02/02/2026
Do you have a trade business and wondering why you're invisible on Google?
You don't need ads for now. You need these 3 things sorted first.
Most new home improvement businesses think they need to spend hundreds on ads straight away.
That's not where to start.
Here's what actually gets you showing up in local search (the map pack):
Google Business Profile: Set it up properly. Not just name and address. I mean categories, services, photos of actual work, and a description that mentions your location 3-4 times.
Reviews: You need at least 5-10 reviews to even compete. Ask every single customer. Make it easy. Send them a direct link.
Timing matters: Ask for a review within 24-48 hours while they're still happy, not weeks later.
How to find your direct review link: Google Business Profile app → Home → "Get more reviews" → Copy short URL.
Face-to-face ask converts 60-70%, text converts 30-40%, email converts 10-15%
Your website matching exactly: If your Google profile says "123 High Street, Manchester" but your website says "Greater Manchester Area," Google gets confused and buries you.
I've seen kitchen fitters go from page 3 to the top 3 map results in 6 weeks just by fixing these basics.
No ad spend. Just doing the groundwork right.
Save this if you want more visibility. You'll need it.