5 Simple Tips to Increase Google Ranking for Free
#1 Claim and Verify Your Google Business Profile (GBP) Listing
This may sound basic, but it's I'm always surprised by the number of plumbing & HVAC shops who don't have this step down. There’s a good chance a GBP listing has already been auto-generated for your company.
For that listing to do your business any good, you need to claim it.
To find out if you’ve already claimed your listing, simply Google your business name. On the right side of the SERP, you’ll likely see a box pop up with information about your business. If you see the words “Own this business?” and “Add missing information,” you’ve not yet claimed your listing. That means your business is not verified with Google, and your SERP rank is suffering.
Claiming your listing is ridiculously simple:
- Go to google.com/business and sign up.
- Select your business category.
- Tell Google your service area by manually inputting each specific city you serve.
- Enter your website exactly as it appears in your browser window. (Literally copy and paste the URL just to be safe.)
- Complete your business description. Your customers will see this, so help them understand what problems you can solve for them and why they should choose you. Use keywords , too.
Verifying your listing is also simple. Once you’ve claimed your GBP listing, Google will mail a postcard with a verification code to the address you used. Simply follow the instructions on the postcard to enter the code. Poof ! You’re now verified!
#2 Make Sure You’re On the Map
With a verified GBP listing, your business should be showing up on Google Maps. This is a big deal, because lots of your customers are searching for your services by typing into Google things like, “plumber near me” or “HVAC [your city name].”
If you’re not showing up on the map, make sure your basic business information is listed exactly the same, everywhere : GBP, your website footer, your Facebook page, Angie’s List, and so on. Your basic information includes:
- Your business name. Make sure you type it exactly the same, right down to the comma before “LLC” if you use one.
- Your address. If you abbreviate “St.” in some places, abbreviate it in all places.
- Your phone number.
- Your website URL.
- Your hours of operation.
Google doesn’t like inconsistency and it will penalize you for it by pushing you down on the SERP. Also, as a sidebar: we tend to find that companies with a physical address outrank companies that have a hidden maps location. So, if you're in a competitive market, consider getting an actual, physical address that customers can visit (if they desire).
#3 Leverage your GBP Listing
Claiming your GBP listing is only the first step, friends. If you don’t actually use the tool, you’re 100% losing potential customers to your competitors who are.
- Add photos. Businesses with photos get up to 35% more clicks than businesses without them. Learn how to optimize your photos for GBP.
- Request reviews. GBP makes it easy to request reviews from your customers . If you want to beat your competition, you need to have more reviews than they do. Also, your reviews need to be current. 150 gazillion reviews from six months ago won’t do you any good.
- Manage your reviews. Respond to every single review you receive—even if it’s just a star-rating and especially if it’s negative. Interacting with people who leave reviews demonstrates good customer service.
- Publish to your GBP profile. Keep your listing fresh by creating local posts to share helpful information or promotions with your audience.
- Enable messaging. Make it easy for customers to get in touch with you by using the built-in messaging feature. Half of your potential customers prefer to reach out via messaging than via phone.
Using GBP to its fullest potential will take some time, but it’s worth it. By taking advantage of GBP for home services businesses, you’ll not only be on the map, but you could get yourself a spot in the coveted Google Maps Pack . Otherwise known as the “local pack,” these are the first three listings appearing in the maps section on the SERP—and they get nearly half the clicks.
#4 Get Comfy with Google Analytics
- When relevant, link your high-potential content with already high-performing content.
- Freshen up the content and share it on social media to get more traffic to it.
- Add or update photos on the page and make sure everything’s mobile-friendly.
#5 Create and Share Helpful Content
SEO for Plumbing and HVAC
Was This Helpful?
Sign up here, and we'll automatically email you as we publish new articles that you may find useful.
Was This Helpful?
As Seen In:
Is your website helping or hurting your SEO efforts? Find out now for free.
We've got give-a-damn for days.
When my team talks with new clients, we hear a ton of frustration, overwhelm, and general fed-up-ness.
I'm guessing you can relate.
Maybe you've been trying to figure out all this marketing stuff on your own OR you've handed a crap-ton of money to an "expert" for no apparent reason.
Your phones still aren't ringing like they should.
Your advertising still isn't performing like you expected.
Your website's still not ranking or converting like it needs to.
You can't figure out why... and/or your current marketing "partner" isn't 'fessing up.
We think you deserve better.

Ryan Redding
CEO Levergy
Author of The Book on Digital Marketing for Plumbing and HVAC Contractors
Here's how we'll get you more plumbing, HVAC, electrical, garage door, roofing, or other home service leads:

Tell us what's keeping you up at night.
Let's get on a call so you can tell us where your business is and where you want to go. We'll follow-up with a free, comprehensive assessment and actionable tips.

We'll help you fix it.
If you like what you see so far, we'll put together a customized plan with transparent, flat-rate pricing—and then get to work growing your business.

So you can breathe easy.
Have peace of mind knowing you have a true partner on your side who cares about your success as much as you do.
What you get is important.
How you're treated is what sets us apart.
Culpeper Home Services
"... they always go above and beyond the call of duty. I'm impressed with their work ethic, loyalty, and integrity."
- Russell Furr, President
The Clog Dawg
"[Levergy] understood my specific needs and got the work done—bypassing all the unnecessary nonsense. And now business is booming!"
- Steven Douglass, President
Your mileage may vary.
Better results are here.
Discover how to stop wasting money on marketing that doesn't work, and make your phone ring off the hook.
