David vs. Goliath Construction SEO Battle graphic highlighting competitive analysis between smaller contractors and larger firms.

The David vs. Goliath Construction SEO Battle

AltCMO’s latest research reveals how $100M contractors stack up against industry giants.

In our 2025 Construction SEO Report, AltCMO analyzed the websites of every contractor on the 2025 ENR Top 400 Contractors list to create the construction industry’s first SEO benchmarks.

But that left us wondering, how do the “Davids” of the construction industry compare?

What about the local and regional contractors generating around $100 million in annual revenue, competing against billion-dollar brands?

To find out, we evaluated 100 contractors, each with around $100 million in revenue, and compared their websites against both the SEO benchmark we determined by researching the ENR Top 400 Contractors‘ websites and the top 50 mega contractors on that list.

How the $100M Contractors Stack Up

Metric50 Mega ContractorsENR 400 (Overall)100 $100M Contractors
Domain Authority463226
Backlinks23,5681,744382
Spam Score323
Desktop Speed 727576
Mobile Speed545657
Infographic comparing SEO metrics of 100 $100M contractors against ENR Top 400 and Mega Contractors, highlighting Domain Authority, Backlinks, Spam Score, Desktop Speed, and Mobile Speed.

Key Takeaways

The mega contractors dominate in backlinks, which boosts their Domain Authority and overall SEO strength.

However, the $100M contractors hold their own in other critical areas, particularly page speed and low spam scores, which directly influence user experience and search performance.

In short, the largest construction companies may win on link volume, but smaller regional contractors are proving faster, leaner, and more agile online.

Why It Matters

Construction buyers, partners, and recruits often research companies long before making contact. A slow, outdated, or invisible website can mean lost opportunities, especially as AI and search algorithms increasingly reward credibility, performance, and consistent updates.

Even if you’re not a “Goliath,” your website can compete like one.

How the “David” Contractors Can Beat Goliath Online

The mega contractors’ websites are generally expansive, and their keyword relevance is quite broad. Local and regional contractors can outperform mega contractors in SEO by using more specific keywords, including niche market sectors, specialized services, and local cities, especially suburbs like The Woodlands outside Houston and Naperville outside Chicago.

Curious How Your Website Compares?

AltCMO benchmarks the AEC industry’s digital presence through proprietary research combining SEO analytics, AI-powered insights, and human expertise.

Download the full, ungated 2025 Construction SEO Report or contact us to benchmark your site against the industry.