Why did my Google Business Profile calls drop suddenly?
Check three things in order: whether the listing is still verified and not suspended, whether a competitor or ...
2 min
The field notes
43.0608° N / 88.4037° W
Ask it straight.I'll answer it straight.
Every question here is one a real contractor actually asked. Verdict first, then how to check it yourself.
- 55 answers
- 7 categories
- No email, no catch
What the sheet tells you
- Who shows up first when a neighbor searches for what you do.Google's answer and the AI answer, with names. Whether one of them is you.
- Where you lose them.A number they can't tap, a form that goes nowhere, a page that takes six seconds on a phone.
- What to fix first.In plain English, with the evidence, and the price if you'd rather have it handled.
About two minutes. Reads public pages only.See an example sheet
The shelves.
01
Google Business Profile
8 questionsWhy does my competitor show up on Google and I don't?
It's almost always some combination of a more complete Google Business Profile, more recent reviews, and a web...
2 min
How do I get my business on Google Maps?
Create and verify a free Google Business Profile at business.google.com. Verification for most service-area bu...
2 min
Why is my Google Business Profile suspended?
The most common causes are a keyword stuffed into the business name (like 'Smith Roofing, Best Roofer in Delaf...
2 min
Can I have two Google Business Profiles for one company?
Only if they're genuinely separate, distinct locations or legally separate business entities. One company with...
2 min
Does posting on Google Business Profile actually help?
It helps a little on its own and helps more as a signal that the profile is actively managed, which is somethi...
2 min
Why did my Google ranking drop after I changed my website?
A ranking drop right after a redesign is almost always technical, not content: broken redirects from old URLs,...
2 min
Do I need a separate Google profile for each service area?
No. One Google Business Profile can list up to twenty service-area towns from a single listing, and that's the...
2 min
02
Missed calls and leads
10 questionsMissed call text-back for plumbers, does it work?
Yes, for the specific problem it solves: a customer who calls, gets no answer, and would otherwise just call t...
2 min
How many leads am I losing by not answering the phone?
There's no honest universal number, it depends entirely on your call volume and how many go unanswered, but th...
2 min
Should I use an answering service or an AI receptionist?
It depends on call volume and budget. A live answering service costs more per month and handles nuance better;...
2 min
What happens if I don't call a lead back fast enough?
A lead who's comparing multiple contractors usually goes with whoever calls back first, not whoever does the b...
2 min
Can AI actually answer my business phone?
Yes, AI phone answering exists and works, but it's a different, more involved product than the missed call tex...
2 min
How do I stop losing leads after hours?
Two things close most of the gap: a website contact form that emails you instantly even at 11pm, and missed ca...
2 min
What's the difference between missed call text-back and a chatbot?
Missed call text-back triggers off an actual phone call that went unanswered and replies by SMS. A chatbot liv...
2 min
Do customers actually text back a missed call text?
Many do, because texting feels lower-pressure than waiting on hold or leaving a voicemail, and it fits into wh...
2 min
How much does an AI receptionist cost for a small business?
For a small trade business, expect somewhere in the range of $100 to $300 a month depending on call volume and...
2 min
What's the difference between a lead system and a customer system?
A lead system's job is turning a stranger who found you into a booked job: capturing the call or form, respond...
2 min
03
Website cost and ownership
7 questionsHow much should a roofing website cost in Wisconsin?
It depends heavily on whether you're paying a one-time build fee, a monthly platform fee, or both, and what's ...
2 min
Do I own my website if someone else built it?
It depends on your agreement, and it's worth reading before you sign anything. Under our model, the site built...
2 min
What happens to my website if I cancel?
You can cancel from your account anytime, month to month, no contract. What stops is the hosting, maintenance,...
2 min
Is a $297 a month website actually worth it?
That depends on what a single job is worth to you and how many missed calls or dropped leads you're currently ...
2 min
Why does a website cost so much more than GoDaddy?
A GoDaddy or similar DIY builder is priced for someone willing to build and maintain the site themselves. A bu...
2 min
Should I build my own website with Wix or hire someone?
If you have real hours to spend learning the platform, writing the copy, and keeping it updated, Wix or a simi...
2 min
How long should it take to get a new website live?
A custom agency build can take months, often eight to twelve weeks or more once revisions and back-and-forth a...
2 min
04
Local SEO and AI search
10 questionsDo I need a website if I have a Facebook page?
Yes, for a specific reason: you don't control a Facebook page the way you control a website. Facebook can chan...
