Debut Marketing blog
FREE MARKETING RESOURCES FOR CONTRACTORS
Plain-language guides for the trades: what marketing costs in BC, how to run Google and Facebook ads, how to show up in local and AI search, and case studies with real numbers. Written by Evan Striemer and updated for 2026.
- guides for contractors, concrete, construction, roofing, painting and plumbing
- 23
- case studies with real client numbers
- 3
- costs, benchmarks and platform changes
- 2026
Every guide, by topic
Pick your trade or the channel you want to get right. Every guide is written for contractors and checked against current data.
Research and data
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Roofing Website Statistics 2026 131 Canadian roofing companies scored on their websites and Google profiles: the grades, the gaps and the fixes. Read the guide -
Construction Website Statistics 2026 133 Canadian construction companies scored on their websites and Google profiles: the grades, the gaps and the fixes. Read the guide -
Painter Website Statistics 2026 132 Canadian painting companies scored on their websites and Google profiles: the grades, the gaps and the fixes. Read the guide -
Contractor Website Statistics 2026 From 750+ Canadian contractor websites: the average converts 3.7% of visitors, and the features that lift it most. Read the guide -
Home Builder Website Statistics 2026 We tested 153 Canadian home builder websites on six things that decide whether a buyer calls: speed, contact, proof, phones, Google and accessibility. The avera Read the guide -
Contractor SEO Statistics 2026 From 1,113 Canadian homeowners: 76% find contractors on Google, 87% hire on reviews and 26% use AI tools. Read the guide -
Contractor Marketing Statistics 2026 (Canada) What a lead, a paying job and a top-quarter review count cost Canadian contractors in 2026, from 20+ sources, in CAD. Read the guide -
BC Construction Companies on Google 2026: 99 Scored Our Trades Index report: the median company has 28 reviews, and commercial firms average a D. Read the guide -
How Many Google Reviews Does a Contractor Need? What homeowners want to see before they trust you, and review targets by region from our data. Read the guide -
Neighbours Are Writing Commercial Contractors' Google Reviews 34.6% of commercial listings show complaints about driving, noise or site mess. Read the guide -
Google Ads Cost per Lead for Contractors in Canada (2026) What one Google Ads lead costs a Canadian contractor, trade by trade, plus what a booked job costs and a calculator. Read the guide
Costs and planning
What marketing costs and how to spend it well.
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How Much Does Marketing Cost for Contractors? (2026) Published prices from 69 marketing agencies for every service a contractor buys, in Canadian dollars, next to ours. Read the guide -
HomeStars vs Houzz for Contractors How each one works, what it costs, who it suits, and straight answers to what contractors search about both. Read the guide - Showing Up in ChatGPT and Google AI How AI search picks which contractors to mention, and a 12-month plan to become one of them. Read the guide
Contractor marketing
Guides that work for any trade.
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11 Landscaping Marketing Ideas To Book More Projects Eleven ways to get found, earn trust and keep crews busy all year, with what to do first. Read the guide -
11 Flooring Marketing Ideas To Sell More Installs Eleven ways to get found, earn trust and sell more installs, with what to do first. Read the guide -
12 Advertising Ideas for Contractors Google, Local Services Ads, Facebook, YouTube, door hangers, wraps, referrals and more. Read the guide -
Google Local Services Ads in Canada Which trades qualify in Canada, what a lead costs, how it compares with Google Ads and how it differs from the US. Read the guide - Google Ads for Contractors Campaign types, keywords, ads, landing pages and tracking, updated for the 2026 changes. Read the guide
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Facebook Ads for Contractors Setup, targeting, offers, ad copy and real cost-per-lead benchmarks for beginners. Read the guide
Construction
For builders, general contractors and renovators.
- Construction Website Statistics 2026 133 Canadian construction companies scored on their websites and Google profiles: the grades, the gaps and the fixes. Read the guide
- Google Ads for Construction Companies What a construction lead costs in CAD, campaigns by project type, and how to track signed jobs. Read the guide
- Facebook Ads for Construction Companies What a Facebook lead costs next to Google, three construction ad ideas, and the follow-up that books site visits. Read the guide
- SEO for Construction Companies: Maps and Search New data on 530 construction listings on Google Maps: the review bar by market, the category that ranks, and the pages to build. Read the guide
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How to Get Construction Leads: Every Channel Compared Every construction lead channel compared on cost per lead and per booked job, in CAD, for residential and commercial builders. Read the guide -
How Much Should a Construction Company Spend on Marketing? What Canadian construction companies really spend on marketing, why advice says more, and a worked budget in CAD. Read the guide - Slow Season Marketing Ideas for Construction Companies 12 slow season ideas for construction companies, ranked, with how much winter slows building in each province. Read the guide
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Construction Company Not Showing on Google Maps? 11 Fixes 11 reasons a construction company doesn't show on Google Maps, how to check each, and what to fix first. Read the guide - Should a Construction Company Hire a Marketing Agency? Do it yourself, hire or use an agency: a verdict by company size and type, with Canadian prices and a price check. Read the guide
- 11 Construction Marketing Ideas From local SEO and your Google profile to video, referrals and Facebook ads. Read the guide
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BC Condo Exterior Damage Guide Warning signs, seasonal maintenance, depreciation reports and strata insurance. Read the guide
Concrete
For concrete contractors and flatwork crews.
