Short answer: pick the agency that shows you real work you can open and click, explains in plain words what they will do each month, lets you own your site and accounts, and does not lock you into a contract. Pick on proof and control, not on a slick pitch.
If you are searching for a contractor marketing agency, you have probably tried something already. A web guy who vanished. An ad company that sent you a report full of clicks and no jobs. This page gives you a short checklist so you can compare any agency, including us, on the things that matter.
Start with what you actually need
Before you talk to anyone, decide what problem you are fixing. Agencies are good at selling what they already have, so know what you want first.
- Not showing up on Google. You need a better website and Google profile work. This is slower and keeps working after you stop paying attention to it.
- Need jobs this month. Paid ads can start fast, but the leads stop when the spend stops.
- Leads come in but do not book. You need faster follow up, not more leads.
- Few reviews. You need a simple, automatic way to ask after every job.
Most contractors need a mix, in that order: be findable, be trusted, answer fast. Our guide on SEO versus Facebook ads explains how to think about the two big paths.
Ask to see work you can open yourself
A screenshot proves nothing. Ask for the live address of sites they built, and for the names of the owners. Then open them on your phone. Look at three things:
- Does it load fast and look good on a phone?
- Does it have a page for each service and each town, or just one Services page?
- Does the company show up when you search its service and town on Google?
Then ask to talk to one of those owners. An agency with happy customers will make that call easy. You can see examples of our own on the results page.
Questions to ask on the call
What exactly will you do for me each month?
You want a plain list: pages written, profile updates, review requests sent, reports delivered. "We optimize your presence" is not an answer. If you cannot picture the work, you cannot tell whether it happened.
Who will actually do the work?
Some agencies sell you with a senior person and hand your account to a rookie or send it overseas without telling you. Ask who writes your pages, who runs your account, and who you call.
Who owns the site, the domain and the Google profile?
The right answer is you, on every one. If the agency holds the logins in their name, you cannot leave without losing it all. Ask for written confirmation. We dig into this in our piece on contractor website hosting.
How will I know it is working?
Good agencies track calls, form fills and booked jobs, not just clicks and impressions. Ask how a lead gets counted, and whether you can see the same numbers they see.
What happens if I want to leave?
You should be able to leave with your site, your content, your photos and your accounts, and not pay a penalty to do it.
Red flags
- Guaranteed page one in thirty days. Nobody controls Google. A promise like that is a sales line.
- Long contracts. If the work is good, they do not need to trap you. A lock-in usually means they expect you to want out.
- Vague reports. Charts of impressions and "reach" that never mention calls or jobs.
- They hold your logins. Your site, domain and profile should be in your name.
- They do everything for every industry. Contractors are not restaurants. Ask how many contractors they work with.
- Pressure to decide today. A fair offer is still fair tomorrow.
- Cheap lead resale. If they sell you leads that other companies also get, you are back to bidding for the same homeowner.
If you stopped paying tomorrow, would you keep the site, the pages and the profile you paid to build? If not, you were renting.
How to compare two agencies fairly
Put them side by side on the same short list. Do not compare on how good the pitch felt.
- Live sites I can open and click.
- A plain list of monthly work.
- I own the site, domain and Google profile.
- Reports on calls and booked jobs.
- No long contract and a clear way to leave.
- They work with contractors, not everybody.
The agency that checks the most boxes is almost always the right call, even if the pitch was less polished.
One monthly plan versus a pile of vendors
Many contractors end up with a web designer, an ad person, a review tool and a follow up tool, each with its own bill and none talking to the others. It is hard to tell which one is working and easy for things to fall through.
A single plan that covers the site, the Google profile, reviews and lead follow up has one place to look and one person to hold to account. It is also easier to tell whether the money is working, since the whole picture is in one spot.
What to do this week
- Write down the one problem you most need fixed.
- Ask any agency you are considering for three live sites and one owner to call.
- Check who holds the logins on your current site and domain.
- Search your main service plus your town. If you are not in the map, that is your starting point.
- Ask each agency the five questions above and write down the answers.
The bottom line
The best contractor marketing agency is the one that shows real work, does real work every month, lets you own everything, and lets you leave. Everything else is packaging.
Our plan is one monthly plan: a custom site with a page per service and per town, Google profile work, automatic review requests and AI follow up on every lead. You own it, and there is no contract.
Questions contractors ask
How do I choose a marketing agency for my contracting business?
Pick on proof and control. Ask for live sites you can open, a plain list of monthly work, written confirmation that you own your site, domain and Google profile, and reports that count calls and booked jobs. Skip anyone who guarantees rankings or ties you to a long contract.
What questions should I ask a contractor marketing agency?
Ask what exactly they do each month, who does the work, who owns the site and accounts, how they count a lead, and what happens if you leave. Also ask to speak with one current contractor client.
What are red flags with a marketing agency?
Guaranteed page one rankings, long contracts, vague reports full of impressions, holding your logins in their name, working with every industry, pressure to sign today, and selling shared leads.
Should I own my website and Google profile?
Yes. The domain, the website and the Google Business Profile should all be in your name with your email on the account. If an agency holds them, you cannot leave without losing what you paid for.
How long does contractor SEO take to work?
Map results can move in a few weeks if the profile was neglected. Ranking website pages for service and town searches usually takes three to six months. Anyone promising results in days is selling you something.
Is a contract with a marketing agency normal?
It is common, but it is not required. An agency that does good work does not need to lock you in. A month to month plan keeps them honest and keeps you in control.
Want a second opinion before you sign?
Book a free strategy call. We will look at your site and your Google profile with you and show you what is holding them back.
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