Local SEO for Installers: How to Rank #1 in Your Area

When someone searches "solar installer near me" or "heat pump engineer [your town]", Google shows a little box of three local businesses with star ratings — the "map pack". Those three get the overwhelming majority of the clicks. Getting your business into that box is the single highest-value thing you can do for free leads. Here's how.

Nail your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (the old "Google My Business") is the foundation. Most installers set it up once and forget it. To rank, it needs to be complete and active:

Correct business name, exact service area, and categories (e.g. "Solar energy company", "HVAC contractor").
Your phone number, website and opening hours — kept accurate.
Real photos of your installs, your van and your team.
Regular posts and updates — Google favours active profiles.

Reviews are the biggest lever

The number, recency and quality of your reviews is one of the strongest ranking factors in the map pack — and it's the thing most installers neglect. A steady stream of fresh 5-star reviews pushes you up the results and reassures nervous homeowners at the same time.

The trick is to ask every customer, at the right moment, with a one-tap link. Do it by hand and it stops the moment you get busy. Automate it and it runs forever — here's how to get more Google reviews on autopilot.

More reviews means a higher spot on the map, which means more free, high-intent leads. It compounds.

Get your name and details consistent everywhere

Google trusts businesses whose name, address and phone number (your "NAP") match across the web — your website, Google, Facebook, directories like Checkatrade and the MCS listing. Inconsistent details confuse Google and hold you back. Pick one exact format and use it everywhere.

Your website still matters

A fast, clear website with your town and services in the right places helps you rank for searches the map pack doesn't cover. It should load quickly, work perfectly on mobile, and make requesting a quote effortless. It's also increasingly important for AI search — tools like ChatGPT and Google's AI Overviews pull from well-structured local pages.