Construction PPC
PPC for builders that targets the jobs you want
Google Ads for builders and construction companies, structured by job value, cleaned of job seekers and DIY searches, and tracked to real quote requests.
- Campaigns split by job value
- Your account, your data
- Rolling monthly, no lock-in
Quick answer
ProntX manages PPC for builders and construction companies across the UK. We split Google Ads campaigns by job value, build negative keyword lists for jobs and DIY searches, target the areas you cover, create landing pages and track genuine quote requests. Construction PPC management starts from £450 a month, with ad spend paid directly to Google.
PPC for builders works when every pound of ad spend is pointed at the jobs you actually want: extensions rather than odd jobs, loft conversions rather than DIY advice, commercial refurbishments rather than job seekers. ProntX manages Google Ads and Microsoft Ads for builders and construction companies, with a published fee from £450 a month and ad spend paid directly to Google from your own account.
Why builders’ ad accounts leak money
Construction searches attract a lot of people who will never hire you: apprentices looking for work, students researching building methods, homeowners wanting free plans, and other builders checking prices. Broad keywords, default location settings and contact forms that count every spam message as a “lead” make an account look busy while the phone stays quiet.
What changes when it is done properly
Campaigns split by job type and value, search terms reviewed every week, location targeting matched to the area your vans actually cover, and tracking that separates genuine quote requests from noise. The goal is fewer, better enquiries at a cost per job you are comfortable with, not more clicks.
Campaign structure
How should a construction PPC account be structured?
Around job value. A loft conversion lead is worth far more than a fence repair, so each type of work gets its own campaign, budget and landing page.
| Campaign | Example searches | How we handle it |
|---|---|---|
| High-value domestic | “house extension builders”, “loft conversion company”, “basement conversion” | Highest bids, tight match types, detailed landing pages with project galleries |
| Renovation and refurbishment | “full house renovation”, “kitchen extension”, “garage conversion” | Separate budgets so these do not starve the high-value campaign |
| Commercial | “commercial fit-out contractor”, “office refurbishment company”, “design and build contractor” | Low volume, high value; phrase and exact match, LinkedIn and remarketing alongside |
| Brand | Your company name | Low-cost protection so competitors cannot take enquiries from people already looking for you |
Small and repair jobs are often excluded entirely if they do not pay back. That decision is yours, but we will show you the numbers to make it.
Cutting waste
Which searches should builders exclude from Google Ads?
Any search that signals someone who will not hire you. A strong negative keyword list is one of the fastest ways to improve a construction PPC account.
- Jobs and careers: “jobs”, “vacancies”, “apprenticeship”, “salary”, “hiring”
- Training: “course”, “NVQ”, “how to become”, “qualifications”
- DIY: “how to”, “DIY”, “yourself”, “tutorial”
- Free resources: “free plans”, “template”, “drawings download”
- Materials shoppers: merchant and DIY store names, “price list”, “wholesale”
- Wrong services: trades you do not offer, such as “plumber” or “electrician” if you subcontract them
- Places outside your patch, added as they appear in search terms
- Competitor names, unless you have decided to bid on them deliberately
We review the search terms report weekly and add new exclusions as they appear. Some terms, such as “cost”, need judgement: “extension cost” can bring early researchers who become clients later, so we test rather than block by default.
Costs
How much does PPC cost for builders?
Two costs: clicks paid to Google and management. Builder keywords commonly cost several pounds per click, with extension and loft conversion terms at the higher end because the jobs are worth more. ProntX management starts from £450 a month.
| Account type | Management fee | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| Local builder | From £450 a month | One area, two or three core services, search campaigns and call tracking |
| Multi-service | Typically £650 to £950 a month | Several job types and areas, landing pages, remarketing and Microsoft Ads |
| Commercial or multi-region | Typically £950 a month and up | Commercial campaigns, several offices, LinkedIn alongside search |
The fee is fixed by scope, not a percentage of spend, and you pay Google directly. One UK builder marketing study reports click costs for common builder terms roughly in the £3 to £12 range; your own area and services will differ, so we estimate from Google’s data in your free audit. See our pricing page and wider Google Ads management service.
Landing pages and leads
What makes a builder’s Google Ads landing page convert?
A page that matches the search, shows relevant finished projects and makes it easy to ask for a quote. Sending all ad traffic to your homepage wastes much of what you pay for.
One page per job type
Someone searching “loft conversion builders” should land on a loft conversion page with loft photos, the types you build (dormer, hip to gable, mansard), how the process works, typical timescales and a short quote form. The same applies to extensions, renovations and commercial work.
Trust at a glance
Reviews, accreditations such as TrustMark or FMB membership where current, insurance details and real team photos near the top of the page reassure people deciding whether to let you into their home.
Qualifying the enquiry
A few well-chosen form questions, such as postcode, type of project, rough budget and when they want to start, filter out time-wasters and help you prioritise callbacks. Calls are tracked with a forwarding number so you can see which campaign each one came from.
