The #1 Lead Source for Contractors

We hear this question all the time—especially from new businesses working with a smaller budget. A strong first step is establishing a permanent business address. Even if you don’t have a workshop or storefront, Google favors businesses with a physical location. Many co-working spaces offer mailbox rentals and will even display your business name on their signage or marquee—giving your company more credibility online.

Once you’ve secured your address, the next move is to claim and build your online listings. At a minimum, this includes Google Business Profile (formerly GMB), but we also recommend platforms like Nextdoor, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and even DuckDuckGo’s business listings.

When setting these up:

Write a clear description that explains what you do, who you serve, and where you work.

Add original photos and videos that highlight your projects, your team, and your expertise.

Post regularly to stay active and visible.

Ask happy customers for reviews—and always respond to them.

Join local community groups where people ask for recommendations and be consistent in offering helpful responses.

It may sound like a lot—and it is. That’s why many contractors and service pros turn to Market Boss Digital Advertising. We handle the setup, optimization, posting, and engagement for you, so you can focus on your craft while we help bring in the calls, leads, and new customers.

This is one of the most common questions we get—and while the exact number is subjective, our data shows that contractors who invest at least 10% of their annual revenue back into marketing consistently see the strongest results.

That doesn’t mean putting your entire budget into digital ads. A smart marketing plan is diverse. Yes, you’ll want to invest in digital strategies from companies such as Market Boss on platforms like your website, SEO, Google Ads, and social media—but also consider allocating dollars (including CO-OP funds, if available) toward:

Trade shows and community events

Promotional giveaways

Company apparel

Vehicle wraps

Yard signs, billboards, and other local signage

The key is balance. Brand recognition comes from multiple touchpoints—both online and offline. By diversifying your marketing budget, you set your business up for long-term visibility, credibility, and growth—whether you’re working with a modest budget or ready to scale big.  

PPC stands for Pay Per Click, a common digital advertising strategy used on platforms like Google. Here’s how it works:

As a contractor, you set a monthly budget—let’s say $1,000—to run ads. Your ad placement is determined through a blind auction, which means your ad could appear on sites like MSN, Gmail, or directly on Google search results (top or bottom of the page).

Now, let’s compare two contractors with the same $1,000 budget:

You (with Market Boss managing your Google Ads):

Your ad shows up in the 3rd position and costs $10 per click. You get 10 clicks for $100 total spend and land 1 new customer. That leaves $900 in your budget for more opportunities.

Your competitor (managing ads themselves):

Their ad shows up in the 1st position but costs $100 per click. They also get 10 clicks, but their entire $1,000 budget is gone. They, too, only gained 1 new customer.

So who came out ahead? You did—because you spent less, got the same result, and walked away with $900 profit while your competitor just broke even.

👉 Want to see if PPC is a smart move for your business? [Click here for a free audit and consultation.]

Google recently launched its Local Service Ads (LSAs) program for contractors, which ties directly to becoming a Google Guaranteed Business. So what does that mean, and how is it different from regular Google PPC ads?

You already know that PPC (Pay Per Click) is a click-based program—you pay each time someone clicks your ad. PPC can be effective as a stand-alone strategy or paired with Local Service Ads.

Google Local Leads takes it further. Instead of paying for clicks that may or may not turn into customers, you only pay for actual phone calls or messages (text or email) from real prospects. Every call is recorded and monitored, so irrelevant sales calls and telemarketers are filtered out. That means you’re charged only for qualified leads—not wasted traffic.

Your ads appear above Google Business Profile listings in your category, prominently featuring your reviews for instant credibility. And the best part? Your business is backed by the Google Guarantee badge, giving potential customers added confidence to choose you.  

Ready to start the Google Guarantee Process? Market Boss can help with the verification process! 

To become a Google Guaranteed Contractor Business the first step is to visit the Google local service ads website by clicking here.  

Next, create your account and link it to your existing Google My Business page. Note, you will want to have your GMB listing to be verified prior to starting this process. 

Not every industry and every zip code qualifies for this program yet. After selecting your industry and zip code you will be notified by Google immediately if your service area is or is not currently a qualified location for this marketing strategy. 

Next, Google will ask you for a few things. This may include a copy of your General Liability Insurance for the company, Your business license and a background check on all client facing employees. (Don't worry, Market Boss helps you through every step of this process.)

Remember, once approved you may be asked to resubmit certain items as they have expiration dates and it is important that you submit them in a timely manner to ensure that your ads are consistently running. 

Some of Google's best practices include selecting the service area and up to 16 categories you wish to appear for. You will also want to include high quality images of your work and team. This will help these ads convert better. 

Once all steps are completed your ads will go live and you can start reaping the rewards. 

If your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) was suspended, it usually means something on your listing violated Google’s policies. The good news is, once you identify and correct the issue, you can often get it reinstated through the reverification process—though it may take some time.

Here are some of the most common reasons contractor profiles get suspended:

Keyword stuffing – adding extra keywords into your business name or description that don’t match your official business name.

Wrong categories – choosing categories outside your actual industry.

Oversized service area – Google limits service-area businesses to a max of 200 miles. If you serve beyond that, you’ll need additional verified locations.

Spammy content – duplicating posts, cramming your phone number or website into images instead of using the built-in buttons, or using emojis in posts.

Low-quality posting habits – posting too infrequently or relying on spammy-style updates.

✅ Best practices to prevent future suspensions:

Post consistently with authentic content, such as job site check-ins or photos from real projects. Turning on location settings on your phone helps validate your activity within your service areas.

Respond to every review in a professional, natural way. It’s fine to mention keywords related to your services, but keep it conversational and avoid overdoing it.

If your profile is already suspended, start by reviewing Google’s guidelines, fixing any issues, and then submitting a reinstatement request.