Most contractors are doing at least one thing to get leads. Maybe they’ve set up a Google Business Profile. Maybe they’ve invested in SEO. Maybe they’re running a few ads.

And sometimes, that’s enough to get by but it’s never enough to truly dominate the market.

On average, it takes 3.5 different channels of communication with a customer to convert them. That means before someone calls you, they’ve seen you on multiple platforms like search, maps, YouTube, social media, ads, or even directories like Yelp and Houzz. And for bigger-ticket decisions like home remodels, roof installations, plumbing overhaul, that number goes even higher.

This is what a typical buyer journey looks like:

• It starts with early research. They’re not even ready to hire yet. They’re asking broad questions like “how much does a home renovation cost” or “can I live in my house during construction,” and looking for answers on Google, YouTube, and social media.
  
  
• They gather ideas and get familiar. They read blog posts, scan Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration, and watch TikToks or YouTube videos that show before-and-afters or tips from contractors.
  
  
• Once they’re more serious, they start searching locally. They Google terms like “kitchen remodeler near me” or “roofing contractor in [city],” and they start noticing which names keep showing up.
  
  
• They click into Google Maps. They scan reviews, check star ratings, look at photos, and maybe watch a few testimonial videos if available.
  
  
• They browse websites. Usually two or three. They look at your past work, services, pricing language, and how confident or clear your message is.
  
  
• They scroll social again. They might see your business pop up on Instagram or Facebook, or remember something they saw earlier. That familiarity builds trust.
  
  
• Later, they get retargeted. A Google ad or social video reminds them who they saw earlier and pushes them closer to action.
  
  
• Finally, when they’re ready, they call the business they’ve seen the most—the one they trust.

Now think about your own marketing.

If you’re only showing up in one or two places, what are the chances you’re the contractor they remember? The one they trust enough to call?

And if you are doing a bit of everything—SEO, ads, website, social—how connected is it? 

Most contractors have one person running ads, another touching the site, another doing random IG/FB posts. No one is thinking about how it all fits together or if the messaging is consistent. 

It’s not that the tools don’t work. It’s that no one’s putting them to work as a system.

Businesses with one clear message showing up everywhere win.

Right now, the contractors showing up across Google, Maps, and social are getting the calls. They're stacking reviews, building visibility, and becoming the go-to name in their market.

And the truth is…once they lock that in, they’re hard to catch. The contractors who figure this out now will take over the market just like the ones who jumped on the SEO bandwagon early and locked in top rankings while everyone else played catch-up. 

This shift is just beginning so there’s still time to grab attention across platforms, build trust, and become the name homeowners remember when it’s time to hire.

But if you wait? That window starts closing. The ones showing up today are building momentum that compounds—more traffic, more trust from algorithms, and more booked jobs. And once they’ve claimed those spots, it’s a lot harder (and more expensive) to earn them back.

If you miss this wave, there’s no guarantee when the next one will come.