When someone needs a general contractor, they search "general contractors near me" or "best general contractor in [their town]." Whether you show up for that search, and what they see when they click through, decides whether you get the call or your competitor does.
The Numbers Behind Local Search
Local intent drives a big share of all Google searches, somewhere around 46%. When someone searches with local intent, the Google Maps 3-Pack shows up in the top position over 90% of the time, and it gets clicked more than the regular organic results below it (roughly 44% vs. 29%, per industry click studies). Position matters too: the #1 spot in that pack gets close to 18% of clicks, #2 gets around 15%, #3 a bit less. About 80% of local searches lead to some kind of action within a day, a call, a visit, a request for a quote.
That's the opportunity. Most of it comes down to two things: your Google Business Profile, and your website.
Set Up Your Google Business Profile Right
- Create or claim your profile at google.com/business
- Set your category to "General Contractor"
- Add your location and full service area
- Make sure your contact info matches your website exactly
- Verify the business
- Fill out the description, add real photos, list your services
- Set accurate business hours
- Ask for reviews, and respond to every one
- Post regularly (Google Posts)
- Check it and update it, don't set it up once and forget it
A complete, optimized profile makes people meaningfully more likely to visit your site and consider hiring you than an empty or half-filled one. This step alone moves the needle.
Then The Website Has To Close The Loop
A profile gets someone curious enough to click through. Your website is what turns that click into a call. A few things matter most:
- Organize your services clearly, with a dedicated page per service, not one page trying to cover everything
- Link your pages to each other so visitors, and Google, can find related work easily
- Keep navigation simple and obvious
- Make sure it works cleanly on a phone, most of your visitors are on one
- Show real project photos, a portfolio people can actually look through
- Put a clear call-to-action on every page, not just the homepage
Content Worth Writing
Before-and-after project stories, how-to guides for homeowners, spotlights on local projects, a "meet the team" page, and posts about local events you're part of. Use real town and landmark names. "We rebuilt a deck in Stratford" beats "we serve the greater area."
Mistakes That Quietly Cost You Calls
Forgetting to make your content actually local. Ignoring your Google Business Profile once it's set up. Not asking for or responding to reviews. Letting your name, address, or phone number drift out of sync across listings. Ignoring how your site looks and works on mobile. Skipping real photos. Not linking your pages together. Keyword-stuffing instead of writing naturally. Letting the site sit untouched for years.
What To Track
Your rankings for the searches that matter, your website visitors, how many calls you're getting, what your Google Business Profile reports show you, your review count, and your lead form submissions. If you're not tracking any of it, you won't know what's actually working.
If You’d Rather Not Do This Yourself
Running a general contracting business already takes everything you've got. If you'd rather hand this off, that's exactly what we do, Google Business Profile setup, website design, and content, built for local service businesses specifically.
Book a free discovery call, no pressure, just a real look at where your visibility stands right now.