Contractor & Trades Marketing Plan: A 90‑Day Sprint to More Calls (SEO + Google Ads + Reviews)

If you’re a contractor or skilled trades business (plumber, electrician, HVAC, roofer, concrete, fence, landscaper, remodeler, welder, etc.), you don’t need “more marketing ideas.”

You need a contractor (and other trades) marketing plan that:

• gets the phone ringing,

• fills the schedule with the right jobs,

• and doesn’t require you to become a full-time marketer.

This is a 90‑day sprint designed for real life: you’re on job sites, you’re estimating at night, and you can’t babysit a dozen platforms.

The 4-part system that drives more calls in 90 days: visibility, trust, conversion, and follow-up.

Let’s build a simple system that works.

Stop guessing. Get a 90-day “More Calls” plan for your trade business.

If you want this sprint implemented without you turning into a marketer, we’ll map your money services + service area into a simple lead system:

• Google Business Profile improvements (Maps visibility)

• Service pages that turn clicks into calls

• Review system setup (so trust compounds)

• Google Ads launch plan (high-intent only)

• Tracking + follow-up so leads don’t leak

👉 Get a free Lead Audit (we’ll tell you what to fix first)

What this 90‑day contractor marketing plan is built to do

In 90 days, you’re aiming to create:

1. Visibility (show up where people search: Google Maps + organic + paid)

2. Trust (reviews, proof, photos, licensing, clear offers)

3. Conversion (turn clicks into calls and quote requests)

4. Follow-up (so leads don’t die in your inbox)

If you nail those four, your marketing stops feeling random.

Before you start: choose your “money services” and service area

Most contractors struggle online because everything is too broad.

In the next 30 minutes, decide:

• Your top 3–5 money services (the ones you want more of and profit most from)

• Your true service area (cities you actually serve consistently)

Examples:

• HVAC: “AC repair,” “mini-split install,” “duct replacement,” “maintenance plan”

• Electrician: “panel upgrade,” “EV charger install,” “recessed lighting,” “troubleshooting”

• Plumber: “water heater,” “drain cleaning,” “leak repair,” “repipes”

• Remodeler: “kitchen remodel,” “bath remodel,” “ADU,” “flooring”

Everything you do for the next 90 days should support those.

The 90‑day plan overview

The 90-day timeline: build the foundation, create lead flow + proof, then scale what works.

Phase 1 (Days 1–30): Foundation that makes you findable

• Google Business Profile tuned for your best services

• Review system turned on

• Website/service pages tightened for calls

• Tracking set up (so you know what’s working)

Phase 2 (Days 31–60): Lead flow + proof building

• Publish “proof” content (projects, before/after, FAQs)

• Clean up business listings (NAP consistency)

• Launch Google Ads on high-intent keywords

• Start simple follow-up automation

Phase 3 (Days 61–90): Scale what works

• Expand into top cities and services (selectively)

• Improve conversion rates (more calls from same traffic)

• Build partnerships/links locally

• Add video and retargeting to compound trust

Phase 1: Days 1–30 — Build a foundation that generates calls

Google Business Profile checklist: the 6 fields that most directly impact calls from Maps.

Step 1: Make Google Business Profile your #1 priority

For most trades, Google Maps is where the highest-intent leads come from.

In the first 2 weeks:

• Confirm your primary category is correct (this matters more than most people realize)

• Fill out your services list (not generic—be specific)

• Add photos from real jobs: team, trucks, before/after, equipment, finished work

• Add a short, clear description that matches your money services and cities

Pro tip for contractors:

Photos are a cheat code. Most trade businesses have boring profiles. If you consistently add real job photos, you’ll stand out.

Step 2: Turn on a review system (not “ask sometimes”)

Reviews are the trust engine for contractors. They also directly impact whether someone calls you or the other guy.

Your review system (simple and repeatable)

• Ask right after the win (job finished, customer happy)

• Send a text message with the direct link

• Follow up once 2–3 days later if they didn’t do it

Text template:

“Hey [Name]—appreciate the opportunity to help with your [job type]. If you have 30 seconds, would you leave a quick Google review? It really helps local customers find us. [link] —[Your Name]”

Weekly goal: 2–5 new reviews (depending on volume). Consistency beats bursts.

