Contractor Marketing in the AI Search Era: Google Local Services Ads, SEO & Rebranding Risks

Episode: Episode 79

Your search impressions are up, website visits are down, and Google keeps changing where customers find you. What should you actually do next? In this episode of The Catalyst for the Trades, Jennifer Bagley brings together specialists from CI Web Group and Real Time Marketing to discuss AI search, local visibility, paid leads, and the risks of rebranding an established trades business.

Seth Humble and Kate Torres explain how they approach search visibility as AI-generated answers change the way homeowners find information. The panel discusses answering customer questions clearly, supporting marketing claims with evidence, and coordinating website content, Google Business Profile, and paid advertising. Matt Benton and Courtlyn Saxby share their perspective on Google Local Services Ads, including why ongoing analysis and adjustments matter. Camille Porco joins to discuss the complications that location expansion, acquisitions, and business profile changes can create.

The conversation also takes on rebranding. Before changing a company name, domain, or truck wrap, the panel urges owners to consider their existing reputation, customer recognition, online listings, and the cost of making the transition. They discuss why website redirects are only one part of that work and why marketing providers need a shared plan. For contractors evaluating their next move, the episode offers practical questions about what is driving leads, what needs attention, and what a proposed change could put at risk.

Guests: Matt Benton, Seth Humble, Kate Torres, Courtlyn Saxby, and Camille Porco

Matt Benton, CEO of Real Time Marketing and Unify360 · Seth Humble, Director of Performance and Strategy at CI Web Group · Kate Torres, Director of Marketing Strategy at CI Web Group · Courtlyn Saxby, President of Real Time Marketing · Camille Porco, Senior Digital Strategist at CI Web Group

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