Marketing for Katy Small Businesses: Where to Spend in 2026
Google Maps, local SEO, paid social — where the marketing dollar lands for Katy service businesses.
Most Katy small businesses get 60-80% of new customers from local search. Yet most marketing budgets ignore it. Here's where the dollars actually move the needle.
Win Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)
Free, highest-leverage. Optimize categories, fill every service, add 30+ photos, request reviews after each job. Katy marketing agencies can manage this monthly for $200-500.
Local directory listings
Yelp, BBB, Nextdoor, and yes — Experts of Katy. The goal is N.A.P. consistency (name, address, phone). Inconsistency hurts ranking.
Pay-per-click only for category leaders
Google Ads works for plumbers, roofers, lawyers — the high-intent categories. Skip it if you're a coffee shop; spend on Instagram and local sponsorships instead.
Underrated: review-generation flow
Every job ends with an SMS asking for a Google review. The shops with 400+ reviews dominate their Katy category.