The local 3-pack drives 44% of clicks in local search. Here's exactly how contractors-HVAC, plumbing, roofing, electrical-can outrank competitors on Google Maps.
The top 3 Google Maps results get 44% of all clicks. Position 4? You might as well be invisible.
For contractors, Google Maps isn't just a marketing channel-it's the primary source of high-intent leads. Someone searching "emergency plumber near me" at 11 PM isn't browsing. They're buying.
Here's how to get your contracting business into that top 3.
Why Google Maps Matters More for Contractors
Contractors face unique challenges in local SEO:
- Service area businesses: You go to customers, not vice versa
- Emergency services: Immediate visibility = immediate revenue
- High transaction values: One job can be worth $5,000-50,000+
- Competitive markets: Every plumber in town wants position #1
The math: If you're a roofing contractor with an average job value of $12,000 and a 20% close rate, moving from position 5 to position 1 could mean $50,000+ in additional annual revenue.
The Google Maps Ranking Formula for Contractors
Google's local algorithm weighs these factors:
| Factor | Weight | Your Control |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity to searcher | ~25% | Limited |
| GBP optimization | ~25% | High |
| Reviews (quantity, quality, recency) | ~20% | High |
| Website signals | ~15% | High |
| Citation consistency | ~10% | High |
| Behavioral signals | ~5% | Medium |
The strategy: Since you can't move your business closer to searchers, dominate the factors you CAN control.
GBP Optimization for Contractors
Primary Category Selection
Your primary category is the single most important ranking factor. Choose wisely:
| If You're A... | Best Primary Category |
|---|---|
| General plumber | Plumber |
| Drain specialist | Drain Cleaning Service |
| HVAC contractor | HVAC Contractor |
| AC specialist | Air Conditioning Contractor |
| General electrician | Electrician |
| Residential roofer | Roofing Contractor |
| Commercial roofer | Commercial Roofing Contractor |
Pro tip: If you specialize, use the specialized category. "Emergency Plumber" will outrank "Plumber" for emergency searches.
Secondary Categories
Add every relevant secondary category (up to 9 additional):
Example for HVAC contractor:
- Primary: HVAC Contractor
- Secondary: Air Conditioning Contractor, Heating Contractor, Furnace Repair Service, Air Duct Cleaning Service, Heat Pump Supplier
Services Section
This is where most contractors fail. Complete your services section with:
- Every service you offer (be comprehensive)
- Service descriptions with natural keywords
- Pricing where appropriate
Example service listing:
Water Heater Installation Professional installation of tank and tankless water heaters. Same-day service available. Free estimates. 5-year labor warranty on all installations.
Photos That Rank
Contractors with 100+ photos get 520% more calls than those with fewer than 10.
Photo strategy:
- Before/after project photos (weekly uploads)
- Team photos (builds trust)
- Equipment and vehicles (shows professionalism)
- Completed projects with happy customers
- Certifications and licenses
Video is even better: Upload 30-second clips of your team at work. Google prioritizes video content.
Service Area Optimization
As a service area business (SAB), your setup matters:
Should You Show Your Address?
| Situation | Show Address? |
|---|---|
| Walk-in customers welcome | Yes |
| Home-based, no walk-ins | No (hide it) |
| Commercial office, no walk-ins | Usually no |
Hiding your address: You can still rank for your service areas without showing your physical location. Many top-ranking contractors operate this way.
Defining Service Areas
Google allows up to 20 service areas. Strategy:
- Start with your core area (where you get most customers)
- Add surrounding cities you actively serve
- Don't overreach (Google may not trust overly broad claims)
- Update seasonally if your service area changes
Common mistake: Claiming every city within 100 miles. Focus on where you actually do business.
Review Strategy for Contractors
Quantity Benchmarks by Trade
| Trade | Average Reviews (Top 3) | Your Target |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing | 85 | 100+ |
| HVAC | 72 | 90+ |
| Roofing | 65 | 80+ |
| Electrical | 58 | 70+ |
| General Contractor | 45 | 60+ |
Getting Reviews in the Field
Your technicians are your review generation system:
Before leaving the job:
"Is there anything else I can help with today? ... Great! We're a family-owned business, and reviews really help us. Would you have a minute to leave us a quick Google review? I can text you the link right now."
