Contractor SEO Basics: How to Show Up on Google in Your City

Written By Matthew Golia

Want to rank on Google? Here are the basic SEO steps every contractor, roofer, and handyman needs to get found by local customers.

If your business isn’t showing up when someone Googles “roof repair near me,” you’re missing out on free leads.

The good news? You don’t need to hire an SEO agency to make it happen. Here’s how to get started—fast.

Step 1: Set Up (and Verify) Your Google Business Profile

  • Go to google.com/business

  • Add your business name, address (or service area), phone number, and hours

  • Add photos of your work

  • Start collecting reviews

This helps you show up in the “Map Pack” — the top 3 results on Google Maps.

Step 2: Add Location Keywords to Your Website

Don’t just say “We do bathroom remodeling.” Say “We do bathroom remodeling in Boise, ID.”

Put location-based phrases in:

  • Page titles

  • Meta descriptions

  • Headlines and body text

  • Alt text for images

Step 3: Get Backlinks from Local Directories

Sign up with:

  • Yelp

  • Angi

  • BBB

  • Local Chamber of Commerce

  • Trade-specific associations

These links help Google trust your site.

Step 4: Post Locally-Relevant Blog Content

Write posts like:

  • “How to Winterize Your Plumbing in Buffalo, NY”

  • “Top Deck Materials for Phoenix Homeowners”

This builds relevance and improves search rankings over time.

Step 5: Keep it Simple, but Consistent

You don’t need to be perfect—just better than the guy who has no site or SEO at all. Keep your info accurate, ask for reviews, and keep publishing helpful content.

Want to Rank Higher—Without the Headache?

At JobSites, we build contractor websites with SEO baked in. That means your site is optimized from day one—to help you show up where it matters most.

Let’s get your business on the map—literally.

Matthew Golia
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