How electricians, roofers and other trades get more calls from Google
Trades win on Google the same way: a correctly set-up service area, the right category, real photos of finished jobs, a review asked for after every job, and every call answered or texted back. Local Services Ads can add more calls where they're available. Here's the checklist.
Set up your profile as a service-area business
- If customers don't come to you, hide your address and list the areas you cover. Google allows up to 20 service areas.
- Primary category: the most specific one that's true, such as electrician, roofing contractor or HVAC contractor. It's the top ranking factor in Whitespark's expert survey.
- Services: every job type you do, from rewires and EV chargers to flat roofs and gutter repairs.
- Hours: be honest. If you take emergency calls, set those hours and make sure someone answers.
- Business name: your real trading name only, with no added keywords or towns.
Photos of real jobs win the call
Customers want proof you do good work. Before-and-after photos of real jobs, your van with your branding and your team in uniform do more than any stock image. Add new photos every couple of weeks.
A review after every job
- Text the customer a direct review link the same day you finish, while they're pleased with the result.
- One reminder a few days later is fine.
- Ask every customer, not just the ones you think are happy, and never offer money off for a review.
- Reply to every review. With a complaint, offer to come back and look at it.
of US consumers only consider reviews written in the last three months.
decide which local business to use in under 30 minutes.
Answer every call, even up a ladder
Most trade calls come in while you're working. Someone with no power or a leaking roof will ring the next name on the list if you don't pick up. Missed-call text-back sends every caller you miss a text straight away, so they know you'll ring back.
Local Services Ads
In many areas, electricians, roofers, HVAC and other trades can run Local Services Ads, which appear above other results and charge per lead rather than per click. Businesses go through Google's screening first, and in October 2025 Google merged its earlier badges into a single “Google Verified” badge.
From 1 October 2026, Google charges for missed calls during business hours when the caller stays on the line for more than 20 seconds, so only run them if someone will answer.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help: Service areas for service-area and hybrid businesses
- Whitespark Local Search Ranking Factors (47 experts, 187 factors)
- BrightLocal Local Consumer Review Survey 2026 (1,002 US consumers)
- BrightLocal Consumer Search Behavior 2026, part 1 (1,227 US consumers)
- Search Engine Roundtable: Google to charge for missed and subsequent LSA calls (Aug 2026)
- PPC Land: Local Services Ads explained
- Google Maps: Prohibited and restricted content
Citing these figures? Please link to this page. If you spot a figure that's out of date, email hello@flexilocal.com.
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