2 min
Why doesn't my website show up when I Google my own business?
Search your exact domain with 'site:yourwebsite.com' in Google first, that alone tells you whether the site is...
2 min
Will ChatGPT recommend my business?
AI assistants like ChatGPT pull from what's actually published and indexed about your business online, so the ...
2 min
What's the difference between SEO and Google Ads?
Google Ads is paid placement, you show up at the top the moment you pay and disappear the moment you stop. SEO...
2 min
How long does local SEO actually take to work?
There's no fixed timeline that's honest across every business, but a realistic range for a small local busines...
2 min
Do I need a blog to rank on Google?
No, not specifically a blog. What actually helps is having real, specific content on your site, whether that's...
2 min
Why do directory sites like Angi outrank my own website?
Large directory sites have far more overall authority, traffic, and backlinks than most small business website...
2 min
How do I connect my business to Apple Maps?
Register at business.apple.com through Apple Business Connect, claim or add your location, and fill in the sam...
2 min
What is LocalBusiness schema, and do I need one?
LocalBusiness schema is a small block of code on your website that states your business name, address, phone n...
2 min
Why is my website not showing up on Google?
It's one of three things, in order of how common they are: Google hasn't indexed the site yet (common for a ne...
2 min
05
Reviews
6 questionsHow do I get more Google reviews without being annoying?
Ask once, right after the job is done, while the work is still fresh, with a direct link that takes two taps t...
2 min
Can I pay for Google reviews?
No, and doing so risks your entire Google Business Profile, not just the fake reviews themselves. Google expli...
2 min
Should I respond to a bad review?
Yes, almost always, and quickly. A calm, specific, professional response to a negative review often matters mo...
2 min
Can I get a fake review removed from Google?
Sometimes, if it clearly violates Google's review policies (it's from someone who was never a customer, contai...
2 min
Do reviews actually affect my Google ranking?
Yes, review count, rating, and recency are all part of what Google calls prominence, one of the three main loc...
2 min
What's a good response time for Google reviews?
Within a few days is a reasonable, achievable target for a small business, sooner for anything negative. There...
2 min
06
Trial and billing
6 questionsIs the website really free, or is there a catch?
The website itself is a $2,500 job (a custom website, the CRM, lead capture, automated response and follow-up,...
2 min
What happens after the 14-day trial ends?
The $2,500 implementation (a custom website, the CRM, lead capture, automated response and follow-up, SEO page...
2 min
Can I cancel anytime or am I locked into a contract?
You can cancel anytime, month to month, no long-term contract. It's self-serve from your account, no retention...
2 min
What's the difference between the Run plan and the Grow plan?
Run ($97/mo) keeps your website hosted, maintained, and lightly updated, with lead forms and analytics. Grow (...
2 min
Do I need a credit card to start the trial?
Yes, a card on file is required to start the 14-day trial, but nothing is charged until day 15. The card is al...
2 min
What if I already have a website, can I still do the trial?
Yes. A new site is built as part of the $2,500 implementation during the 14-day trial regardless of whether yo...
2 min
07
Trade specific
8 questionsHow do I get more roofing leads after a hailstorm?
The window right after a storm is short and every roofer in the area is chasing the same homeowners, so speed ...
2 min
Why are HVAC leads so expensive on Google Ads?
HVAC keyword competition is intense because job values are high and national franchises with big budgets bid a...
2 min
How do plumbers show up first on Google?
The map pack (the top three results with the map) is ranked on proximity, relevance, and prominence. For a plu...
2 min
Do electricians need a website or just a Google profile?
Both, and they do different jobs. The Google Business Profile is how you get found in local search and Maps. T...
2 min
How do landscapers get found online in the off-season?
By staying active on the same signals that matter in-season, an accurate Google Business Profile, recent photo...
2 min
How do I market a concrete business with no website?
Start with a complete, free Google Business Profile, since that alone can generate real map pack visibility. B...
2 min
How do septic companies get found online?
Mostly the same way any local service business does, a complete Google Business Profile and a website that cle...
2 min
How do I find customers for a pier and dock business in Wisconsin?
Target the specific lakes and townships you actually serve, not just a city name, since pier and dock customer...
2 min
Sheet 03 · The point
Delafield quadrangle
Didn't see your question here?
I write these the same way I'd answer you on the phone. Some of these you can fix yourself in ten minutes for free. Others are the exact work Run and Grow handle every month so you don't have to think about them again.