When a homeowner’s roof starts leaking, they don’t browse. They search “roofer near me” or “emergency roof repair [city]” and call whoever shows up first on Google Maps. If your roofing business isn’t listed there, or the listing is thin, you’re losing that call to a competitor before you even know it.
A Google Business Profile is how you get into that search result. Here’s how to set one up step by step.
Step 1: Create or Claim Your Profile
Go to google.com/business and click “Get Started” or “Manage now.” Sign in with a Google account that belongs to the business, not a personal account you also use for other things. If someone already created a profile for your business, maybe a past employee or even a customer, you’ll be prompted to claim it instead of starting fresh.
Pro tip: If you’re not sure whether a profile already exists, search your business name plus your city on Google first. Claiming an existing profile is faster than creating a duplicate, and duplicates can get both listings suspended.
Step 2: Enter Your Business Name and Category
Use your real, legally registered business name. Don’t add extra keywords like “Roofing” or “24/7 Emergency Repair” to the name field if they’re not actually part of it. Google considers that keyword stuffing, and it can get your profile suspended.
For your primary category, choose “Roofing Contractor.” Add secondary categories if they apply, like “Gutter Cleaning Service” or “Siding Contractor.”
Pro tip: Primary category carries the most ranking weight. If you do roofing and general contracting, pick whichever one makes up more of your business and leads to your website.
Step 3: Set Your Location or Service Area
Most roofing companies fall into one of two setups:
- You have an office or showroom customers visit. Enter your physical address.
- You work from a warehouse, garage, or your home, and drive to job sites. Mark your business as a service-area business and hide your address. List every town or zip code you actually cover.
You can list up to 20 service areas. Google recommends keeping them within about two hours of driving time from where your business is based.
Pro tip: List towns by name, not just your county. Someone searching “roofer in Wyomissing” is more likely to see you if Wyomissing is listed as a service area, not just implied by a broader region. If you do have a physical address you can show, definitely go with that. Businesses with a physical address always rank better.
Step 4: Add Your Contact Information
Add a local phone number. Add your website URL too. If you don’t have a website yet, that’s okay! Still go forward with creating the listing and add the website later when you have one.
Pro tip: Use the same phone number and business name on your website, your profile, and anywhere else your business is listed online, like Yelp or Angi. Inconsistent info across the web is one of the most common reasons local listings underperform.
Step 5: Write Your Business Description
You get 750 characters, use them wisely. Say what you do, who you do it for, and where. Mention your core services (roof replacement, repair, inspections, storm damage) and your service area by name. Skip the fluff about pride and quality, just say what you actually do.
Step 6: Add Your Hours
List your regular hours, and update them around holidays. If you offer 24/7 emergency service, make that clear, since it’s a major differentiator for roofing specifically.
Step 7: Upload Photos
Profiles with photos get far more clicks and direction requests than ones without. Add:
- Before and after shots of completed roofs
- Your crew on the job, in branded gear if you have it
- Branded trucks, equipment, and your logo
- Your office or warehouse, if customers visit it
Pro tip: Upload a few photos monthly instead of dumping fifty at once and never returning. Google rewards profiles that stay active over time.
Step 8: Verify Your Profile
Your profile won’t appear in search or Maps until it’s verified. Google decides which method applies to your business. The most common right now is video verification: a short, unedited video recorded on your phone showing your business sign, or for a service-area business, your branded truck or equipment with your business name visible. Google typically reviews it within a few business days. Some businesses are offered phone or postcard verification instead.
Step 9: Fill in Services
Once verified, go back into your profile and list individual services under the Services tab, things like roof replacement, roof repair, gutter installation, and storm damage inspection. This helps Google match your profile to specific searches like “roof repair after hail Reading PA,” not just general ones like “roofer.”
Step 10: Turn on Messaging and Monitor Q&A
Enable messaging so people can reach you directly from your profile. Check the Q&A section regularly, since anyone can post a question or an answer there, including competitors. Seed it yourself with a few common questions, like whether you offer free estimates or work with insurance.
Step 11: Keep It Active
A profile set up once and ignored will slowly lose ground to competitors who stay active. Log in regularly to:
- Post updates after storms, since that’s when search volume spikes
- Add new job photos
- Respond to every review
- Keep hours and service areas current
Marketing firm based in Reading, PA
A complete profile gets you in the running, but that’s just the beginning…
If you want a website and a marketing strategy that turns your Google listing into booked jobs, talk to Level Best Marketing.
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