People are asking ChatGPT, Grok, and other LLMs for contractor recommendations now.

"Who's the best plumber in Phoenix?"

If your business shows up nowhere online, you don't get recommended.

Here's how to fix that: LLMs work slightly differently than Google.

Google Maps ranks websites based on proximity, relevance, and authority.

ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google's AI Overviews use the same ranking criteria, BUT they pull from different sources.

They look at:
> News articles
> Press releases
> Brand mentions across the web
> Authoritative local sources
> Public social content

A business with 50 blog posts about "signs you need a new roof" probably won't show up.

A business mentioned in the local newspaper for sponsoring a charity event probably will.

Here's the playbook to get your business recommended by AI.

Most contractors set their GBP service area to 50+ miles.

They think bigger coverage means more leads...

But it actually tanking their rankings.

Here's how to fix it: Google uses proximity as a major ranking factor.

When someone searches "AC repair near me," Google wants to show businesses closest to them.

If your service area covers half the state, Google doesn't know where you're actually located.

So it ranks you lower everywhere instead of higher somewhere.

Here's what's happening in the algorithm.

This link building strategy helps you rank you in the Map Pack AND AI search results.

No more high DA links from random blogs.

Here's how to do digital PR to rank your local business #1: Digital PR works differently than traditional link building.

High DA backlinks from random sites tell Google you exist.

Digital PR tells Google (and AI) that you're a trusted local business worth recommending.

Here's the difference:

Traditional link building gets you a link from a DR 60 site nobody visits.

Digital PR gets you mentioned in news, community sites, and industry publications.

Google weighs relevance MUCH heavier than raw domain authority for Map Pack rankings.

A link from your city's news site beats a link from a generic finance blog with high DA.

Google just released a new AI feature on Business Profiles that could lose you customers.

"Know before you go"

It answers questions like "Do they offer AC repair?" before customers even call you.

Here's how you can control what Google says about your business: The feature pulls from your reviews, services, and website to answer customer questions.

Things like:
> "Do they offer 24/7 service?"
> "Do they offer plumbing services?"
> "Are they expensive?"

If your GBP and website's content isn't optimized around these searches, Google has no clue what to tell leads.

And it often guesses wrong.

Here's how to make sure Google gets it right.

Google reviews are 30% of ranking on Google Maps.

But catching up to competitors can take years.

Here's how I use local signal stacking to OUTRANK businesses with 10x our reviews:

(Bookmark this) 1. File a DBA with an exact match business name.

Your competitor is "Johnson's HVAC Services."

You register "[Brand] AC Repair [City]."

Google gives a ranking boost when your business name matches what people actually search.

This is completely within Google's guidelines as long as it's your legal DBA.

Go to your state's business registration site and file it. Takes 15 minutes and costs under $50 in most states.

Rebuild your citations with the new name, then update your GBP name.

This alone can jump you 5-10 spots without touching anything else.

Everything you've been told about backlinks for local businesses is wrong.

Domain authority and traffic don't really matter.

Here's how I rank local businesses #1 with link building: Most agencies sell links based on "domain authority."

DA is a score invented by SEO tool companies, NOT Google.

They'll charge you $300 for a link from a random blog with "DA 60."

That link does almost nothing for your local rankings.

Here's why 👇

An HVAC company spent $36k with me.

Their 2nd GBP has brought in $590k+ in jobs.

Here's how we ranked it: 1. Physical location profile (NOT service area).

They started renting a new physical office.

Not a virtual office. Not a PO box.

A small 500 sq ft space in a strip mall right in the center of their target area.

$500/month rent.

Google trusts physical locations way more than service area businesses.

This is because proximity to the searcher is one of the biggest ranking factors.

Being IN the city you want to rank for changes everything.

Google just dropped a new AI feature that could crush small plumbers, HVAC techs, and electricians.

"Have AI get prices"

A few clicks and Google sends the searcher quotes from your competitors.

Here's how to get your business recommended: Here's why this gets ugly.

Private equity-owned home service companies have huge margins to play with.

They can list "Drain cleaning starting at $49" knowing they'll upsell once they're in the door.

Independent contractors listing honest prices will look expensive by comparison.

That said, you can't ignore this feature. It's only going to get more prominent.

Here's how to make sure Google's AI finds your pricing:

A locksmith in Texas invested $7,500 in our SEO sprint.

They've completed over $150k in jobs within 7 months (all from organic search).

Here's exactly what we did: 1. Fixed their GBP to rank in the Map Pack.

When we started, their profile was a mess:

> Wrong primary category (Handyman instead of Locksmith)
> 18 reviews total
> Generic business name with zero keywords
> Stock photos uploaded in 2019
> No service descriptions
> No review responses

We optimized everything:

> Changed category to Locksmith
> Got them a DBA with their brand + target keyword
> Uploaded real ~40 job photos
> Built out their services section completely
> Added keyword-rich service descriptions

Your GBP links to your homepage.

Google sees zero local relevance and drops your Map Pack ranking.

Here's exactly how to optimize your connected landing page to rank higher: 1. Your H1, title tag, and first paragraph must match your GBP location exactly.