Speed to respond
Homeowners often contact several builders. Responding the same day, even with a quick call to book a survey, wins more jobs than any bid change. We can set up instant notifications so enquiries reach whoever is on duty.
Other formats
Should builders use Local Services Ads, Performance Max or remarketing?
Sometimes. Each has a place, but none replaces a well-run search campaign for construction work.
Local Services Ads
Pay per lead, where eligible
Google’s Local Services Ads charge per lead rather than per click and show a screened badge. Availability depends on your trade category and area, and you pay the same for a small job as a large one. We check eligibility and test them where they make sense.
Performance Max
Use with caution
Performance Max spreads budget across search, YouTube, Display and Maps automatically. With weak tracking it can chase cheap, low-quality form fills. We only use it once conversion tracking reliably separates real quote requests from noise.
Remarketing
For long decisions
Extensions and commercial projects are rarely decided in one visit. Remarketing keeps your project photos in front of people who viewed your pages, over the weeks or months they spend planning, at a low cost per impression.
Seasonality and rules
When should builders advertise, and what can ads say?
Plan budgets around when homeowners research and when you have capacity, and keep every claim accurate.
Many homeowners research extensions and loft conversions over winter and early spring so work can start in better weather, while urgent repair searches rise after storms. If your diary is full until autumn, we reduce spend on short-notice work and keep campaigns running for larger projects that start later. Budgets follow your capacity, not the calendar alone.
Ads must be accurate under the ASA’s CAP Code: prices shown should be genuine and include unavoidable extras, and claims such as “guaranteed”, “fully insured” or “no planning needed” must be true for the work advertised. Accreditation claims must be current. Your director or compliance lead signs off claims before ads go live.
ProntX has worked with more than 200 clients over six years. Share read access to your account, or tell us your services and area if you are starting fresh, and we will send a personal video audit within two working days. Request your free audit, see our trades and construction work, or pair ads with SEO for construction for the long term.
How it works
What happens after you get in touch
- 01Free audit
We review your site, search visibility, ads and competitors, then send a short video walkthrough with the quickest wins.
Request audit - 02Plan and price
A one-page plan with goals, channels, timeline and a fixed monthly price. No surprises later.
See prices - 03Launch in weeks
Tracking first, then quick wins, then the bigger builds. You see progress in the first month.
See our work - 04Report and grow
Monthly report in plain English: leads, sales, cost per result and what we do next.
Talk to us
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FAQ
PPC for builders questions, answered
Still unsure? Ask us anything. We reply within one working day.
Is PPC worth it for builders?
Usually, if your jobs are worth a few thousand pounds or more and you can respond to enquiries quickly. Google Ads puts you in front of people actively searching for extensions, conversions or renovations in your area. It is less effective for very small jobs, where click costs eat the margin, or for firms with no capacity to take on more work.
How much should a builder spend on Google Ads?
Work back from job value. Estimate how many enquiries you need for one signed job and what each click costs in your area, then set a budget that buys enough clicks for several jobs a month. Many local builders start modestly and increase once tracking shows a profitable cost per job. We estimate this from Google's data before you spend.
Why are my Google Ads bringing in rubbish leads?
Common causes are broad match keywords, missing negative keywords for jobs, DIY and free plans, location settings that include people outside your area, and forms that accept anything. Fixing the search terms, tightening location targeting and adding qualifying questions to forms usually improves lead quality within weeks. Our free audit pinpoints which of these apply.
Should builders use Google Local Services Ads?
They can be worth testing where your category and area are eligible. You pay per lead rather than per click, and the screened badge builds trust. The downsides are less control over which jobs you get and paying the same for a small job as a large one. Many builders run them alongside standard search ads and compare cost per signed job.
How long does it take for construction PPC to work?
Campaigns can be live within one to two weeks, and enquiries often start soon after. Expect two to three months for cost per enquiry to settle as Google's bidding learns and we cut wasted searches. Commercial campaigns take longer to judge, because projects move slowly from first enquiry to contract.
Can PPC work for commercial construction companies?
Yes, but differently. Commercial search volumes are small and clicks can be expensive, so we focus on precise phrases such as specific contract types and sectors, send traffic to strong case study pages and support search with LinkedIn ads and remarketing. One commercial enquiry can justify months of spend, so we judge results over longer periods.
Do I own my Google Ads account?
Yes. With us, the account, billing and tracking are set up in your name and we manage it with manager access. You pay Google directly for clicks. If you stop working with us, you keep the account, its history and all the data. Contracts are rolling monthly with no lock-in.
What is the difference between PPC and Checkatrade-style platforms?
Lead platforms charge a membership or per-lead fee, and leads may go to several firms at once. With PPC you pay per click, control which jobs and areas you target, and every enquiry comes directly and exclusively to you. Many builders keep one platform while their own ads build up, then compare the cost per signed job.
Works well with
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