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11 Concrete Advertising Ideas Practical ways to win more driveway, patio and foundation work. Read the guide -
Google Ads for Concrete Contractors Keywords, ads, landing pages and budgets for a concrete company. Read the guide -
Facebook Ads for Concrete Contractors Objectives, targeting, ad ideas and cost-per-lead benchmarks. Read the guide -
More Concrete Clients Without Paid Ads Ten free ways to fill your schedule. Read the guide - Winning More Local Concrete Work Google profile, reviews, partnerships, referrals and direct mail. Read the guide
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Social Media for Concrete Contractors What to post, where, and how to turn followers into quotes. Read the guide
Roofing
- 11 Roofing Marketing Ideas To Book More Roofs Eleven ways to get found, earn trust and book more replacements, with what to do first. Read the guide
- Roofing Website Statistics 2026 131 Canadian roofing companies scored on their websites and Google profiles: the grades, the gaps and the fixes. Read the guide
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Google Ads for Roofing Contractors: Full Guide What a roofing lead costs in CAD, the campaigns to run, and how to track booked roofs. Read the guide - Facebook Ads for Roofing Contractors: Full Guide What a Facebook lead costs next to Google, three roofing ad ideas, and fast follow-up. Read the guide
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SEO for Roofing Companies: Maps and Search New data on 578 roofing listings on Google Maps: the reviews, category and pages that rank. Read the guide - How to Get Roofing Leads: Every Channel Compared Every roofing lead channel compared on cost per lead and per booked roof, in CAD. Read the guide
- How Much Do Roofing Leads Cost? What roofing leads cost by channel in CAD, what moves the price, and the most you can pay. Read the guide
- Are Local Services Ads Worth It for Roofers? What a roofing Local Services Ads lead costs, the missed-call rule, and when to skip them. Read the guide
- How to Get More Google Reviews for a Roofing Business The review count to aim for in your market, when to ask, scripts, and Google's rules. Read the guide
- Roofing Slow Season Marketing: 12 Ideas 12 slow season ideas for roofers, ranked by cost, payoff time and effort. Read the guide
Home builders
- 11 Home Builder Marketing Ideas To Sign More Builds Eleven ways to get found, earn trust and sign more builds, with what to do first. Read the guide
- Home Builder Website Statistics 2026 153 home builder websites and 140 multiplex builders scored: the grades, the gaps and the fixes. Read the guide
- Google Ads for Home Builders What to bid on, the housing ad rules, and what a lead and a home sale cost in CAD. Read the guide
- Facebook Ads for Home Builders: What Works in 2026 Meta's housing rules, what a lead costs in CAD, and the ad ideas that book consults. Read the guide
- SEO for Home Builders: Rank in Google Maps and Search New data on 466 builders on Google Maps: the reviews, categories and pages that rank. Read the guide
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How to Get Home Builder Leads: Every Channel Compared Every channel compared on cost per lead and per home sold, in CAD. Read the guide
Painting
- 11 Painting Marketing Ideas To Fill Your Schedule Eleven ways to get found, earn trust and keep the crew busy all year, with what to do first. Read the guide
- Painter Website Statistics 2026 132 Canadian painting companies scored on their websites and Google profiles: the grades, the gaps and the fixes. Read the guide
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Google Ads for Painting Contractors The setup that turns painting searches into booked jobs. Read the guide - Facebook Ads for Painting Contractors Before and after ads, lead forms and realistic costs. Read the guide
HVAC
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Google Ads for HVAC Companies: Full Guide What a Google Ads lead costs an HVAC company in Canada, the campaigns to run, and how to tell which clicks book jobs. Read the guide - SEO for HVAC Companies: Maps and Search The review bar for HVAC on Google Maps in 21 Canadian markets, the category to pick and the pages to build before heating season. Read the guide
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How to Get HVAC Leads: Every Channel Ranked Every way an HVAC company can get leads, ranked by what a booked job costs and how fast the calls start. Read the guide - How Much Do HVAC Leads Cost? What HVAC leads cost in Canada by channel, and the most you can afford per lead on each kind of job. Read the guide
