Google Maps Vs Yelp Vs HomeAdvisor: Where Should You Focus?

If you run a local service business and it doesn’t matter whether you are a roofer, a plumber, an HVAC tech or a landscaper one thing you have probably been told is that you need to be on all the major platforms to get your piece of the pie.

Google Maps, Yelp and HomeAdvisor I know they all sound important but if you are trying to bring in real leads and not just clicks and noise then you can’t spread your time and money thin.

And at Oastreck we have analyzed hundreds of small business campaigns and here’s the truth not all platforms deliver the same kind of results. 

Some attract ready to book customers while others just drain your budget or reputation.

So let’s break it all down in simple words like where you should focus whether it is about Google Maps vs Yelp vs HomeAdvisor and what actually drives leads that turn into paying clients.

Google Maps: The Powerhouse Of Local Discovery

When someone types roofer near me or a plumber in Southampton what do you think shows up first? Yep it is the Google Maps location.

This is the place where all local intent meets instant action and people searching here aren’t browsing. No they are hiring. 

So optimizing your Google Business Profile is hands down the smartest investment you can make for local business marketing platforms.

And Here is Why Google Maps Wins:

• It dominates over 90 percent of the search market share.
  
• Customers can call you directly from search results.
  
• Reviews directly impact your Google Maps SEO strategy and ranking.
  
• It is free to use and organic leads cost you 0 dollars per click.
  

When your listing is fully optimized with all the accurate info, great photos, keywords in your description and consistent NAP across all directories then congratulations you can outrank even national chains.

You can also link to your service pages directly from posts which boosts conversions. 

And Oastreck helps small businesses do exactly this by building optimized and verified profiles that actually bring phone calls and not empty traffic.

Yelp: Still Relevant But With Limits

Yep this one used to be the go to review site for local businesses and don’t get me wrong it is still influential especially for restaurants and lifestyle services. 

But for traders like roofing, plumbing or electrical it’s not the powerhouse it once was.

And Here’s Why:

• Yelp filters a lot of legitimate reviews.
  
• Paid ads often push competitors above organic listings.
  
• Leads tend to price shop rather than book directly.
  

But this doesn’t mean you should ignore Yelp. No instead treat it as a reputation mirror a place where potential customers might check your ratings after finding you elsewhere like on Google.

So make sure to encourage happy clients to leave reviews but don’t depend on Yelp as your main traffic source. Just use it to build trust and not to generate most of your leads.

Plus if you are looking for more insight on Yelp’s review system then check out Forbes Grand Analysis of Yelp’s Credibility and Review Filtering.

HomeAdvisor: Leads But At A Cost

Ah yes now let’s talk about HomeAdvisor for contractors or by its new name as Angi Leads.

If you’ve used it then you probably have strong feelings. Some business owners love it for quick leads while others hate it for paying for unqualified contacts. The truth sits somewhere in between.

Here’s What HomeAdvisor Gets Right:

• It connects contractors with customers fast.
  
• You can target specific service categories and locations.
  
• The platform helps with visibility if you’re new and need initial traction.
  

But Here’s The Downside:

• Leads aren’t exclusive because your competitors get the same ones.
  
• You pay per lead even if the person never books.
  
• Many users just want price estimates and not actual service.
  

It is easy to burn through hundreds of dollars a week without seeing a consistent ROI and that is why we tell clients to treat it as a temporary amplifier and not a real foundation.

You can read a detailed breakdown of how paid home service platforms work in Angi vs. HomeAdvisor: Which Lead Generation Platform Should You Use? as it lays out the pros and cons clearly.

The Real Battle: Visibility Vs Trust

What separates these platforms isn’t just traffic it is the type of audience they attract.

• Google Maps: Customers are ready to hire now.
  
• Yelp: People comparing businesses or checking credibility.
  
• HomeAdvisor: Leads browsing options or pricing.
  

So if you have only got time and budget for one then always start with the Google Maps SEO strategy. 

Because it feeds consistent organic leads without monthly ad spend and once that’s working try to maintain Yelp as a secondary channel for social proof and visibility.

The Hidden Key: NAP Consistency

Here is a mistake I have talked about before that we see too often and that is businesses have mismatched info across platforms.

So for example if one listing says Oastreck LLC another says Oastreck SEO and a third has an old phone number.

That inconsistency kills your local rankings because Google reads it as unreliability.

And that is why NAP consistency which includes Name, Address and Phone number matters more than ever. 

So when Oastreck runs audits one of the very first things we fix is directory accuracy because it directly impacts ranking signals across all major platforms.

Customer Behavior Has Changed

Here’s the thing we don’t live in the old days anymore and customers don’t scroll through pages of listings like they used to. They only trust what they see first.

Studies show that 68 percent of local service buyers choose one of the top three results on Google Maps and they don’t even dig into Yelp filters or scroll through paid listings on HomeAdvisor.

And here is the real kicker most never even reach your website because they call straight from Maps and that is why every tap and click there counts.

What To Focus On Going Forward?

If you are absolutely serious about lead generation then do this:

• Master your Google Business Profile and post weekly, answer every review and update photos regularly.
  

• Keep your business data consistent across Yelp, Facebook, HomeAdvisor and other directories.
  

• Track where your leads come from like If it is 70 percent are from Maps then double down.
  

• Monitor reviews actively and try to respond quickly especially to negatives as it shows credibility.
  

With Oastreck local SEO services we can take these tasks off your plate analyzing every channel, fixing errors and optimizing what brings real results.

So don’t let your competitors dominate search results while you’re wasting money on the wrong platform.

Get your SEO Audit with Oastreck Today and find out where your customers are actually coming from.

How Each Platform Fits Different Industries?

Let’s get practical.

Now here’s how you can do the best comparison when it comes to Google Maps vs Yelp vs HomeAdvisor as these three platforms are ranked by industry impact:

But here’s the real takeaway no matter your industry, if your Google Maps ranking is weak, your visibility suffers everywhere else too.

Your Budget Works Better When You Know Your Stuff

Running ads or listings blindly is like pouring water into a leaky bucket. I mean that is just a straight up waste of so many precious resources. So for this cause you need a plan that focuses on what converts and not what is more popular.

And at Oastreck we have the perfect setup for you to see the full picture where leads originate which platforms are paying off and what can be trimmed for better ROI.

Conclusion

You don’t need to be everywhere. You just need to be visible where it matters most.

Google Maps will always win when it comes to conversion-ready customers. Yelp still builds credibility. HomeAdvisor can help you fill gaps when you’re growing. But for sustainable results, Google’s ecosystem is where the real growth happens.

So stop guessing, stop overspending and let data lead the way.

But if you’re tired of playing the guessing game with your marketing budget let’s make it work for you.

Get your SEO Audit Now with Oastreck and discover exactly which platforms deserve your focus.