60 guides. Updated October 2026
SEO guides for exterior contractors
Every guide here answers one question a roofer, pool builder, landscaper or other exterior contractor asks before spending money on SEO: what it costs, how to get into the map pack, how to pick an agency, and how to get leads you own. Pick the question you have.
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The three most-read guides
Choosing an agency
The best pool builder SEO companies of 2026
Pricing, contract terms and fit for every agency we compared.
Cost and ROI
How much does SEO cost for a contractor?
One-time builds run $2,500 to $6,000. Retainers, itemized.
Cost and ROI
What SEO costs and what it pays back
Straight numbers on what contractor SEO costs, how long it takes, and how it compares to buying leads. 9 guides
- How much does SEO cost for a contractor?Every price itemized, from a one-time build to a monthly retainer.
- SEO vs Angi vs Google LSA: cost per lead for contractorsSide-by-side cost per lead for owned rankings versus rented leads.
- SEO vs paid ads for contractors: which gets more leads long term?When ads make sense, when SEO wins, and how to split the budget.
- How long does local SEO take to work?Realistic timelines for the map pack and organic results.
- How local SEO increases profit, not just revenueWhy lower cost per job matters more than more leads.
- The benefits of local SEO: what you actually get for your moneyThe concrete returns, and the limits nobody mentions.
- Why hire a local SEO company? The honest answerWhat to do yourself and when outside help pays off.
- The vanity metrics trap: why rankings do not equal leadsThe numbers to track instead of traffic and rankings.
- Why home service companies cannot rely on word-of-mouth aloneReferrals still matter, but homeowners check Google first.
Choosing an agency
Compare SEO companies before you sign
Honest comparisons with pricing, contract terms and who each agency is really for. 5 guides
- The best pool builder SEO companies of 2026Agencies compared for pool builders, with pricing and fit.
- The best local SEO companies of 2026: an honest comparisonSix agencies ranked on the things owners actually worry about.
- The best siding SEO companies of 2026Who does siding SEO well, and what each one costs.
- The best hardscaping SEO companies of 2026Agencies compared for patio, paver and hardscape contractors.
- CurbSide Search vs generic marketing agenciesWhat a trade specialist does differently, and how to judge any agency.
Map pack and Google Business Profile
Get into the map pack
How Google ranks the three-pack, and how to make your Business Profile win it. 6 guides
- Google Business Profile for contractors, the complete guideSetup, categories, services, photos and reviews, step by step.
- Google Maps SEO for contractors: how to rank in the map packRelevance, distance and prominence, and the moves that lift each one.
- How to attract more visitors to your Google Business ProfileTurn profile views into calls, direction requests and site visits.
- Local citations for contractors: what they are and how to build themWhich directories matter and how to keep your NAP consistent.
- Local SEO for multiple locationsRank in every market without your locations competing with each other.
- Local SEO landing pages: how to build ones that actually rankCity and service pages that rank without thin, copied content.
Ranking higher
Outrank the competition
The plan for climbing Google, in the order that actually moves rankings. 9 guides
- How to rank higher on Google: the plan, in the order that actually mattersThe sequence that compounds, from foundation to authority.
- How to outrank your competitors on GoogleWin the factors Google weighs in the map pack and organic results.
- How to analyze your local SEO competitionFind out exactly why the top three outrank you.
- How to do a local SEO audit for your businessA do-it-yourself audit of your profile, site and citations.
- Local SEO for contractors, a step-by-step checklistEvery local SEO task in order, with what to do first.
- Local link building for contractorsEarn the local links that lift rankings, without buying junk.
- Local SEO for small businessHow to rank in the map pack and win nearby customers.
- The SEO mistakes small business owners make, and how to fix themThe common errors that quietly cost rankings.
- Is local SEO dead?What AI search changes for local businesses, and what it does not.
Websites
Build or rebuild without losing rankings
What a contractor website should cost, and how to change one safely. 3 guides
- How much does a website cost for a contractor?Real price ranges and what you get at each level.
- Will a website redesign hurt my SEO?The redesign mistakes that drop rankings, and how to avoid them.
- Is it too late to build a website for my business?Why established businesses often start ahead online.
Statistics
Sourced data for contractors
Statistics with every figure linked to its original source. 4 guides
- Local SEO statistics for 2026Map pack, Business Profile, reviews and AI Overview data, all sourced.
- Contractor marketing statistics for 2026How homeowners find and choose contractors, by the numbers.
- Pool builder marketing statistics for 2026Search, lead and seasonality data for pool builders.
- Roofing marketing statistics for 2026Search, lead and storm-season data for roofers.
Leads by trade
Get more leads in your trade
Trade-specific playbooks for leads you own instead of rent. 4 guides
- How to get roofing leads without buying themThe channels that produce roofing leads you own.
- How to generate solar leads for your companyAttract buyers ready for a consultation, not window shoppers.
- How to get painting leads for your businessFill your painting schedule from search and referrals.
- How to get pressure washing leads for your businessKeep the schedule full, including the slow months.
Roofing playbook
SEO for roofing companies
Our deepest library: costs, mistakes and fixes for roofers who want leads from Google. 20 guides
- Why your roofing website is not ranking, and exactly what to fixThe usual causes, in the order to check them.
- Why your roofing company is not showing up in the map packWhat keeps roofers out of the three-pack, and the fixes.
- Why your roofing website gets traffic but no callsWhere visitors drop off before they pick up the phone.
- How to get more roofing leads from Google without paying for adsOrganic and map pack leads without a per-click bill.
- How much does SEO cost for a roofing company in 2026?Roofing SEO pricing, itemized.
- How much should a roofing company budget for marketing each month?A budget built from your job value and close rate.
- Roofing SEO pricing: project vs retainerWhen a one-time project is enough and when to keep going.
- What is included in each SEO project tier for roofers?Exactly what each tier delivers.
- Why cheap SEO packages cost roofing companies moreWhat a $300-a-month package leaves out.
- SEO vs PPC for roofers: which costs more per lead?Cost per lead compared over 12 months.
- Cost per lead for roofers: SEO vs Angi vs Google LSAWhat each lead source really costs a roofing company.
- Is a website overhaul worth it for a roofing contractor?How to tell if your site needs a rebuild or a tune-up.
- 7 roofing website mistakes hurting your Google rankingsThe fixable errors we see on most roofing sites.
- The hidden cost of a templated roofing websiteWhy identical sites struggle to rank.
- Common schema markup mistakes on roofing websitesStructured data errors and how to fix them.
- Why Google Business Profile suspensions happen to roofing companiesThe triggers, and how to get reinstated.
- Why roofing SEO takes months to pay offWhat happens in months one through six.
- The real cost of a missed storm seasonWhat showing up late costs in lost jobs.
- Why storm-chasing roofers struggle with long-term SEOWhy local trust beats out-of-town volume.
- Why most SEO agencies fail roofing companiesThe patterns behind bad agency results.
Tools
Run your own numbers
Contractor SEO ROI calculator
Enter your job value and close rate to see cost per lead, cost per job and return, compared to Angi.
Local SEO scorecard
Score your Business Profile, website and reviews in a few minutes and see what to fix first.
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