AltCMO has released its second annual Construction SEO Report, the only industry-specific benchmark study analyzing how the largest contractors and design firms perform online.
In 2024, AltCMO published the first report of its kind for the ENR Top 400 Contractors, addressing the question: Does SEO really matter in the construction industry? The findings were clear; leading contractors were investing heavily in digital visibility.
This year, the research expanded. In addition to the ENR Top 400 Contractors, the 2025 study includes the ENR Top 500 Design Firms, creating a nearly 900-website dataset that offers the most comprehensive look yet at digital authority in the A/E/C industry.
Key Findings from the 2025 Report
- Domain Authority is now standard among leaders. Over 77% of ENR contractors and 80% of design firms scored above 30, a recognized threshold for strong online authority.
- Page speed is improving, but mobile still lags. Desktop websites averaged a solid 74 out of 100. Mobile sites averaged just 57, with many firms losing visibility to faster competitors.
- Backlinks remain the backbone of SEO. The median backlink count rose to 1,500, reinforcing the link between credible media mentions, project coverage, and search authority.
- Spam scores stay low. Only 18% of firms showed concerning levels of toxic backlinks, suggesting the industry is building cleaner digital profiles.
- AI presence is universal. Every firm in the dataset is now discoverable in ChatGPT and other AI platforms, a change from 2024 when some contractors were invisible.
Why This Matters for Contractors and Design Firms
Search visibility is no longer optional; it is now a business imperative. From winning projects to attracting top talent, being discoverable online is central to growth.
- Owners and developers complete most of their decision-making online before contacting potential design and construction partners.
- Potential job candidates evaluate company culture, reputation, and credibility through search and AI platforms.
- AI-driven search is accelerating. With queries often 20–30 words long, buyers are further along in their decision-making journey, making AI traffic four times more valuable than traditional search visits.
As AltCMO CEO Perryn Olson explains:
“The construction industry has traditionally relied on relationships and referrals. That’s still true, but the reality is that every referral and every shortlist decision now gets validated online. If you don’t have authority in search, you’re already behind.”
Download the Full Report
The full Construction SEO Report 2025 is available now for free and remains ungated.