When someone’s pipe bursts at 9pm, they don’t know a specific plumber website to visit. They open Google Maps or Google search and call the first plumber they see.
If your business isn’t showing up there, you’re invisible.. and someone else is getting that call. In other words, you’re loosing a potential business.
Here’s exactly how to fix that.
Step 1: Set Up Your Google Business Profile
Go to google.com/business and claim your listing. This is free and takes less than 10 minutes.
Fill in every single field. Business name, phone number, address, service area, hours. Make sure you don’t skip anything – incomplete profiles rank lower.
Use your real business name. Don’t stuff keywords into it (e.g. “Mike’s Plumbing Best Plumber Chicago”). Google can penalize you for that so make sure you put in your real business name.
Step 2: Choose the Right Business Category
Your primary category should be “Plumber.” This is the single most important field in your entire profile.
You can add secondary categories too. For example “Drainage service” or “Water heater repair service”, but your primary must be Plumber.
Step 3: Add Your Service Area
You don’t need a physical storefront. Google allows service-area businesses to hide their address and show the areas they serve instead.
Add every city, town, or ZIP code you work in. The more specific you are, the better Google understands where to show you.
Step 4: Get Reviews
Reviews are the #1 ranking factor in Google Maps. There’s no shortcut here so make sure you ask for one.
After every job, text your customer a direct link to your Google review page. Make it easy. Most happy customers will leave a review if you simply ask.
Aim for at least 10 reviews before expecting strong rankings. Also a quick tip: respond to every review, good or bad. It shows Google (and customers) that you’re active and professional.
Step 5: Keep Your Profile Active
Post updates, add photos of your work, and keep your hours current. Google rewards profiles that stay active. Especially photos do make a big difference.
Even one photo a week makes a difference. Real job photos outperform stock images every time.
Step 6: Make Sure Your Website Matches
Your website should mention the same business name, address, and phone number as your Google Business Profile. Inconsistencies confuse Google and hurt your rankings.
Your website should also load fast and be mobile-friendly. Google checks this and will reward sites that load faster as it’s much better user experience. A slow or broken site will hold back your rankings on Google Maps and also in Google serach, no matter how good your profile is.
If you need any help with a website, we design and develop websites for plumbers whether you are just starting out or opening multiple locations. We’ll be more than happy to help!