Why Your Home Service Business Needs a Marketing Plan Before Spring Hits

By Dipa Gandhi

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Spring is one of the busiest seasons for home service businesses. As temperatures rise and homeowners tackle maintenance projects, demand for roofers, landscapers, painters, and other service contractors surges. The question is: will your business be the one they call? Or will competitors with stronger marketing strategies win those leads?

Many contractors make the mistake of waiting until the season is in full swing before ramping up their marketing. By then, it’s too late. Here’s how to get ahead and ensure your phone rings off the hook when spring arrives.

Spring Leads Are Won in Winter

If you wait until March or April to start thinking about marketing, you’re already behind. Customers begin researching services weeks in advance.

• Google searches for home services spike as early as February, especially for industries like landscaping, HVAC maintenance, exterior painting, and roofing.
• Local Service Ads (LSAs) and Google Ads become more competitive, driving up cost-per-click (CPC) and cost-per-lead (CPL) as demand increases.
• Businesses that invest in SEO early rank higher, making them more visible when search volume peaks.

Proactive Marketing Steps to Take Now:

1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP) – Ensure your business is listed, verified, and fully optimized. Add updated service areas, fresh photos, and accurate business hours.
2. Run Google Ads and LSAs Now – Get ad campaigns dialed in before costs surge in spring. Use the slow season to test and refine your approach.
3. Encourage Customer Reviews – A steady flow of authentic reviews on your GBP boosts rankings and credibility. Start requesting reviews from past customers now.
4. Publish SEO-Optimized Content – Blog about common spring maintenance projects, answering homeowner questions. This builds trust and drives organic traffic.
5. Update Your Website for Conversion – Make sure your site loads fast, has strong calls to action (CTAs), and offers easy ways to contact you.
6. Leverage Email and SMS Marketing – Send reminders to past customers about scheduling early for the spring rush.

Avoid the Mistake of Over-Reliance on One Marketing Channel

Relying solely on referrals or a single platform like Facebook isn’t enough. The businesses that grow consistently use a mix of marketing strategies.

For example, a landscaping company that combined GBP optimization, Google Ads, and email marketing saw a 40% increase in bookings compared to the previous spring when they only relied on word-of-mouth. They started running LSAs early, tested ad creatives, and improved their GBP profile, which positioned them ahead of competitors when demand spiked.

Diversify your marketing efforts to maximize exposure:

• GBP & Local SEO – Capture organic and map-based searches.
• Google Ads & LSAs – Get instant visibility for high-intent searches.
• Social Media & Email – Stay top-of-mind with past customers and generate referrals.
• Direct Mail & Flyers – Target local homeowners with tangible reminders.

Get Your Marketing Systems in Place Now

Spring isn’t just about getting more leads—it’s about handling them efficiently. Many businesses get overwhelmed when lead volume spikes, leading to missed calls and lost opportunities.

• Use a CRM to manage inquiries – Tools like Zoho CRM or HighLevel help you track leads and automate follow-ups.
• Enable ‘Message Leads’ in LSA – Google prioritizes businesses that allow both email and SMS inquiries.
• Hire and train staff early – Ensure your team is prepared to handle an influx of requests.
• Set up automated appointment scheduling – Reduce friction for customers booking your services.

Final Thoughts

The businesses that dominate the spring rush aren’t the ones who start marketing when the season arrives—they’re the ones who planned months in advance. If you want to maximize revenue this spring, now is the time to take action. Optimize your online presence, launch your ads, and get your systems in place before your competitors do.