Running a fence business isn’t easy. There are seasons of feast and famine. One month you’re swamped. The next, it’s crickets. A lot of contractors still depend on word of mouth to get new jobs. That’s how it worked for decades. It still works, but it’s not enough anymore.
If you’re serious about growing, or even just staying steady, you need more. Customers aren’t only asking neighbors anymore. They’re searching online. And if you’re not showing up there, someone else is.
Let’s talk about why depending on referrals alone is risky. And what you can do to bring in steady work without waiting for someone to mention your name.
1. Word of Mouth Has Limits
Yes, referrals are great. They mean people trust you. But here’s the catch: they aren’t always predictable. You might get a bunch one month, then nothing for weeks.
And most referrals come from past customers. If you’re not building something else alongside that, your pipeline dries up fast.
A few problems with relying only on word of mouth:
- It’s slow.
- You can’t control it.
- It doesn’t grow with your goals.
- It’s local, but not visible online.
You might be the best fence guy in town. But if you’re invisible online, a new homeowner may never hear about you.
2. Where Customers Are Looking Now
Think about how you look for something these days. Need a roofer? A plumber? You probably check Google first.
Homeowners are doing the same for fence companies.
Even if someone tells them your name, they’ll Google you. If your website is missing or outdated, or if your reviews are thin, they might skip to the next guy.
People trust what they find online. And if what they find is weak or missing, it hurts you.
Here’s what most people check before they call:
- Google Business Profile
- Website
- Reviews
- Photos of your work
- Facebook page
If any of these look bad or are missing, you lose the job before they even call.
3. Why a Website Matters More Than Ever
A lot of fence contractors either don’t have a site or they built one ten years ago and forgot about it.
Your website doesn’t need to be fancy. It needs to be clear, clean, and easy to use. Most of all, it should show your work and help people contact you.
A good website helps you:
- Show off past jobs
- Answer common questions
- Give clear contact info
- Look trustworthy
- Show up in Google searches
It’s not about looking “professional.” It’s about making it easy for people to say yes.
4. Local SEO Is Your Silent Salesman
Local SEO means showing up when someone nearby searches for “fence company near me” or “privacy fence installer [your town].”
You don’t pay for clicks. You show up in the map pack and regular results. The better your setup, the more you show up.
Local SEO includes:
- Claiming and fixing your Google Business Profile
- Listing your business on other directories
- Using the right words on your website
- Getting reviews regularly
When this is done right, you start getting calls without ads or referrals.
5. Google Business Profile (GBP) Is Your New Front Door
Your Google listing often shows up before your website. So it has to be right. Photos, business hours, service areas, and reviews all of that matters.
A strong GBP listing builds trust. A weak one drives people away.
Make sure your GBP has:
- Clear business name
- Service area listed
- Categories set right (Fence Contractor is one)
- Real photos of jobs
- Up to date hours
- 4 to 5 new reviews each month
Don’t leave it half done. It’s the first thing people see.
6. Ads Fill the Gaps
Even with a good website and solid SEO, you may want more calls. That’s where ads come in.
Google Ads and Facebook Ads both work for fence companies. But they work in different ways.
Google Ads:
- Show when someone is actively searching
- Work best with clear landing pages
- Can bring quick results
Facebook Ads:
- Great for showing off finished jobs
- Reach people who aren’t searching yet
- Build your brand locally
Ads aren’t magic. But if done right, they can help you grow faster and smoother.
7. Reviews Build Trust
This one’s simple. More reviews = more trust.
You don’t need 500. You need steady, real ones.
Ask every happy customer to leave one. Make it easy: send a text with the link. Say thank you. Keep it simple.
More reviews also help you show up better in search. Google trusts you more when others do.
8. Organic Ranking Saves You Money Over Time
Getting to the top of Google without paying for ads takes work. But once you get there, those leads are free.
That’s the power of organic search. It builds over time.
To rank better, you need:
- A fast, mobile friendly site
- Pages for each service and city
- Good content that answers questions
- Consistent business info across the web
This stuff doesn’t happen overnight. But once it kicks in, it just keeps working.
9. Why FenceWebs Exists
FenceWebs works only with fence companies. We’ve done this for five years. We know what works, what doesn’t, and where to spend your time and money.
We build clean, fast websites. We help you show up in local search. We run ads when needed. We fix what’s broken and help you get more calls.
No fluff. No hard sells. Just real work that brings real jobs.
10. What You Can Do Today
Don’t feel like you have to do everything at once. Start small. Pick one thing from the list below and fix it this week:
Small Wins You Can Get Fast:
- Claim your Google Business Profile
- Add photos of recent jobs
- Ask 2 customers for reviews
- Check if your website works on your phone
- Add your phone number and service area to the homepage
Each one of these helps. And they add up.
Final Thoughts
Word of mouth isn’t dead. It still helps. But it shouldn’t be your only plan.
You don’t have to be a tech expert. You don’t have to spend a fortune. You just need to show up where people are looking.
FenceWebs is here if you want help. But even if you go it alone, take this seriously. The fence companies that grow today are the ones who show up online, not just in someone’s memory.
You do good work. Make sure people can see it.
