When your potential client is googling “roofing companies near me” or “roof replacement in X City”, they are clearly looking for local professionals.

It’s essential to recognize that Google cares a lot about user experience and wants people to be happy about their research and keep coming back. So, Google wants to show them the most relevant and best results close to where they are, or for the specific location, they are searching for.

There is a reason why Google shows the “Map” results above the regular website results.

Let’s stop for a second and explain what I mean by “best results.” For someone looking to hire a roofing company, the best results would be a list of roofing companies open for business, experienced, highly appreciated, and acclaimed experts in the particular matter they are Googling. Whether it’s a roof inspection, replacement, or repairs, Google wants your potential clients to find the best professional immediately.

So how do you prove to Google that your business is the best answer to this query?

Think of your Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business) as a free mini-website that will put your business in the very sought-after “Map” section of Google local listings. 

Head to www.google.com/business/, create and fully complete your Google Business Profile. It’s a step-by-step process where you will mostly enter simple information about your business. If you already have one, make sure you go through every section and check if all info is accurate and up to date. That includes your address, phone number, services, operating hours, and holidays.

-Your Business Category: There are over 6,000 categories from which to choose; the first category you list is the most important. It can affect which queries you rank for. Make sure you select the right category for your business. You should be able to use “Roofing contractor”as your primary category. You can also add other categories like “Construction company,” especially if your company does other projects. Aim for 3 to 5 categories in total.

-Your Service Areas:  This is one of the most important features; make sure you give it the attention it deserves. You can have up to 20 service areas, yes, up to 20! Ideally, the boundaries of your overall area should not extend farther than about 2 hours of driving time from where your business is based. If the whole country is your playground feel free to put it there.

-Your Description: It’s a brief overview of your business that closes with a call to action and should be between 100 and 200 words long. This description is made available to potential customers.

It can look something like this: {Name of Business} is an established roofing company in {Your main area of service} with {X} years of experience. We specialize in all aspects of residential roofing as well as commercial roofing.Call {Your Phone Number} today for a free quote!

-Your Images: Images help to humanize your business and make you look accessible to potential customers. Images and videos are proven to increase customer engagement. You don’t need to go crazy with the photos. You can add a few of your office as a start. You can also ask your clients for permission to post pictures of the work done for them.

-Keep It Up to Date: This is where many roofing companies fall short. They don’t update the profile, and it sits there forever with the same old content. Few know that you can post on your Google profile and share business updates like successful projects, office hours updates, new services, and other updates. It is recommended to update it frequently.

-Your NAP: Your business NAP (name, address, and phone number) needs to be up to date and should be identical across your Google profile, your website, your social media, and other online listings. It sounds very basic, but you won’t believe the number of businesses that still have an old phone number sitting on an old listing that no one can access anymore. Hint: Opt for a local phone number rather than an 800 number. It makes you look more “local,” approachable, and trustworthy.

-Verify Your Business Profile: It’s a very basic but crucial process that you can start right in your profile. Google wants to ensure that you are a real business so they can send people your way. You should seea postcard in the mail within a few days with a verification code. All you need to do is login to your profile and enter the code. Other ways of verification are available as well.

Every business owner knows that customer reviews are a BIG deal. They are even bigger for roofing companies.

Besides helping you establish authority, showing your expertise, and building trust, positive reviews can allow roofers to command higher rates because they are perceived as more reliable and in-demand than the competition.

On top of that, those 5stars reviews will boost your listing faster than you might think. Remember what I said earlier: Google wants people to have the best user experience possible. If people like your services, chances are you are good at what you do, and Google will show your business to more people.

The golden rule is to ALWAYS ask for a review. Don’t wait until you send your final invoice. Ask for a review right away in the same day you finish your project. They are more likely to give a great review when they are still in the flow than after a few days when they are already busy with other things.

You should mention the area you serve and your services as much as you can on your website without sounding spammy or stuffing content with keywords.

Let’s say you do residential, commercial, and industrial roofing in Los Angeles. You can write content where you talk about how you helped people in this area with their home roofing needs and how you used the highest-grade materials to ensure performance and the prolonged life of the structure. You can also talk about previous residential roofing projects you and your team have handled successfully in specific locations in Los Angeles,

Use a professional, friendly tone and avoid complex jargon that might scare potential clients away.

Listing your business in local directories is also one of the best things you can do for your business. In a word document, put some of your business information like name, address, DBA if applicable, and phone number. Also, have your logo handy.

Check any local directories that list roofing companies in your area. A good place to start is Yelp. Claim your business on the Yellow Pages(many of the benefits of YP are free), check with your local chamber of commerce to see if they offer free listings, or get reviewed at www.expertise.com for instance.

Getting to the top 3 “golden pack” in the Map section takes some time but is perfectly achievable for any local business with the right tips and awareness of the online opportunities available to them.

Do you have any questions or need help, feel free to reach out.