For roofing companies trying to rank higher in Google Maps and local search results, one of the most effective (and overlooked) strategies is building backlinks from local directories and websites. These links help prove to search engines that your business is legitimate, relevant, and trusted within your community.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what local backlinks are, why they matter for your roofing SEO, and how to find and secure them to boost your visibility and lead generation.
What Are Local Backlinks?
Local backlinks are links from websites based in your geographic service area that point back to your own website. These often come from:
- Online business directories (local or industry-specific)
- Chambers of commerce and city websites
- Neighborhood blogs and community sites
- Local sponsorships or partnerships
- Regional news coverage
Unlike generic backlinks, these send strong local trust signals to Google—helping your roofing business rank higher for searches like “roof repair near me” or “roofer in [city name].”
Why Local Backlinks Matter for Roofing SEO
1. They Help You Rank in the Google Map Pack
When a homeowner searches for roofing services nearby, Google shows a Map Pack with the top three local businesses. Backlinks from local sources are one of the top factors Google uses to decide which companies show up there.
2. They Build Trust With Search Engines and Homeowners
If respected local sites are linking to your roofing company, it shows Google (and your potential customers) that your business is credible and part of the community.
3. They Boost Organic Traffic
These backlinks not only help with rankings—they can also send direct referral traffic. Local homeowners visiting chamber websites, directories, or community blogs can click through to your site and convert into real leads.
4. They Strengthen Your Citation Profile
Many of these links also function as local citations, reinforcing your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency and improving your overall local SEO profile.
How to Build Backlinks from Local Directories
1. Claim and Optimize Top National Directories
Start with the big players that also function as local directories:
- Google Business Profile
- Yelp
- BBB (Better Business Bureau)
- Angi
- HomeAdvisor
- Houzz
Make sure your NAP info is accurate, your website URL is included, and your profile is fully filled out with services, hours, and images.
2. Find Local Business Directories
Use searches like:
- “[city] business directory”
- “roofers in [city]”
- “submit business listing [city]”
Look for sites run by:
- Local chambers of commerce
- Economic development boards
- Tourism sites
- Small business directories
3. Get Listed on Industry-Specific Directories
Many directories exist just for contractors, home services, or roofers. Examples include:
- Roofers Guild
- Home Blue
- BuildZoom
- Networx
These directories often pass stronger niche relevance than generic sites, which helps your SEO more.
How to Get Backlinks from Local Websites
1. Join Your Local Chamber of Commerce
Most chambers list their members on their website and link back to their business websites. It’s a strong local signal and adds legitimacy.
2. Sponsor Local Events, Teams, or Causes
Think little league teams, food drives, charity runs, or community festivals. Your business gets listed as a sponsor on their event pages, often with a backlink.
3. Pitch Stories to Local Blogs or News Outlets
Reach out to local journalists or bloggers with story ideas like:
- How to prepare your roof for storm season
- Tips on filing insurance claims after hail damage
- Giving back to the community through free roof repairs
Most local content creators welcome helpful tips from professionals—and they’ll usually link back to your site.
4. Get Involved With Local Associations
Join any local or regional trade associations, builder groups, or contractor networks. These often list members on their websites with backlinks.
5. Create Local Content That Earns Links
Write helpful blog posts targeting local issues and share them with local sites and community groups:
- “Storm Damage Roof Checklist for Allen Homeowners”
- “Top 5 Roofing Questions We Hear in Frisco”
- “What to Do If a Tree Damages Your Roof in Plano”
Include maps, photos, and stats when possible. The more useful and localized, the more likely it is to earn links.
What Makes a Good Local Backlink?
Before you spend time getting listed, make sure the backlink meets these criteria:
- Is it connected to your area?
- Is it a real organization or resource?
- Can Google crawl and follow the link?
- Does the site link to real businesses, not spam?
Good backlinks build trust. Bad ones can do more harm than good.
How HOWL Helps Roofers Build Local Backlinks
At HOWL, we include local backlink building as part of every Local SEO strategy for roofers. Our team identifies and submits to relevant directories, finds high-value local link opportunities, and handles outreach to get your business listed where it matters.
We focus on:
- Manual submissions to high-quality local directories
- Local sponsorship and media outreach
- City-specific content creation for natural backlink attraction
- Ongoing backlink audits and cleanup
Final Thoughts: Local Links Build Local Trust
When Google sees that respected websites in your community link to your roofing business, it views you as more trustworthy, more authoritative, and more relevant for local searches. That means more rankings, more calls, and more jobs.
Apply to work with HOWL and let us handle your local backlink strategy—so you can focus on roofing while we focus on ranking.