Can you help me get on the first page of Google?
That’s the question every roofing, HVAC, and plumbing business owner eventually asks, and for good reason. The first page isn’t just a bragging right. It’s survival.
Here’s why: the top three organic results snag 68.7% of all clicks. The #1 spot alone pulls in a 27.6% click-through rate. And the second page? Only 0.78% of users even bother clicking there. Translation: if you’re not showing up on page one, your competitors are eating your lunch.
So, how do you get there? And more importantly, how do you stay there while actually getting calls, leads, and jobs that pay? Let’s get straight to what works.
Why the First Page of Google Matters
Think about it: when was the last time you clicked to page two of Google? Exactly. Almost no one does. Over 90% of all clicks happen on page one. And the top three spots? They hog nearly 70% of those clicks.
For contractors, that stat isn’t just trivia, it’s your bottom line.
- No page one = no eyeballs.
- No eyeballs = no calls.
- No calls = no leads.
Meanwhile, your competitors are on page one. And every time a homeowner searches “roof repair near me” or “AC installation,” they’re the ones raking in the leads that could have been yours.
This isn’t about bragging rights or showing up first just to look good. It’s survival. If you’re invisible online, you’re practically handing jobs to the company down the street.
Want the calls to come to you instead? Page one is the only place to play.
Traffic doesn’t just dip after page one, it falls off a cliff. The chart above shows how engagement drops like a rock once you leave those top spots.
The Core of SEO Success for Contractors
Getting to the first page of Google isn’t just about stuffing keywords or tinkering with one or two tricks. It’s about building a strong foundation across multiple areas that all work together. Here’s where contractors need to focus if they want to dominate the first page of Google.
How Local SEO Puts Contractors on the Map
Homeowners don’t search for “best roofer nationwide.” They type “roof repair near me” or “AC installation Minneapolis.” That’s why local SEO is the first move that matters.
Start by claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile. It’s the digital storefront for your company. When it’s set up right, you appear in local searches and Google Maps, exactly where customers are looking.
Businesses with fully optimized GBPs are 2.7 times more likely to be seen as reputable, 70% more likely to get store visits, and 50% more likely to generate purchases. Those numbers alone prove why this step is too important to ignore.
Then there are reviews. Every homeowner reads them. Every search engine counts them. They are reputation fuel and ranking power rolled into one.
Miss these basics and you’re not just losing visibility, you’re handing jobs to your competition.
Your Website is Your Sales Machine
Your site is not just a brochure. It’s your 24/7 salesperson, and if it underperforms, leads slip through the cracks.
Consider speed. A five second load time means people bail. Conversion rates drop by 2.5 to 3 times compared to a one second load. Even a single second delay can cause up to a 20 percent drop in conversions.
Now layer in mobile. Most homeowners search on their phones when they need help fast. If your site looks clunky or loads slowly on mobile, you’re losing calls before they even reach you.
And then there’s the call to action. It should be obvious how to get in touch. A button that says call now. A form that says book an estimate. No confusion. No hunting. Just clear direction that turns clicks into customers.
Content That Ranks (and Sells)
Google rewards sites that keep producing fresh, valuable content. That means strong service pages and blog posts that answer real questions.
Think about the common things homeowners ask:
- How much does a roof replacement cost
- Why is my AC blowing warm air
- Do I need to replace or repair my furnace
Each question is a chance to show up on page one. Each post positions you as the trusted expert.
The effect builds over time. More content means more entry points to your site. Thin or copied content, on the other hand, drags you down.
If you’re still wondering whether blogging works, read Hook’s breakdown: Do blog posts still work for contractors? Spoiler alert: it does, when it’s done strategically.
Building Authority with Backlinks
Imagine another respected business owner saying, “Yep, I trust these guys.” That’s what a backlink is in the digital world.
Google cares who links to you. Quality backlinks boost your authority and help you outrank competitors. Weak or spammy links, though, do the opposite.
Strong sources include:
- Partnerships with other local businesses
- Mentions from trade associations
- Coverage in local press or blogs
Think of backlinks as reputation currency. The more quality ones you earn, the stronger your authority becomes, and the easier it is to climb to the top of the search results.
Where Most SEO Agencies Drop the Ball
Most contractors have been burned by an SEO agency at least once. The pitch sounds amazing. The results? Not so much.
Here’s where agencies tend to fall apart:
- Quick wins that vanish. They promise page one in 30 days. Maybe you see a spike, but it doesn’t last. The rankings slip, the calls dry up, and you’re left frustrated.
- One-size-fits-all strategies. Your business is local. Your customers are unique. Yet too many agencies run the same template for a roofer in Minnesota as they do for a plumber in Texas. It never works long term.
- Reports that don’t mean anything. Lots of charts. Lots of jargon. But no clear tie to calls, leads, or jobs. That’s smoke and mirrors, not results.
And here’s the truth:
Contractors don’t want fluff. You want the phone to ring. You want leads you can turn into real jobs. You want straight answers, not vague promises.
When agencies drop the ball on those basics, it’s money lost to competitors who are getting it right.
What Hook Agency Does Differently
Most agencies treat contractors like they’re just another line item in a spreadsheet. Same strategy, same reports, same disappointing results. That’s not how we work. At Hook, everything we do is built for contractors, because we know roofing, HVAC, and plumbing businesses don’t win with cookie-cutter marketing.
We start by building systems designed specifically for your world. Local competition. Seasonal swings. Urgent homeowners who need help now. That’s the reality, and that’s what our strategies are tailored to address.
We’re also obsessed with transparency. You see the exact numbers we see.
- Calls coming in
- Leads generated
- Rankings moving up
No smoke and mirrors, just proof your investment is working.
And here’s the big one: we care about growth that shows up on the job board, not just vanity metrics. It’s easy to brag about impressions or clicks. But what matters is whether you’re booking real work. That’s what we measure ourselves against.
If you want to see how we approach content, we’ve shared our process in How Hook Agency Creates Content That Ranks, Builds Trust, and Converts. It’s the same system we use for contractors who want to show up as the trusted local authority.
Your website plays a huge role too. It can’t just sit there looking pretty. It has to convert. That’s why our website design services focus on speed, clarity, and making it easy for homeowners to take action. Pair that with our proven SEO strategies and you’ve got a full system for getting found and getting chosen.
Time to Claim Your Spot on Page One
The first page of Google isn’t optional. It’s where the jobs are won, the calls come in, and the competition gets ahead if you are not there.
We know how it feels to be let down by agencies that overpromise and underdeliver. You put in the money, waited for results, and got nothing but pretty reports with no real leads. That story is too common.
With Hook, it is different. We build strategies that get you found, get you calls, and get you work on the books. No fluff. No guesswork. Just a system that turns online visibility into real growth. Schedule a call with Hook Agency to get a custom SEO game plan that actually works.
