January 05, 2026
If you're a plumber, HVAC contractor, or home services business owner, you've probably asked yourself this question more than once. Getting your business to show up at the top of Google isn't just about bragging rights. It's about getting more calls, more leads, and more jobs.
The truth is, ranking at the top of Google search results is both simpler and more complex than most people think. There's no magic trick or secret formula, but there are proven strategies that work. Let me walk you through exactly what you need to do.
Why Ranking at the Top Matters for Home Services Companies
Before we get into the how, let's talk about the why. According to our keyword research using Ahrefs, searches like "plumber in Orlando" get 500 monthly searches with a traffic potential of 1,100 visits. The keyword "plumbing companies near me" gets 26,000 searches monthly with a traffic potential of 28,000 visits. That tells us two things:
- Business owners are actively looking for this information
- The businesses that rank for these terms are getting massive traffic
For home services companies, being at the top of Google when someone searches "emergency plumber near me" or "HVAC repair Atlanta" can be the difference between a phone that won't stop ringing and wondering where your next job will come from.
The Two Types of Google Rankings You Need to Understand
When someone searches for your services on Google, they're going to see two main types of results:
The Local Map Pack: These are the three businesses that show up in the map section, typically with a red pin. This is prime real estate for local service businesses.
Organic Search Results: These are the traditional blue links that appear below the map pack. These listings are based on the overall strength and relevance of your website.
To dominate Google search, you need to focus on both.
Step 1: Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the single most important factor in showing up in the local map pack. With 123,000 monthly searches for "google business profile" and a traffic potential of 98,000 visits, it's clear this is critical.
Here's what you need to do:
Claim your profile. If you haven't already, go to google.com/business and claim your listing. Verify it through the postcard, phone, or email method Google provides.
Complete every single section. Don't leave anything blank. Add your business hours, services, service areas, photos, and a detailed business description. Google rewards complete profiles.
Choose the right categories. Your primary category should be exactly what you do (like "Plumber" or "HVAC Contractor"). Add secondary categories for specialties you offer.
Upload high-quality photos regularly. Businesses with photos get 42% more requests for directions and 35% more clicks to their websites. Take photos of your team, your trucks, completed jobs, and your service area.
Get reviews and respond to every one. Reviews are ranking signals. Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews, and respond to every review (positive or negative) within 24-48 hours.
Step 2: Build a Website That Google Actually Wants to Rank
Having a website isn't enough. You need a website that's built for search engines and converts visitors into customers. Based on Ahrefs data showing "how to rank on google" has 600 searches but a traffic potential of 494,000 visits, it's clear that ranking well can drive massive traffic.
Make it fast. Google prioritizes fast-loading websites. If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, you're losing both rankings and customers.
Make it mobile-friendly. Over 60% of local searches happen on mobile devices. If your site doesn't work perfectly on phones, you're invisible to most of your potential customers.
Create location-specific pages. If you serve multiple cities, create a dedicated page for each location. A generic "Service Areas" page won't cut it. You need individual pages like "Plumbing Services in Marietta, GA" with unique content about that specific area.
Add customer testimonials and trust signals. Reviews, certifications, years in business, and before-and-after photos all help convince both Google and customers that you're legitimate.
Step 3: Target the Right Keywords
Not all keywords are created equal. You need to focus on keywords that have commercial intent, meaning people are ready to hire someone, not just browsing.
Focus on "near me" searches. Optimize for searches like "plumber near me" or "emergency HVAC repair near me." These searches have exploded in recent years.
Target your services + your city. Create content around searches like "water heater installation Atlanta" or "AC repair Marietta." These are high-intent searches from people ready to call.
Don't ignore long-tail keywords. While "plumber" might get huge search volume, "24-hour emergency plumber for frozen pipes" is more specific and often easier to rank for. Based on our keyword research showing related terms with lower difficulty scores, these long-tail keywords can be your fastest path to rankings.
Step 4: Build Local Citations and Get Backlinks
Google wants to see that your business is legitimate and established in your community. Citations (mentions of your business name, address, and phone number) and backlinks (links from other websites to yours) tell Google you're the real deal.
Get listed in local directories. Yelp, Angi, HomeAdvisor, Yellow Pages, and industry-specific directories all matter. Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are exactly the same everywhere.
Get involved in your community. Sponsor a little league team, join the chamber of commerce, or donate to local charities. These often result in backlinks from local websites, which Google values highly.
Build relationships with complementary businesses. If you're a plumber, connect with realtors, property managers, and general contractors. These relationships can lead to referrals and valuable backlinks.
Step 5: Create Content That Answers Your Customers' Questions
Content marketing isn't just for big brands. When homeowners have problems, they Google them. If you're the business that provides the answer, you're the business they'll call.
Start a blog and post regularly. Write about common problems your customers face. "Why is my furnace making a loud noise?" or "How much does it cost to replace a water heater in Atlanta?" These questions get searched thousands of times per month.
Make your content local. Don't write generic content. Talk about issues specific to your area, like "How Georgia's clay soil affects your plumbing" or "Why Atlanta's humidity impacts your HVAC system."
Use real examples from your work. Share photos, explain the problem you solved, and walk through your solution. This builds trust and shows Google you're an authority in your field.
Step 6: Track Your Results and Adjust
You can't improve what you don't measure. Set up tracking so you know what's working and what's not.
Use Google Analytics. See where your website visitors are coming from and what they're doing on your site.
Monitor your rankings. Check where you rank for your key terms monthly. Are you moving up or falling behind?
Track your calls and leads. Use call tracking software to know which marketing efforts are actually bringing in business.
How Long Does It Take to Rank at the Top?
I'll be straight with you: ranking at the top of Google doesn't happen overnight. With keyword difficulty scores ranging from 52 to 66 for ranking-related terms (based on our Ahrefs data), these are competitive spaces.
For local map pack rankings, you can often see movement in 1-3 months if you optimize your Google Business Profile aggressively and get consistent reviews.
For organic rankings, it typically takes 3-6 months to see significant results, and 6-12 months to really dominate your local market. The businesses that commit to the process and stay consistent are the ones that win.
The Bottom Line
Getting your business to the top of Google search isn't about tricks or shortcuts. It's about:
- Optimizing your Google Business Profile completely
- Building a fast, mobile-friendly website with location-specific content
- Targeting the right keywords with commercial intent
- Building citations and backlinks to establish credibility
- Creating helpful content that answers real questions
- Staying consistent over time
The home services companies that dominate Google in their markets aren't necessarily the biggest or the oldest. They're the ones that understand how search works and put in the effort to rank.
If you're ready to stop watching your competitors show up first and start getting those calls yourself, the time to start is now. And if you need help navigating the complexities of local SEO, that's exactly what we do at RedBrick Web Solutions.
Need help getting your business to rank at the top of Google? Contact RedBrick Web Solutions today. We specialize in SEO and digital marketing for plumbers, HVAC contractors, electricians, and home services businesses. Let's get your phone ringing.
