Best Marketing Tactics for Contractors

Best Marketing Tactics for Contractors: Combining Website, SEO, GMB, and Ads

Contractors: Get Found and Get Booked with These Marketing Tactics

In today’s competitive market, contractors need more than just a phone number and a business card. They need a solid marketing ecosystem that helps them get discovered by the right clients, generate leads consistently, and convert those leads into booked jobs.

Here’s the winning combination:

1. A professional contractor website as your home base
2. A strong Google My Business (GMB) profile to appear in local search
3. Targeted Facebook Ads and Google Ads to drive traffic
4. SEO to ensure your business shows up in organic search results

When you combine these tactics, you cover all the bases: search visibility, local visibility, and outbound marketing. Let’s dive into each element and why this approach works best for contractors.

1. A Professional Website: Your Home Base for Online Presence

Your website is the foundation of your digital marketing strategy. It’s the one place where you can control the entire user experience, showcase your services, and convert leads into clients. Here’s what your contractor website should do:

Key Website Elements for Contractors:

• Showcase Your Work: Display photos, before-and-after shots, and project galleries that reflect the quality of your services. This builds trust immediately.
• Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs): Use buttons like “Request a Quote” or “Book a Free Consultation” on every page to drive conversions.
• Contact Information: Make it easy for prospects to call or contact you through forms, emails, and clickable phone numbers on mobile.
• Fast & Mobile-Friendly Design: A website that loads in under 3 seconds is crucial for both user experience and SEO. Mobile optimization is essential for contractors since many clients search for services on their phones.

2. Google My Business (GMB): Boost Local Visibility

If you’re a contractor, local search visibility is essential for capturing leads in your service area. Google My Business (GMB) is a powerful, free tool that lets you show up in Google Maps and local search results—an invaluable resource for contractors.

Why GMB Is Essential for Contractors:

• Local Search Exposure: When people search for a contractor near them, your business can appear at the top of the search results in Google Maps and the Local Pack (the three business listings shown above organic results).
• Customer Reviews: GMB allows your clients to leave reviews, which help build credibility and influence decisions for new leads.
• Service Areas and Hours: You can set your service area (e.g., Toronto, Greater Vancouver) and display your hours of operation, making it easier for potential clients to know when you’re available.
• Contact & Location Info: Keep your business address, phone number, and website accessible, improving the chances of direct contact.

3. Facebook Ads: Outbound Marketing to Capture Leads

While SEO and GMB help you appear when potential clients are actively searching, Facebook Ads help you get in front of homeowners before they start their search—making it ideal for outbound marketing.

Why Facebook Ads Work for Contractors:

• Highly Targeted Audience: Facebook allows you to target people by location, interests, demographics, and behaviors. For contractors, this means you can target:
  • Homeowners in your specific service area (e.g., “Roofing in Surrey, BC”)
  • People interested in home improvement, renovation, or DIY projects
  • People who recently moved to your area or are likely to need your services (e.g., “new homeowners”)
• Visual Appeal: With Facebook’s image and video-based ad formats, you can showcase your work, tell a story, or even share customer testimonials.
• Lead Forms: Facebook Ads can be set up to collect lead information directly in the ad—no need for the user to leave Facebook. This makes it easy to gather contact info quickly.

Tip: Combine Lead Ads with retargeting to nurture leads who clicked but didn’t convert.

4. Google Ads: Capture High-Intent Leads

Google Ads (formerly AdWords) allows you to place your business at the top of search results when someone actively looks for the services you offer.

Why Google Ads Are Crucial for Contractors:

• Immediate Visibility: When someone searches for “emergency plumber near me” or “best roofing contractor in [city],” Google Ads gives you immediate visibility at the top of the search results. This is perfect for contractors who want to capture people actively seeking their services.
• Pay-Per-Click (PPC): You only pay when someone clicks on your ad, so your budget goes toward actual traffic.
• Local Targeting: You can restrict ads to specific geographic areas, ensuring your ad only shows to those in your service area.
• Optimized for Conversions: With Google Ads, you can track conversions and cost per lead. This means you can adjust your campaigns based on what’s working and continue optimizing for the best ROI.

5. SEO: Add Long-Term Value to Your Marketing

While Facebook Ads and Google Ads provide fast results, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) builds long-term authority and helps your contractor business rank organically in search results. By optimizing your website, you ensure that you show up for relevant searches and continue to bring in leads without having to pay for ads.

Why SEO is Essential for Contractors:

• Increase Organic Traffic: Through on-page SEO (title tags, meta descriptions, and optimized content), you can rank for key terms like “roofing contractor in Toronto” or “kitchen renovation BC.”
• Build Local Authority: Local SEO helps you rank in local searches, showing your business on Google’s Local Pack and in organic results.
• Content Strategy: By creating content around your services, you provide useful information for potential clients, which can help with both SEO rankings and customer trust.

The Best Strategy: Website + SEO + Ads + GMB

The most effective marketing strategy for contractors involves a combination of:

1. Your website as your home base
2. Google My Business for local visibility
3. Facebook Ads for outbound marketing
4. Google Ads to capture search traffic
5. SEO for long-term growth and organic traffic

When combined, this 3-tiered system covers search, maps, and outbound marketing—ensuring that your contractor business is visible and accessible, whether someone is actively searching for your service, looking through social media, or browsing local business directories.

Ready to Build a Stronger Marketing System for Your Contractor Business?

If you're ready to implement a comprehensive marketing strategy for your contracting business, Rega Marketing can help you:

• Build and optimize your website
• Set up and manage Google My Business
• Run effective Facebook Ads and Google Ads campaigns
• Implement an SEO strategy that brings you long-term, organic traffic