If you do one marketing thing this year, do Google Business Profile (yes, people still say Google My Business). Jobber and Housecall Pro both push reviews because the map pack is where emergency work is won. Ads are optional. A dead profile is not.
Set it up like a shop, not a hobby
- Primary category that matches the money (HVAC contractor, plumber, electrician) — not “home services.”
- Service areas you actually drive. Lying about 12 cities gets you angry customers and bad reviews.
- Hours you will answer. After-hours: say so, or you will get starred for voicemail.
- Phone that a human picks up. A booking link if you have one.
Photos are not optional
Logo, vans, team (if they consent), and a stream of before/after job photos. Upload to Google on the same day you post elsewhere. When to post.
Reviews are the ranking fuel
Ask after they pay. Reply to all of them. Guide: how to get more Google reviews.
Posts and Q&A
Google posts decay. Treat them like a weekly “we’re alive” signal, not a blog. Q&A: seed honest answers (“Do you service [town]?” Yes/no). Delete spam.
Website and ads
GBP can exist without a pretty site. A real site still helps. We are not Jobber Sites — 360 Nerds builds them. If you run search ads, send people to a page that matches the keyword, not the homepage. Resources.
Service-area business with no shop address?
Use Google’s service-area setup. Do not fake a storefront at your house if you do not want strangers there.
Does software replace GBP work?
No. Software makes it easier to ask for reviews and produce photos. You still own the profile.