Technician incentives (internal, not for customers):
- $5-10 per review mentioning them by name
- Monthly bonus for most reviews generated
- Team rewards for hitting monthly targets
Review Content That Helps Rankings
Reviews mentioning specific services help you rank for those services:
Generic review (helps a little):
"Great service, would recommend!"
Keyword-rich review (helps a lot):
"Called them for an emergency water heater repair at 10 PM. The technician arrived within an hour, diagnosed the problem quickly, and had it fixed by midnight. Fair pricing and professional service."
How to encourage this: When asking for reviews, prompt customers: "If you could mention [the service/the technician's name/the response time], it really helps other homeowners."
Website Optimization for Maps
Your website supports your Maps ranking. Key elements:
Local Landing Pages
Create dedicated pages for:
- Each major service area (city/neighborhood)
- Each major service offering
- Combined service + location pages
Example structure:
- /plumbing-services-denver/
- /plumbing-services-aurora/
- /water-heater-repair-denver/
Each page needs:
- Unique content (not just city name swapped)
- Local keywords in title, headers, content
- NAP information
- Embedded Google Map
- Service area-specific testimonials
Schema Markup
Implement LocalBusiness schema with:
- Business name, address, phone
- Service area definitions
- Services offered
- Price ranges
- Hours of operation
This helps Google understand your business and can improve visibility in search results.
Citation Building for Contractors
Must-Have Citations
| Platform | Priority |
|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Critical |
| Yelp | High |
| High | |
| Apple Maps | High |
| Angi (formerly Angie's List) | High for contractors |
| HomeAdvisor | High for contractors |
| Houzz | High for remodelers |
| BBB | Medium |
| Industry associations | Medium |
Consistency Is Key
Your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) must be identical everywhere:
Bad:
- "ABC Plumbing" vs "ABC Plumbing, Inc." vs "ABC Plumbing LLC"
- "123 Main St" vs "123 Main Street" vs "123 Main St."
Use the exact same format everywhere-including abbreviations, suite numbers, and phone formatting.
Advanced Tactics
The Proximity Play
Since proximity matters, consider:
- Multiple legitimate locations: If you have real offices/warehouses in different areas, create separate GBPs
- City-specific landing pages: Rank in organic results for areas where Maps proximity hurts you
- Targeted service areas: Focus GBP service areas on high-value neighborhoods
Competitive Intelligence
Study your top-ranking competitors:
- How many reviews do they have?
- What categories are they using?
- What keywords appear in their reviews?
- How often do they post?
Tools: BrightLocal, Whitespark, or manual research can reveal competitor strategies.
Google Posts for Contractors
Post weekly with:
- Offers: "$50 off water heater installation this month"
- Project showcases: Before/after with description
- Seasonal reminders: "Schedule your AC tune-up before summer"
- Team updates: New hires, certifications, awards
Common Mistakes Contractors Make
- Wrong primary category: "Construction Company" instead of specific trade
- Incomplete services: Only listing 2-3 services when you offer 20+
- No photos: Or only stock photos instead of real work
- Ignoring reviews: Not asking, not responding
- NAP inconsistencies: Different info across the web
- No website optimization: GBP only, neglecting supporting signals
- Keyword stuffing: "Best Plumber Denver CO Plumbing" in business name
The 90-Day Maps Ranking Plan
Month 1: Foundation
- Complete GBP optimization (all fields)
- Upload 30+ project photos
- Correct NAP on top 20 citations
- Implement review request system
Month 2: Building
- Launch 5 location pages on website
- Generate 15-20 new reviews
- Add weekly GBP posts
- Build 10 new quality citations
Month 3: Acceleration
- Continue review generation (20+ target)
- Upload new project photos weekly
- Pursue local link opportunities
- Analyze rankings and adjust
Expected results: Most contractors see measurable ranking improvements within 60-90 days with consistent effort.
Want to know exactly where you stand in Google Maps? Our free audit includes a competitive analysis showing your rankings vs. top local competitors.