How to Get Contractor Leads with Google Local Service Ads

Leads That Actually Call You Back – Here’s How to Get Them

Let’s cut the fluff. You’re a contractor. You don’t need “likes.” You don’t need “awareness.” You need leads – the kind that pick up the phone, book a job, and pay you. That’s why we’re talking about how to get contractor leads with Google Local Service Ads.

I’ve worked with plenty of contractors in Broward and Pembroke Pines who tried everything, flyers, HomeAdvisor, Facebook groups. Half the time it was tire kickers or folks wanting free advice. But once they got into Google Local Service Ads, things changed. Why? Because LSAs put you right where the customer is searching: the top of Google, above the regular ads and map results.

What Are Google Local Service Ads?

If you’re new to LSAs, you might be asking, “Okay, but what are Local Service Ads exactly?” We’ve already broken that down in detail in our post What Is Google Local Service Ads? – but the short version is this: they’re Google’s pay-per-lead program that puts contractors at the very top of search results, complete with the Google Guaranteed badge.

 

Step 1: Get Verified and Guaranteed

The first move in how to get contractor leads with Google Local Service Ads is passing Google’s screening. That means licenses, insurance, background checks, the whole deal. Once you’re verified, you get the Google Guaranteed checkmark. Homeowners see that, and it screams credibility.

Step 2: Optimize Your Profile

Here’s where most contractors screw it up. They set up the basics and call it a day. Don’t. To really maximize how to get contractor leads with Google Local Service Ads, you need:

• Clear service categories (don’t just say “plumbing,” list water heater installs, leak repair, etc.).

• Service areas narrowed down to where you can actually respond fast.

• Real photos of you, your crew, and your trucks.

• Accurate hours (don’t claim 24/7 if you won’t answer at 11pm).

Step 3: Stack Reviews Like Your Business Depends on It (Because It Does)

Google flat out says reviews impact ranking in LSAs. A contractor in Pembroke Pines we worked with jumped from getting 2 leads a week to 8 leads a week just by asking every happy customer for a review. Reviews = higher placement. Higher placement = more leads.

Google flat out says reviews impact ranking in LSAs. We’ve seen it firsthand, one contractor in Pembroke Pines jumped from 2 leads a week to 8 leads just by asking happy customers to leave feedback. If you’re still on the fence about reviews, check out our post on why reviews matter for your business website, it’ll show you just how much weight they carry online.

Step 4: Answer Fast or Get Buried

Speed is everything. When you’re figuring out how to get contractor leads with Google Local Service Ads, you need to know this: Google tracks your responsiveness. If you miss calls or let messages sit, your ad ranking slips, and your lead flow dries up.

Think of it from the homeowner’s side. When pipes burst, they’re not waiting around for you to maybe call back tomorrow. They’re clicking the next contractor who answers right away.

In fact, research from Harvard Business Review found that companies that contacted leads within an hour were 7 times more likely to qualify the lead than those who waited even 60 minutes (source). That urgency applies directly to LSAs. Google rewards the contractors who respond quickly with higher placement, and punishes the ones who don’t.

If you’re serious about how to get contractor leads with Google Local Service Ads, make sure every call gets answered, every message gets a reply, and your hours match your actual availability. Responsiveness = ranking.

Step 5: Budget Smart, Track Smarter

The good news: you control the budget. You set a weekly cap, and Google paces leads to fit. But don’t just “set and forget.” Track:

• How many calls turned into booked jobs.

• Average cost per lead.

• Which services bring the highest ROI.

A roofing contractor I know set a $2,500/month budget. Within 60 days, he closed over $30,000 in booked jobs. That’s not hype, that’s smart use of LSAs.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to how to get contractor leads with Google Local Service Ads, the playbook is simple: get verified, optimize your profile, earn reviews, answer the phone, and manage your budget. The contractors who treat LSAs seriously aren’t just getting more leads, they’re getting better ones. And in a business where every call counts, that’s the difference between grinding for scraps and running a pipeline that keeps the trucks rolling.