Step 3: Fix your “call conversion” basics on the website

A high-converting mobile service page layout: clear offer, proof, FAQs, and a sticky click-to-call button.

A contractor website doesn’t need to be fancy. It needs to be clear and fast.

On every service page, you want:

• A headline that says exactly what you do (“Panel Upgrades in Rocklin”)

• A clear offer (“Same-week estimates” / “Emergency service available”)

• A click-to-call button that follows on mobile

• Proof: photos, reviews, licenses, insurance, “years in business”

• FAQs that address objections (“Do you handle permits?” “Do you offer financing?” “What areas do you serve?”)

This aligns directly with how we build contractor-friendly sites—easy on phones, easy to take action, with the “tech stuff” handled in the background.

Step 4: Set up tracking (so you stop guessing)

If your only metric is “my schedule feels busy,” you’ll never know what’s actually working.

Minimum tracking setup:

• Google Analytics + Search Console

• Conversion tracking for:

  • phone clicks

  • form submissions

  • booking requests (if you have them)

• A simple spreadsheet that tracks leads by source:

  • Google Maps

  • Organic search

  • Google Ads

  • Referrals

  • Social

Goal by Day 30: you can answer, “Where did this lead come from?” in under 10 seconds.

Phase 2: Days 31–60 — Build proof + launch lead flow

Step 5: Create “proof content” (this is how contractors win online)

Google and customers both want evidence.

Over the next month, build a proof library:

• 10–20 project photos (before/after if possible)

• 5 short job stories (what was wrong, what you did, the result)

• 3 “common problems” posts (these rank well and convert)

Examples of proof posts (high value for SEO + leads):

• “Cost to Replace an Electrical Panel in 2026 (And What Changes the Price)”

• “Water Heater Replacement: Tank vs Tankless (Which Fits Your Home?)”

• “Signs Your Roof Needs Repair (And When It’s Time to Replace)”

These aren’t “content for content’s sake.” They pre-sell the job.

And if you want to publish consistently without spending hours writing, a big part of our approach is using AI-assisted content workflows and then polishing it to sound like you, not a robot.

Step 6: Clean up local listings (contractors lose rankings here all the time)

If your name/phone/address is inconsistent across the web, it can weaken trust signals.

Do a cleanup pass on:

• Google Business Profile

• Yelp

• Bing Places / Apple Maps

• Industry sites (Houzz for remodelers, etc.)

• Local directories and chambers

This is exactly what “Local Listings & Business Directory Help” is meant to solve: getting you listed in the right places and making your info consistent everywhere to improve trust and visibility. Rebranding Ideas

Step 7: Launch Google Ads (only after your pages and tracking are ready)

Simple Google Ads setup: two campaigns, two matching landing pages, and one goal—calls and quote requests.

Google Ads works for contractors when you keep it simple:

• Target high-intent searches

• Send traffic to the right page

• Track calls

Start with two campaigns

1. Emergency / urgent intent

   
   

   Examples: “24/7 plumber,” “AC not cooling,” “electrician near me”

   
   

   These clicks cost more—but they can convert fast.

2. Install / quote intent

   
   

   Examples: “water heater replacement,” “panel upgrade,” “roof replacement estimate”

   
   

   Often a little cheaper and great for schedule-building.

Landing page rule:

Do not send ad clicks to your homepage. Send them to a page that matches the keyword exactly.

If ads feel confusing, this is why we keep it “simple, transparent, and focused on leads—not just traffic.”

Step 8: Add follow-up (because most contractors leak leads)

Here’s a hard truth: most trade businesses don’t lose leads because of marketing— they lose leads because of slow follow-up.

Minimum follow-up system

• Instant “we got your request” text or email

• A call within 5–15 minutes during business hours (when possible)

• If you miss them: 2 more follow-up attempts within 48 hours

• A short “estimate reminder” message

This is where lightweight automation helps—after-hours replies, appointment prompts, basic Q&A—so you don’t lose the lead while you’re on a ladder or under a sink.

