Insights for Local Contractors

The Blog

Practical advice on websites, local SEO, and online presence—without the fluff. We think out loud so you can learn from our reasoning.

FeaturedIndustry Reality Check

Pricing Transparency: What the Data Says

97% of homeowners expect transparent pricing. Contractors who show prices see 300% higher conversion rates. Here's why hiding prices is costing you jobs.

January 21, 20268 min read

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All Posts

Industry Reality Check

Pricing Transparency: What the Data Says

97% of homeowners expect transparent pricing. Contractors who show prices see 300% higher conversion rates. Here's why hiding prices is costing you jobs.

January 21, 20268 min

Industry Reality Check

Social Media for Contractors: What Actually Works

Your friend's 100k TikTok views aren't turning into local jobs. Here's where social media matters—and where it's a time sink.

January 21, 202610 min

Working With Us

Your First 6 Months with Runchey Websites

What actually happens after launch? A month-by-month guide to Google rankings, content building, and why 6 months is when momentum kicks in.

January 20, 202612 min

Customer Experience

Online Booking: What the Data Says

67% of customers prefer online booking. 72% would pay 10% more for better service. Here's what the research says—and why skeptics are wrong.

January 20, 20266 min

Industry Reality Check

How Google Actually Ranks Local Businesses

The Claim-Verification-Flywheel model explained. Why doorway pages got crushed in 2024, how Navboost tracks user behavior, and why marketing agencies won't tell you this.

January 15, 202612 min

Marketing

Referral Systems: Your Cheapest, Highest-Converting Leads

Referrals close at 50%+. Ads close under 20%. Here's how to stop hoping for referrals and start engineering them—with tracking systems that actually work.

January 14, 20268 min

Industry Reality Check

AEO: The Emperor's New SEO

Answer Engine Optimization is the hot new marketing buzzword. Agencies are charging $15K/month for it. The tactics? Identical to what you're already doing.

January 11, 202612 min

Ownership

Are You Locked In? What Your Web Agency Can Actually Do (And What's Just a Scare Tactic)

Worried about leaving your web agency? Here's what they can actually hold hostage, what the law says, and your step-by-step escape plan.

January 6, 202612 min

Process

The 47 Decisions Behind Your Quote Calculator

Every feature on your website is a conversation with your customers. Here's how we design features that actually help your business—not just look pretty.

January 6, 202610 min

Working With Us

What to Expect When You Work with Runchey Websites

From intro call to going live, and beyond. Here's exactly what happens when you hire us to build your website.

January 5, 20268 min

Accessibility

Why Accessibility Matters for Contractors (And Your Customers)

Most contractor websites fail basic accessibility standards. That's bad for customers, bad for Google rankings, and increasingly risky legally. Here's what you need to know.

January 5, 20268 min

About Us

Why Runchey Websites? A Different Kind of Web Partner

We're not an agency. We're not trying to lock you into a contract. We're software engineers who got tired of watching good contractors get ripped off by bad web deals.

January 2, 20265 min

Industry Reality Check

SEO for Contractors: What They're Selling You vs. What Actually Works

That $500/month 'SEO package'? It's probably not doing what you think. Here's what really drives leads for local contractors—and why reviews and your GBP matter more than keyword density.

January 2, 202610 min

Reviews

Reviews: The Complete Guide for Contractors

Why the first 50 reviews matter most, how much negative reviews actually hurt, and what to do when someone leaves you an unfair one.

January 2, 202612 min

Paid Advertising

Paid Ads for Contractors: Google vs. Yelp vs. Thumbtack

Where should you spend your advertising budget? Here's an honest comparison of the major platforms, what they cost, and how to know if they're working.

January 2, 202614 min

Customer Experience

What Customers Actually Want (According to Their Reviews)

We analyzed thousands of contractor reviews to find what really matters. Spoiler: it's not about being the cheapest.

January 2, 202610 min

Website Basics

A Website That Actually Works: What That Means for Contractors

Your website doesn't need to be fancy. It needs to load fast, look good on phones, and make it dead simple to contact you.

January 2, 20268 min

Website Management

Do I Need Website Management?

An honest breakdown of what it takes to run your own website vs. paying someone to handle it. No jargon, no scare tactics—just the real trade-offs.

January 2, 20266 min

Local SEO

Google Business Profile for Local Contractors: What Actually Matters

Your GBP listing is just as important as your website—maybe more. When someone searches 'electrician near me,' they see the Map Pack first. Here's what moves the needle.

January 2, 20268 min

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The Blog

Pricing Transparency: What the Data Says

Top Posts

Social Media for Contractors: What Actually Works

Your First 6 Months with Runchey Websites

Online Booking: What the Data Says

All Posts

Pricing Transparency: What the Data Says

Social Media for Contractors: What Actually Works

Your First 6 Months with Runchey Websites

Online Booking: What the Data Says

How Google Actually Ranks Local Businesses

Referral Systems: Your Cheapest, Highest-Converting Leads

AEO: The Emperor's New SEO

Are You Locked In? What Your Web Agency Can Actually Do (And What's Just a Scare Tactic)

The 47 Decisions Behind Your Quote Calculator

What to Expect When You Work with Runchey Websites

Why Accessibility Matters for Contractors (And Your Customers)

Why Runchey Websites? A Different Kind of Web Partner

SEO for Contractors: What They're Selling You vs. What Actually Works

Reviews: The Complete Guide for Contractors

Paid Ads for Contractors: Google vs. Yelp vs. Thumbtack

What Customers Actually Want (According to Their Reviews)

A Website That Actually Works: What That Means for Contractors

Do I Need Website Management?

Google Business Profile for Local Contractors: What Actually Matters

Ready to upgrade your online presence?