Local SEO for contractors: what actually matters.

The checklist

The local SEO checklist for contractors

Google Business Profile

• The most specific primary category for your main service, plus relevant secondary categories
• Every service you offer added to the profile
• A service area that matches where you really work (hide your address if you don’t serve customers there)
• Accurate hours, phone number and website link
• New photos of real jobs, added regularly
• Questions answered and posts published occasionally

Reviews

• Ask every happy customer — a text with a direct review link works best
• Reply to every review, good or bad, briefly and professionally
• Never buy reviews or offer incentives for positive ones

Website

• A page for each main service
• Your name, address/service area and phone number consistent with your profile
• Unique titles and headings that describe the page
• Fast loading on mobile
• Real photos and specific details instead of generic filler

Citations

• Consistent business name, phone and website on major directories
• Industry and local directories that are relevant to your trade
• Duplicate or outdated listings cleaned up

Common mistakes

• Keyword-stuffing the business name on your profile (it can get the profile suspended)
• Dozens of city pages that only swap the city name
• Using a virtual office or PO box as a business address
• Changing your business details often