When a pipe bursts or a roof leaks, people search Google and call one of the first businesses they see. For contractors, local SEO decides who gets that call. Here is what matters most, in the order we would do it.
1. Google Business Profile comes first
- Choose the most specific primary category, such as "Roofing contractor" rather than "Contractor".
- Add secondary categories for other main services.
- If you work at customers' homes, set it up as a service area business and hide your home address.
- List every service with a short description.
- Add real photos of jobs, your team and your vehicles.
- Post an update or a recent job every week.
2. One page per main service
A single "Services" page listing everything rarely ranks. Give each main service its own page, for example "Water heater repair" and "Drain cleaning", with what you do, the areas you cover, common questions and a clear call button.
3. Area pages, only when they are real
Pages for nearby towns can help, but only if each one has real, specific content: jobs you did there, local details, and photos. Copying the same page with a different town name is a known spam pattern and can hold the whole site back.
4. Reviews, every job
Ask every happy customer for a Google review with your direct link, ideally by text right after the job. Reply to every review. See how to get more Google reviews for wording that works.
5. Consistent business details everywhere
Your business name, phone and address (if shown) should match exactly on your website, Google, Bing Places, Apple Maps, Yelp, Angi, the BBB and local directories.
6. Make the website easy to call from
- Phone number at the top of every page, clickable on mobile
- Fast loading on a phone
- Licence and insurance details, which build trust
- Real photos instead of stock images
7. Local links
Links from local suppliers, trade associations, sponsorships of local teams and community events are natural and relevant. Avoid paid link packages.
How long does it take?
Profile fixes can show results within weeks. Rankings for competitive services in bigger cities usually build over several months of steady work.
Want this done for you? Our affordable SEO plans start at $180 a month and include Google Business Profile management. Or read how much SEO costs first.