The A2Z Blog · Contractor Marketing Answers
Every post here starts with a real question we hear from trades and home services businesses. The answer comes first, the explanation follows, and there's no fluff in between. If your question isn't covered yet, ask us directly and we'll probably write it.
01 Latest Answers
Newest first. Every post leads with the short answer, then shows the work.
Your Google profile gets the calls, so why pay for a website? Here is what the site does that the profile can't, and when a contractor can skip it for now.
Read the answerAngi and Thumbtack sell the same homeowner to several contractors. Here is the math that decides whether shared leads pay for you, and when to walk.
Read the answerA high cost per lead usually points to one of six fixable problems. Here is how contractors find the real cause and the number that matters more.
Read the answerPausing ads for the slow season usually costs more than it saves. Here is when a contractor should cut the budget instead, and when turning off is right.
Read the answerLocal Services Ads bill per lead and sit above everything. Google Ads bill per click and reach further. Here is which one a trade should run first.
Read the answerGoogle reviews vanish for five common reasons, and most of them are the spam filter, not you. Here is how to tell which one it is and what gets them back.
Read the answerYes, texting customers for a Google review is allowed and it works. Here are the consent rules, the timing that gets replies, and scripts to copy.
Read the answerYes, respond to every negative review, and do it fast. Here is the four-part reply that protects the job, plus what you should never put in writing.
Read the answerIf customers never come to your house, Google wants that address hidden. Here is what hiding it changes for contractors, and what it does not change.
Read the answerPhotos will not rank your Google profile on their own, but they decide who calls. What contractors should upload, how often, and what to skip.
Read the answerYour primary category decides which searches you can win. Here is how contractors pick it, how many secondary categories to add, and what to avoid.
Read the answerA suspended Google Business Profile is fixable. Here is how contractors find the cause, gather proof, file one clean appeal, and get reinstated.
Read the answerA Map Pack drop overnight usually traces to one of six causes. Here is how contractors tell a real ranking loss from a false alarm and fix it fast.
Read the answerService area pages work when each one is built for a real town you serve. Here's the line between a page that ranks and a page Google treats as spam.
Read the answerHVAC marketing agencies charge anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand a month. Here's what sets the price and how to spot a fair quote.
Read the answerChoosing a roofing marketing company comes down to five questions on scope, ownership, reporting, roofing know-how, and price. Here is how to vet each one.
Read the answerLocal SEO in the Chicago suburbs usually runs $1,000 to $2,500 a month. Here is what sets the price, what you should get for it, and where cheap goes wrong.
Read the answerReputation monitoring watches your reviews across Google, Yelp, and Facebook and responds to each one. Here is what it includes and what it costs a contractor.
Read the answerLocal citations are your business listings across the web. Here is what they are, why they matter for Map Pack ranking, and how many a contractor really needs.
Read the answerCan a contractor rank in towns without a local office? Yes, mostly through organic search and service area pages, not the proximity-based Map Pack.
Read the answerLocal SEO usually takes 3 to 6 months for early movement and 6 to 12 for durable results. Here's what drives a contractor's timeline and how to speed it up.
Read the answerHow should a contractor choose a marketing agency? The criteria that matter, the red flags to walk away from, and what to ask before you commit.
Read the answerLocal SEO or Google Ads first? For contractors, ads bring leads now and local SEO compounds over time. Here's how to choose, and why most need both.
Read the answerGoing dark on marketing when you are slammed creates the slow fall you will feel later. Here is what contractors should keep running in the busy season.
Read the answerContractors with a review gap usually have an asking gap. Here's when to ask, the exact wording, and which review tactics Google actually punishes.
Read the answerMost contractors pick a Google Ads budget that feels safe and get nothing back. Here's the math that works backwards from your job value instead.
Read the answerReal job photos, seasonal offers, and short answers to customer questions. What contractors should post on Google Business Profile, and how often to do it.
Read the answerYour business isn't in the Google Map Pack for one of six fixable reasons. Here's how contractors can diagnose which one it is and what to fix first.
Read the answerGet Started
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