Field Notes
Plain answers for contractors who’d rather be on the job than behind a screen. No pitch — just what actually works.
Why isn’t my contracting business showing up on Google?
The usual culprits — and the order to fix them in — when your name won’t show up where your customers are searching.
Getting leadsAre Angi leads worth it for contractors?
What the leads cost by trade, the shared-lead math nobody runs, the few times Angi earns its keep — and what the same budget buys when you own the leads.
MoneyHow much does a contractor website really cost?
The real 2026 ranges for DIY, freelancer, and agency builds, the ownership trap in the fine print — and our own number, published up front.
Getting foundGoogle Business Profile for contractors: the California setup
Service-area setup done right, the category call, your CSLB number as a trust weapon, a review system that runs itself — and what to do about name-stuffing competitors.
Getting leadsHow to get more construction leads without buying them
Six moves with the mechanics included — the referral ask word for word, the partner note to send, and the follow-up machinery that keeps a good lead from cooling.
Your websiteWhat a contractor website actually needs
The six-item checklist to hold against any website quote — license on display, a page per service and town, alarmed lead capture, and your name on the ownership papers.
Hiring helpHow to choose a marketing company for your contracting business
Price bands, national-versus-local tradeoffs, the five questions for the first call, the red flags that cost contractors their own websites — and when to hire nobody.
More on the way
- How to get more Google reviews the right way
- How to rank higher on Google Maps for your trade