As a construction company in Calgary, you’re always focused on building real, physical structures, but in today’s digital age, it’s also crucial to build a strong presence online. The construction industry in Calgary is thriving and ripe with many opportunities for local businesses. Still, many companies fail to get their name in front of the right people at the right time when potential clients are looking for those services.

Enter Google My Business (GMB)- that game-changing tool connects you directly to local customers. Optimized GMB listing can have an amazing effect on your presence in searches and serves you with a competitive position as the desired construction company in Calgary.

We have been working in digital marketing for over 7 years and in assisting businesses operating in Canada and India similar to yours. In this article, We’ll be sharing practical, real-world steps you can take to optimize your Google My Business listing so you gain more clients in the competitive construction market of Calgary.

Why Google My Business Matters Construction Companies in Calgary?

When someone is searching for a construction company in Calgary, Google’s location-based algorithms are going to push the most relevant businesses near them to the top. These show up in Google’s “Local Pack,” a map and listing section that often appears in the top of the search results list when someone searches for local services. That’s high-value real estate on the search results page, and your GMB listing is the ticket to opening.

Optimizing your GMB profile can be very strong in the following ways:

1. Enhance Local Visibility: Having an appearance within the Local Pack makes your business more visible.
2. User-Friendly: A potential client can find the contact information, hours of operation, or website of your business with just one click.
3. Customer Engagement: There are several ways that Google offers to the potential clients to engage directly with you, including calling or messaging and leaving a review.

For construction companies, it is important to be looked upon as a trusted, visible local business. Now that the importance of claiming your Google My Business profile has been established, let’s get into the ways you can fully maximize this profile.

Step 1: Claim and Verify Your Google My Business Profile

This is your first step if you haven’t claimed your GMB listing yet. First, you need to search for your business on Google. If it appears, claim it. Otherwise, your business isn’t listed in Google My Business. Just go and start a new profile in the Google My Business website.

Verification: After your business is activated, you will need to verify your listing. This will take the form of a postcard that you should receive at your business’s address with a verification code. Do not fail to verify this listing since your GMB profile will not be active until verified.

Step 2: Fill Out Each Section of Your Profile

Google prefers fullness. The more detail you can offer, the better you will rank in local search. You are required to include the following:

• Business Name: Type in your business name word for word. Do not stuff additional keywords into it, (like “Calgary Construction Experts Inc.”). Put in your actual business name.
• Category: If you’re in the construction business, choose a category that’s specific to what your company does. “Construction Company” or “General Contractor” would be good examples. Secondary categories such as “Roofing Contractor”, “Home Builder,” etc. only apply if you provide those services.
• Address: Confirm that your business address is correct and consistent with other listings on your website, as well as other areas where your business information is listed. For a service area-based business, such as construction, you can list the regions you serve rather than a physical street address.
• Phone: Include a local phone number. Google favors businesses with local area codes, which suggests you’re a legitimate local business.
• Hours: Make sure your hours of operation are current. Many would-be customers will call you based on information they’ve found in your GMB profile.
• Website: Provide your website URL. If you don’t have one, create a very basic website that contains details about your services. Google takes this into consideration when ranking local businesses.

Step 3: Add Photos and Videos

Graphic contents are considered essential in a construction company. Customers want to see what you can deliver to them even before they communicate with you. Here’s how to use photos and videos effectively:

1. Add High Quality Images: Display your projects, whether new build, renovation, or commercial development. “Before and after” photographs help in highlighting your skills.
2. Office and Team Photos: Trust is built by adding photos of your team as it may be working or office photos. A human touch to your business.
3. Videos: Any completed project video, a site visit, or customer testimonial can be an ideal way of engaging potential clients.

A regularly updated gallery will also tell Google that you are an active business, which bodes well for improving your rankings.

Step 4: Optimize Your Business Description

Your business description is your chance to say to potential clients who you are and what you offer. Make it brief but complete. Here’s an example for a Calgary-based construction company:

“XYZ Construction has been serving Calgary for over 15 years, providing residential and commercial projects in areas including the construction of custom homes, to large-scale commercial developments. We offer quality workmanship and reliable service. Our experienced team is committed to completing projects on time and within budget. Contact us for a free consultation.”

Include keywords like “Calgary construction,” “residential,” “commercial,” or any niche services you provide, such as “custom homes,” or “renovations.” Don’t keyword stuff; that’ll hurt your rankings.

Step 5: Gather and Curate Reviews

Reviews is one of the most important ranking factors for local SEO. The more awesome and legitimate reviews you get, the bigger chance your business will rank on the Local Pack.

• Encourage Reviews: Encourage happy customers to leave a review on your GMB profile. Be proactive but never incentivize reviews—it violates Google’s guidelines.
• Respond to Reviews: Spend some time responding to those good reviews and the bad ones. Positive reviews can be toned down by just saying “Thanks!” Negative responses can show other potential customers that you care to respond and, more importantly, resolve an issue.

It is also nice that Google loves businesses engaging with their clients, and respond reviews build up your reputation.

Step 6: Leverage Google Posts for Promoting Projects and Offers

Google My Business allows you to create “Posts” which work almost like mini ad banners or even small blog posts. Here’s how you could use it:

• Announce a new project or contracts.
• Promote exclusive offers, discounts, or consultations.
• Share updates about services and team.

These posts appear straight onto your GMB listing and can attract potential customers to click on your profile. Always ensure your posts are updated with fresh, new content.

Step 7: Monitor and Analyze Your Insights

Google My Business gives some great insights into how people are interacting with your profile. These can include:

• Search Queries: Which keywords are bringing people to your listing.
• Customer Actions: How many people are visiting your website, calling you, or asking for directions.
• Photo Views: How many times your photos are viewed in contrast to the competition.

These are metrics that will guide and help you make an appropriate change in your strategy. Any services or types you are seeing drive more traffic in, you can feature them more prominently in your description and posts.

Google My Business optimization is a productive method of building your profile and setting your construction company apart from others in Calgary. Claim and complete the profile, upload rich media, collect reviews, and use all the Google facilities to enhance the possibility of coming out on top in local search results.

Remember that GMB optimization does not apply once and done; it is a constant update, response to reviews, and fresh content that keeps you in view and staying relevant. Businesses thus will witness tangible, measurable growth in the many little tweaks taken in their fine-tuning GMB profiles in such a dynamic digital land.

If you are ready to enhance your local SEO, Finspire Labs is here for you. We offer an experience spanning 7 years and complete knowledge of the business landscape in Calgary. We can help you build your online presence brick by brick.