When customers search for remodeling companies online, the company’s Google Business Profile is often the first thing they see. Not only does your Google Business Profile play a key role in catching the interest of potential customers, but it’s also an important part of local SEO for remodeling businesses. That’s why an optimized Google Business Profile for remodelers is an essential part of any remodeling business’s marketing strategy.
If you’d like to level up your company’s Google Business Profile, Surefire Local is here to help! In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about Google Business Profile optimization, including why it matters for remodelers, a step-by-step optimization process you can follow, and how our all-in-one marketing platform can help supercharge your remodeling company’s local SEO.
Why an Optimized Google Business Profile for Remodeling Companies is Important
It goes without saying that Google dominates online search, and local intent searches are on the rise. When customers in your area are looking for a remodeling business close by, you can almost guarantee that Google will be the first place that most of them turn.
When customers type searches like “remodeler near me” or “remodeling company in New Orleans”, Google will return a local map pack listing the Google Business Profiles of the companies that match the search. And here’s the important part: the better optimized your profile is, the more likely Google is to display it higher in the results. Keep in mind that most customers don’t scroll very long before they decide to contact a business; if your profile is one of the first ones they see, your odds of generating a lead are exponentially higher.
Some aspects of Google Business Profile optimization take time and ongoing effort. However, for remodeling companies that are trying to boost their online presence and attract more leads, the benefits of a fully optimized profile are well worth it in the end.
Google Business Profile Optimization for Remodelers: A Step-by-Step Guide
Taking the time to optimize your Google Business Profile is one of the most effective ways to attract more customers online. Follow these steps to turn your profile into a lead-generating machine:
Step 1: Claim and Verify Your Profile
If you haven’t claimed your business on Google yet, now is the time. The process is simple: all you have to do is visit Google Business Profile Manager and follow the steps to verify ownership. There are several methods that Google uses to very ownership of a business. It may involve a live video call with a Google representative, a postcard with a verification code on it that is mailed to the business address, a verification email sent to the business’s email address, or a code sent via an automated call to the business’s phone number.
Once verified, you’ll be given access to your business dashboard where you can control and update your listing.
Step 2: Perfect Your Business Information
Google Business Profile lets you enter a lot of information about your company, and you should be sure to fill it all in accurately and thoroughly. Here’s all the business information you’ll need to provide:
- Business Name: Make sure it matches exactly what’s on your signage and website.
- Category: Be specific about your services. For example, your business category might be “Remodeling Contractor” or “Window Installation Service”.
- Address: Make sure it’s accurate and consistent across all platforms.
- Service Area: If you travel to clients rather than operating a storefront, you should include clearly defined service areas.
- Business Hours: List your business hours and update them as needed to reflect any seasonal changes or holidays.
- Phone Number and Website URL: These should be current and click-to-call enabled.
These core details help customers contact you more easily, and they are also an essential part of optimizing your profile for search.
Step 3: Write a Customer-Focused Business Description
Your business description is your best opportunity to sell yourself to customers who find your profile. It should do more than just list services—it should speak to your value, reputation, and what sets your remodeling business apart. Make sure that it’s customer-focused, highlighting the benefits that your business offers and how it can help solve their problems.
At the same time, it’s also important to optimize your business description for search engines. Use keywords naturally in the description to improve your chances of ranking high for specific searches. For example, including a phrase like “trusted kitchen remodeling in Fort Worth” in your business description would help you appear in more searches from customers in Fort Worth looking for kitchen remodeling services.
Step 4: Add High-Quality Photos (And Update Them Regularly)
Photographs are your secret weapon. When it comes to getting the attention of customers who are scrolling through business listings, few things are more effective than high-quality photos, and listings that include them tend to get a lot more clicks.
Here are examples of the types of photos a remodeling business should consider adding to its Google Business Profile:
- Before-and-after project photos
- Team shots at work
- Your trucks or branded signage
- Happy customer photos (with permission)
You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take photos that will make your profile stand out. Just be sure to use natural lighting and keep images high-resolution. It’s also a good idea to regularly update the photos on your profile since Google prefers active listings.
It’s worth mentioning that Google also lets you add videos to your profile. Not many businesses take advantage of this, so it could be a great way to make your listing stand out and build trust with customers.
Step 5: Collect and Respond to Reviews
If online reviews weighed anything, they’d be worth their weight in gold. For one, they are today’s version of word-of-mouth marketing, helping establish credibility and social proof. They also play a major role in search rankings and determining which listings Google shows to customers.
You can collect reviews passively just by doing great work, but it’s much better to take a proactive approach. Strategies such as automated email and SMS campaigns requesting reviews from customers and training your staff on how to ask customers for reviews will go a long way. It’s also important to respond to every review you receive, both the positive ones and the negative ones, as Google rewards this kind of engagement. Be professional and courteous, and keep in mind that other customers are likely to read your responses.
Step 6: Post Updates Like You Would on Social Media
Google Posts is a feature that lets you post updates to your Google Business Profile, and not very many businesses take advantage of it. These updates show up in your profile on both Google Search and Google Maps listings, and they can include things like promotions or seasonal offers, project highlights, company milestones, or anything else you want to share.
Think of Google Posts like mini social updates—but with big SEO benefits. By posting regularly (weekly or bi-weekly is recommended), you can keep your profile fresh and improve your search ranking.
Step 7: Enable Messaging and Q&A
Google now lets users message businesses directly through their Google Business Profile, but businesses have to have the feature enabled for it to work. Go into your dashboard and turn this feature on, and you’ll give customers a convenient way to reach out with any questions they might have.
You can also pre-load the Q&A section with frequently asked questions. For example:
- “Do you offer free estimates?”
- “Are your contractors licensed and insured?”
- “What areas do you serve?”
Don’t wait for customers to ask; be proactive about addressing their questions, and you’re more likely to generate leads.
Step 8: Track Performance Metrics
Once your profile is active, you can use Google Insights to track a range of performance metrics. For example, you can see things like how many people found you via search or maps, what actions they took (calls, directions, website clicks), popular search phrases that led them to your profile, and more. This data is a treasure trove of insights you can use to adjust your strategy and double down on what’s working.
Boost Your Remodeling Business’s SEO With Surefire Local
Optimizing your Google Business Profile is a major key to improving SEO and attracting more customers online, but it’s only the first step. If you’d like to take control of all your SEO and marketing efforts, Surefire Local can help! Our all-in-one digital marketing platform is designed to streamline marketing tasks for local businesses such as remodelers, and it allows you to manage all your campaigns from a single dashboard. Best of all, Surefire Local fully integrates with your Google Business Profile so you can do things like respond to reviews and answer customer questions all in one place.
Want to see why Surefire Local is the perfect tool for boosting a remodeling business’s SEO? Sign up for a free demo today!