Own your
pipeline.

• ○Claim & verify your Google Business ProfileSearch your business name on Google. If there's an unclaimed listing, claim it. If there's none, create one. Verify by postcard, phone, or video — whatever Google offers you.
• ○Set the right primary categoryPick the most specific category that matches your trade (e.g. 'Plumber', not 'Contractor'). Add secondary categories for the other services you actually do.
• ○Define your service areaList the cities/ZIPs you actually serve. If you work out of a truck and not a storefront, hide your address and set a service area instead.
• ○Set accurate hours + 'open 24h' for emergenciesIf you take emergency calls, say so. Wrong hours is the #1 reason a ready-to-buy customer calls the next guy.
• ○Add 10+ real photos of your workBefore/afters, your truck, your crew, finished jobs. Real photos from a phone beat stock every time. Add a few more each month.
• ○List your services with descriptionsFill out the Services section with each job type and a one-line description. This is free keyword real estate Google reads.
• ○Write a plain-English business descriptionWho you are, what you do, the area you cover, how long you've been at it. No keyword stuffing — write like a person.
• ○Post an update (and keep doing it)A recent job, a seasonal reminder, a promo. A profile that posts looks alive; one that hasn't moved in a year looks closed.

Reviews are the engine of an owned pipeline — they feed your Google ranking and close the next customer. The trick is asking at the moment the job ends. Swap in your details and the direct review link from your Google Business Profile.

Hi [Name], thanks for having [Business] out today — glad we got the [job] sorted. If you've got 30 seconds, a quick Google review really helps a small shop like ours: [review link]. Either way, call us anytime.

Subject: Quick favor?

Hi [Name],

Thanks again for trusting [Business] with your [job]. It was a pleasure working with you.

If you were happy with how it went, would you mind leaving a short Google review? It's the single biggest thing that helps neighbors find us instead of an out-of-town lead service. Takes about a minute:

[review link]

And if anything's not 100%, reply here first — I'd rather fix it than have you find out later.

Thanks,
[Your name], [Business]
[phone]

Hi [Name], [Your name] from [Business]. I want to make sure we left you 100% happy with the [job]. If anything fell short, text me straight back and I'll make it right.

• ○Get your name, address, phone identical everywhereGBP, your site, Yelp, Facebook, the BBB — exact same format. Inconsistent 'NAP' info quietly tanks local ranking.
• ○Stand up a simple site you ownOne page is fine to start: who you are, services, service area, phone, and a way to message you. It's the asset no platform can switch off.
• ○Add a page per city you serveA short, honest page for each town ('Plumber in [City]') with real detail beats one generic page for local search.
• ○Show your Google reviews on your siteEmbed or quote your real reviews. Social proof where buyers land closes the loop.
• ○Claim the free directory listingsYelp, Bing Places, Apple Business Connect, your trade association. Free, and each one is another path to your phone.
• ○Make the phone number tap-to-call on mobileMost trade searches happen on a phone with a problem right now. If they can't tap to call in one move, you lost them.