LSAs vs Google Ads vs SEO for Contractors in 2026 — Where Should You Spend Your Budget?

If your contracting business can't run without you, you don't have a business. You have a job. Most contractors are throwing money at marketing without knowing which channel is actually worth it — and which one is quietly draining their budget with nothing to show for it. In this video, Adam McChesney breaks down the three digital marketing channels every contractor needs to understand — Local Service Ads, Google Ads, and SEO — and exactly how to split your budget depending on how much you have to spend. What we cover: LSAs vs Google Ads vs SEO — cost, speed, and lead quality compared Why showing up in 4 spots on one Google search page changes everything The exact budget splits for $3K, $5K, and $10K/month marketing budgets Why SEO leads close at a higher rate than any other channel The one channel you should skip if you're spending less than $5K/month How to stop paying for bad leads with LSAs #ContractorMarketing #LocalServiceAds #SEOforContractors #GoogleAds #BuildersOfAuthority Timestamps / Chapters 01:03 – How Contractors Appear in Google Search Results 03:00 – Deep Dive: Local Service Ads (LSAs) for Contractors 06:05 – Deep Dive: Traditional Google Ads (PPC) Strategy 08:19 – Deep Dive: Long-Term ROI with SEO 11:04 – Channel Tier List: Speed, Control, and Growth 12:24 – The Power of Multi-Channel Marketing 13:34 – Recommended Budget Splits ($3k, $5k, and $10k+) Contractor Links & Resources: FREE Chat GPT Ads Guide: https://buildauthority.com/chat-gpt-a... Digital Marketing Agency Website: https://buildauthority.com/ Contractor Facebook Group:   / 7685392924809322   Check out the Builders of Authority Podcast: https://podcast.buildauthority.com/ Follow me on Instagram:   / adamlmcchesney   Follow me on Facebook:   / adam.mcchesney.3   About me: I’m Adam McChesney: an entrepreneur and marketer who’s spent the last decade building and scaling service-based businesses. I’ve been on both sides of the table: running companies myself and helping other business owners grow through smarter, more disciplined marketing. I’m the founder of Builders of Authority, where I work with service businesses to improve visibility, strengthen their brand, and build marketing systems that actually perform over time. Everything I share comes from real experience, what I’ve tested, what’s worked, and what hasn’t. Today, I create content, speak, and have honest conversations about marketing, growth, and leadership, with one goal in mind: helping business owners stop relying on last-minute tactics and start building something sustainable.