If your GBP is in Pflugerville, your H1 should be:

"Emergency Plumber Pflugerville - Fast Service in Pflugerville, TX" or similar.

Not "Plumbing Services Austin Metro"

Not "Serving Central Texas"

The exact city your GBP is registered in.

Your title tag needs it too.

First paragraph should mention the local city within 15 words.

Google's algorithm looks for this location match between your GBP and landing page.

Make it obvious.

A residential construction company we work with closed a $240k job last Friday.

Lead came from a new GBP we set up 5 months ago.

Here's the exact setup we used to rank a second location fast: When we started, they had one GBP ranking 4th in their city.

Getting decent calls but wanted more coverage.

We built a second location to expand their reach.

Building location service pages is an incredible way to show up locally.

But most websites do it COMPLETELY wrong.

Here's how I make location pages that actually rank: Most service businesses build location pages like this:

> Copy the Miami page
> Replace "Miami" with "Boca Raton"
> Change nothing else
> Repeat for 50 cities

Google flags this as duplicate content.

Now your pages compete against each other instead of competitors and none of them rank.

You're embedding your GBP map on every service page.

Google sees this as spam signals from one location.

Your rankings drop because of it.

Here's the right way to do it: Before we go into the proper setup, here's why it matters.

Your GBP is registered at one physical address.

Let's say it's in Austin.

But you serve Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and Pflugerville.

So you built service pages for each city.

Then you embedded your Austin GBP map on all of them.

Google sees your Austin address embedded on a page claiming to serve Round Rock.

Confused Google = bad rankings

Built a "proxy business" for an HVAC client.

Different name and branding.

Now they rank as 2 of the 3 Map Pack spots in their city.

Here's exactly how you can do the same:

(Warning: advanced strategy) 1. Registered the new GBP with completely unique NAP.

Not similar to the main business.

Totally different name and address.

Google sees it as a new business.

To do so, we setup a DBA for their current company with the new address.

This roofing company has spent ~$35k with us.

They've closed over $350k in the past 5 months.

Here's the local signal stacking system we used: 1. Review velocity became their priority.

They had 47 reviews when we started.

4.5 star rating but almost no new reviews coming in.

We implemented our reviews system and they started getting 18-25 reviews per month consistently.

Not by begging every customer...

By training their crews to ask in person only after perfect jobs.

Then following up via text 24 and 72 hours later.

Google sees fresh review activity as a trust signal.

This alone moved them from 11th to 6th in about 60 days.

This HVAC company has worked with me for 9 months.

We've brought them multiple six-figures in jobs.

Here's how we rank in the most competitive niche on Google: 1. Correct Google Business Profile category.

They were listed as "HVAC Contractor" as their primary.

Sounds right. It's not.

Here's why:

Google shows "HVAC Contractor" for broad searches like "hvac company near me" but most emergency calls are specific.

"AC repair near me" at 9pm in July when it's 95 degrees.

Think about the intent of your customer's search.

We changed their primary category to "Air Conditioning Contractor" and added "HVAC contractor" and "Furnace repair service" as secondaries.

Within 5 weeks they started appearing for service-specific searches instead of generic ones.

Calls from GBP jumped from 18 per month to over 40.

Your Google Business Profile is losing you money.

Most service businesses have 3-5 issues that sandbag their rankings.

Fix these and you'll rank higher within weeks: 1. Your primary category is probably wrong.

Pick the ONE service you want to rank for most.

Not "General Contractor" or "Handyman."

Pick "Kitchen Remodeling" or "Bathroom Remodeling."

Be specific.

Most service businesses send the same boring review request everyone else sends.

"We'd love a review if you have time!"

Gets ignored 90% of the time.

Here are 5 ways to actually get customers to leave reviews: 1. Ask in person before you leave.

Have a QR code on the back of your phone.

"Mind leaving us a review? It takes 30 seconds, here's the QR code."

Walk them through it right there.

In-person requests get 10x better response than texts or emails sent later.

I ranked a landscaping company top 3 in 7 different cities.

They only have one website and one GBP.

STEAL my location page strategy I use to rank in multiple areas: 1. One generic service page won't rank in multiple cities.

Google matches search intent to page content.

Someone searching "drain cleaning Round Rock" wants a page ABOUT drain cleaning IN Round Rock.

Not a generic page that mentions 10 cities.

Your competitor with a dedicated Round Rock page will outrank you every time.

Your landing page loses 60% of visitors in the first 3 seconds.

Above the fold needs 5 things.

Nothing else matters if these aren't there:

(Bookmark for later) 1. Service + City in your headline.

"HVAC Repair in Austin" beats "Quality Climate Solutions" every time.

People need to know what you do and where you do it immediately.

(And it helps you rank for that keyword)

This roofer was burning $5k/month with another agency.

In 45 days we DOUBLED their organic calls from Google.

Here’s how: Here are the campaign stats (so far).

Previously:
> 28 calls in 30 days
> Ranking after 15 competitors on Google Maps

45 days later with my process:
> 59 calls in 30 days
> Ranking in the Map Pack for their target keyword (18 mile radius)