google Ads," while the caller keeps hearing ringing. Some also ask the person answering to press 1 to accept the call.
Why the first voice on the line may not be your customer
Your receptionist answers as soon as the call arrives. On these calls, the first thing it hears can be an announcement, a beep, or a screening prompt instead of a person. Two things can go wrong:
The greeting can start while the announcement is still playing, so the caller hears only the end of it.
The receptionist can focus on the announcement and miss the caller's first words.
If callers often have to repeat themselves, or calls end right after the greeting, see Ask us to turn on ad and lead call mode below.
Connect Google ads calls to your AI receptionist
You have two options:
Forward your business line to SkipCalls. This is the most common setup. Keep your business number in your ads and forward that line to your SkipCalls number. Follow Set up your AI receptionist and call forwarding.
Use your SkipCalls number in your Google Ads call asset. Calls then reach your receptionist with one less forwarding step. See How to find your SkipCalls phone number.
Then place a test call. Call the number shown in your ad from another phone and listen to what plays before your receptionist answers.
Turn off "press 1 to accept" in other phone and lead services
Your receptionist can press a key when an announcement clearly asks it to accept the call, but this step doesn't always work. If it fails, the caller is never connected and may end up in voicemail. Where you can, turn off keypress and screening steps for calls you send to SkipCalls:
Google Voice: turn off Screen calls. See How to connect Google Voice to SkipCalls.
Grasshopper: set the extension to connect calls directly instead of using Call Announce.
RingCentral: turn off call screening for the number that forwards to SkipCalls.
Call-tracking services: turn off any option that requires a keypress to accept the call. A short whisper message without a keypress is fine.
Pay-per-call lead networks: if the network asks you to press 1 to accept calls, ask them to connect calls without a keypress.
Ask us to turn on ad and lead call mode
If many of your calls come from Google ads, Local Services Ads, call-tracking or lead services, or go through several forwarding steps, contact our support team by chat or email and ask for ad and lead call mode.
We'll switch your receptionist to a listening mode that keeps every voice on the line instead of focusing on the first voice it hears, so your caller isn't treated as background noise after an announcement. If your callers often call from noisy places with other people talking nearby, tell us that too, so we can pick the right mode for you.
FAQ
Will my receptionist hear the "Call from Google" announcement?
It can. The announcement plays to whoever answers before the caller is connected. Ad and lead call mode helps your receptionist catch the caller's first words after it.
Does Google record calls from my ads?
Google can record calls from call ads and Local Services Ads in the US and Canada, and it tells callers before the conversation starts. You can manage call recording in your Google Ads account settings.
Can my receptionist press 1 to accept a call?
It can when the announcement clearly asks it to, but this isn't fully reliable. Turn off press-1 and call-screening steps where you can.
Which number should I put in my Google ads?
Either your business number forwarded to SkipCalls, or your SkipCalls number. Forwarding keeps one number on all your listings. Using your SkipCalls number removes a forwarding step.
Why do some calls from ads end right after the greeting?
Some are automated calls that hang up when they hear a greeting. Others come from real callers who missed the start of the greeting or weren't heard. If this happens often on your ad calls, contact us. We'll review those calls and can turn on ad and lead call mode.