Curb Appeal Counts: How Outdoor Contractors Can Win More Jobs With Smart Local SEO
By Dipa Gandhi
Read it to me! Click the video below.
For outdoor contractors—landscapers, painters, deck builders, and porch renovators—the curb appeal of a home is more than a cosmetic fix. It's the heart of your business. Homeowners rely on your expertise to increase their property’s beauty, functionality, and value. But if they can’t find your business online when they’re searching for help, you’re missing out on jobs you could have won.
Losing Customers Before They Call
A contractor in Richmond was known locally for transforming drab porches into welcoming spaces. His craftsmanship was top-tier, and most clients were thrilled. But months would go by with barely a phone call or email inquiry.
The problem? He wasn’t showing up in local searches. When potential customers typed in “porch renovation near me” or “exterior house painter Richmond,” his competitors were dominating the Google Map Pack and search results. Even worse, he was spending on Google Ads with no real returns—his budget was leaking away on broad match keywords and untargeted audiences.
This isn’t unique.
Far too many home service contractors either ignore local SEO or mismanage their Google Ads. In today’s competitive digital space, relying solely on word of mouth or a basic website isn’t enough.
The Missed Opportunity in Google Business Profile Posts
Many contractors claim their Google Business Profile (GBP) but stop at the basics—name, address, phone number. What they’re missing is a powerful (and free) promotional tool: Google Posts.
Posts allow you to:
- Highlight seasonal promotions (e.g., “Spring porch painting special – 15% off!”)
- Showcase recent projects with photos
- Announce limited-time services like pressure washing after storms
- Add urgency with time-sensitive offers
These posts appear directly in your GBP listing and give customers a reason to act now—not just bookmark your business for later.
Example: A Denver-based painter began posting weekly updates with real before-and-after photos and special deals. Within 60 days, inbound calls jumped by 40%, and customers frequently referenced the “offer they saw on Google.”
Targeting the Right Customers with Smarter Google Ads
Not all Google Ads are created equal. Throwing money at broad searches like “painting” or “deck builder” won’t deliver targeted leads. The key lies in crafting campaigns that speak to the specific problems your customers are trying to solve.
Instead of bidding on generic terms, use long-tail keywords and location targeting. For instance:
- “Exterior painting for wood siding in [City]”
- “Front porch rebuild estimate near [Zip Code]”
- “Landscape design for curb appeal in [Neighborhood]”
Tighten your targeting further with:
- Radius settings that focus within your service area
- Ad copy that references current homeowner concerns (e.g., “Boost your home’s curb appeal before summer BBQs”)
- Landing pages optimized for mobile users with one-click call buttons
This approach doesn’t just reduce wasted ad spend—it attracts ready-to-book homeowners.
Real-World Impact
One porch renovation contractor in Atlanta was paying $25 per click for loosely targeted ads that rarely turned into leads. After shifting to specific keyword groups and matching his GBP posts with current promotions, his lead cost dropped to $9.82. He also began capturing more leads during peak season when competition was fierce and homeowners were planning outdoor projects.
Your Curb Appeal Starts Online
Whether you’re painting, building, landscaping, or renovating—your next customer is searching online. If you’re not showing up in local searches or if your profile is inactive, they’ll never know how good your work really is.
Here’s how to get ahead:
- Keep your GBP active with weekly posts featuring real photos and seasonal offers
- Optimize your Google Ads with specific, localized keywords
- Make sure your website and landing pages are mobile-friendly and fast-loading
- Track leads by source so you know what’s working—and where to double down
