When someone searches for "builder near me" or "roofer in Sheffield", the map results above the normal listings come from Google Business Profile. For many trades and local contractors, that's where most of the enquiries start, and it costs nothing.
Set up as a service-area business.
Most contractors work on clients' sites, not from a shop. Google lets you hide your address and list the towns or regions you cover instead. Do that; it's allowed, and it keeps your yard or home address private.
Choose categories carefully.
Your primary category has the biggest effect on which searches you appear for. Pick the most specific one that fits, such as "Roofing contractor", "Electrician" or "General contractor", then add secondary categories for other services you genuinely offer.
Fill in everything.
- Services, each with a short description.
- Opening hours, including whether you take emergency call-outs.
- A description that says what you do, who for and where, in plain English.
- Your website link, pointing to the most relevant page.
- Photos of completed work, your team and your vans, added regularly.
Reviews are the engine.
Ask every happy client for a review, ideally one that mentions the job and the town. Reply to every review, good or bad, politely and briefly. A steady stream of recent reviews matters more than a large number from years ago.
"The best time to ask for a review is at handover, when the client is standing in the finished space."
Keep it alive.
Post updates when you finish a project, add new photos monthly and keep your details consistent with your website and directory listings. Profiles that look active tend to perform better than ones that were set up and forgotten.