Phase 3: Days 61–90 — Scale what works and lock in authority

Step 9: Expand into your top cities (selectively)

Once you have traction:

• Choose your top 3 cities

• Build one strong page per city for your #1 service

  
  

  Example: “EV Charger Installation in Roseville”

  
  

  Then:

• Add unique proof (photos, testimonials, job examples, FAQs)

• Link it from your main service page and your service area page

Don’t create 30 thin city pages. Create 3–6 strong ones.

Step 10: Add email marketing to re-activate old customers

Contractors often sit on a goldmine: past customers.

A monthly “keep in touch” email can:

• generate repeat jobs

• create referrals

• keep you top of mind when something breaks

This is why newsletters and follow-up automations are part of our core menu—cheap, effective growth when done right. Rebranding Ideas

Step 11: Add simple video (trust multiplier)

You don’t need a studio. You need proof and clarity.

In month 3:

• Record 4 short videos (30–60 seconds each):

  1. “3 signs you need a panel upgrade”

  2. “What happens during a water heater replacement”

  3. “What to expect when we arrive”

  4. “Areas we serve + how to get an estimate”

Post them:

• on your Google Business Profile (as clips)

• on your website

• on YouTube (optional, but helpful)

We also help businesses turn raw phone footage into something polished and useful (without overcomplicating it). Rebranding Ideas

Step 12: Add local partnerships and links (quiet but powerful)

Links and mentions from real local organizations are a long-term advantage.

Great sources for contractors:

• local chambers / business groups

• suppliers and distributors (ask to be listed as a recommended contractor)

• sponsorship pages (youth sports, community events)

• partner trades (HVAC ↔ electricians ↔ plumbers)

This improves authority and usually sends referral work too.

The week-by-week contractor marketing plan (printable version)

The 12-week checklist version of the 90-day contractor marketing sprint.

Week 1

• Pick 3–5 money services + service area

• Audit GBP categories/services/photos

• Create/revise your main service pages (one per money service)

Week 2

• Add reviews system + templates

• Add 10 job photos to GBP

• Add trust elements to website (license, insurance, service area, testimonials)

Week 3

• Set up analytics + conversion tracking

• Build a “Service Areas” page

• Create a simple lead form that doesn’t ask 15 questions

Week 4

• Publish 1 proof post + 1 FAQ post

• Clean up top directories (NAP consistency)

• Start collecting 2–5 reviews/week

Week 5

• Build 1–2 city+service pages (top city only)

• Create a project gallery page (even simple)

• Write 1 “cost” or “comparison” article

Week 6

• Launch Google Ads (2 campaigns: emergency + quotes)

• Create dedicated landing pages

• Track calls + forms

Week 7

• Improve ad keywords (pause junk, add negatives)

• Add 10 more photos

• Publish 1 more proof post

Week 8

• Add follow-up automation (basic)

• Start monthly email newsletter list

• Ask suppliers/partners for 1–2 link opportunities

Week 9

• Add 1 more city+service page

• Add FAQ blocks to top pages

• Publish 1 “common problems” post

Week 10

• Record 2 short phone videos

• Add them to GBP + website

• Tighten page conversion (stronger CTA, simpler layout)

Week 11

• Publish 1 case study (before/after story)

• Add a referral ask to your email signature

• Continue reviews

Week 12

• Review results: leads by channel, cost per lead, close rate

• Double down on the best services/cities

• Plan the next 90 days based on data

If you only do 5 things from this contractor marketing plan, do these

1. Fix and complete Google Business Profile

2. Build a consistent review system

3. Create one strong page per money service

4. Launch Google Ads to the right landing pages

5. Set up tracking + follow-up so leads don’t leak

Those five steps alone can move you from “hoping” to “predictable.”

Contractor marketing isn’t about tricks. It’s about:

• being easy to find,

• being easy to trust,

• being easy to contact,

• and being fast to follow up.

If you want help implementing this without it taking over your life, this plan maps directly to the services we provide at Real Connection Media—websites built to convert on mobile, local SEO, Google Business Profile management, ads, email follow-up, video strategy, and local listings cleanup.

Request a Free Marketing Audit

And if you’re thinking, “AI is going to automate all of this,” the winners won’t be the ones who avoid AI—they’ll be the ones who use it to move faster while keeping the messaging and strategy grounded in what real customers actually want.