Notes

Plain answers about the map results

Short notes for owners of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, pest control and garage door companies: what Google says it uses, what changed, and what to do about it. No fluff, no jargon, sources named.

September 13, 2026

What Google actually says decides your map ranking

Google publishes three factors for local ranking: relevance, distance and prominence. Here is what each one means for an HVAC, plumbing, roofing, electrical, pest or garage door company — with numbers from 63 markets we searched this month.

September 13, 2026

Google's 2026 review policy change, in plain terms

In April 2026 Google tightened its rules on how businesses may ask for reviews: no staff quotas, no naming staff, no incentives, no asking only happy customers, no pressure on site. What a contractor can still do, and how to set it up.

September 13, 2026

Service areas, photos and posts: what they do and don't do

The three parts of a Google Business Profile that home services owners spend the most time on, and what each one actually changes — for ranking, for the customer choosing you, or for neither.

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