Actionable tips, strategies, and insights to help service companies rank higher on Google, build better websites, and generate more leads. Written by Calvin Zimmerman and Ben Isaacson — the founders of IZ Optimization.
When someone searches for a local service — "plumber near me," "auto body shop in Wakefield," "pool builder near me" — Google shows three businesses in a box at the top of the results, with a map above them. That box is called the Map Pack, and it is the most valuable real estate in local search. Those three businesses get the overwhelming majority of the calls. Everyone ranked below the Map Pack is fighting over the leftovers. If you own a local business and you are not in t
If you're a service company and someone in your city searches "HVAC repair near me" or "roofing contractor [your city]," the first thing Google shows them isn't your website. It's your Google Business Profile. The map pack — those three businesses that appear at the top of local search results with the star ratings, phone numbers, and directions — drives more clicks than every organic result below it combined. If your business isn't in those three spots, you're invisible to t
