As a contractor, and with the ever-increasing competition in your field, you probably already know the importance of having a strong online presence. After all, more and more people are turning to the internet to seek out the services they need—and that you offer! But with so many websites and businesses vying for attention, how can you make sure your website rises to the top? Let us help you.
Enter local SEO. Local SEO, our specialty, is all about optimizing your website to show up in search engine results when people search for contractors, or the services that you offer, in your area and the surrounding areas. For instance, if someone types in “contractors near me” into Google, by utilizing Search Engine Optimization, we can help ensure that you appear at the top of the search results and, therefore, receive more leads and close more deals. By following a few key strategies, you can reach more potential customers, improve your visibility, and grow your business immensely.
Here’s everything you need to know about local SEO for contractors!
Claim Your Google Business Profile Listing
Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool that allows you to manage your company’s online presence across Google, including searches and maps. When individuals in your area search Google for contractors, your Google My Business profile will appear on the right hand side of the screen. This allows local customers to easily find your company, get more information about what exactly you do, and even contact you directly, right from the initial Google search page. We all know how important it is to be able to find information quickly and easily in the world we live in today. Putting your listing in a prominent position where it can be easily seen by potential clients increases the likelihood that you will receive inquiries from those clients and, as a result, business from them.
You can help Google show the most accurate information about your business by claiming and optimizing your GMB listing with information like your address, working hours, services, and reviews. This will improve trust and reliability among potential customers and also help you get noticed before your competitors. Additionally, regular updates to these points in your business profile can keep your online storefront and Google listing current, attractive to customers, and relevant in terms of the search engines. Finally, don’t forget to link your website to your GMB listing—this will ensure that people will be able to find detailed information about you online.
To get started with GMB, simply create a listing for your business and verify your information. Include and double-check for accurate and up-to-date information, such as your company name, address, phone number, and website URL. You should also include a brief business description, the category of your business, and hours of operation. We also suggest adding photos or videos to show off your business and make it seem more welcoming to potential customers. As humans, we are visual creatures, and including photos and videos in your listing will help potential customers understand exactly what you do, what you have to offer, and showcase your expertise. Many people buy things based on how they appear, so showcasing your best work is an excellent way to introduce them to your company. Finally, don’t forget to check and respond to customer reviews on a regular basis, as they can have a significant impact on your search visibility. Shoppers and potential customers do take into account and weigh the experiences of previous clients when making their own decisions about who to work with. Making sure that your reviews and ratings are always up to par will bring you more business. Search engines favor higher ratings similarly, so when a search query relating to you comes up, your listing will appear higher.
Optimize Your Website for Local Keywords
One of the most important things you can do for your local SEO is to optimize your website for the right keywords. Keywords are the terms or phrases that people enter into search engines when looking for a contractor. This can include phrases like “contractor near me,” “best local contractor,” “best contractor for new construction,” “best bathroom renovation contractor near me,” and so on. By incorporating these keywords into your website, you can assist search engines in determining what your site is about, what you offer, and where it is relevant.
When it comes to local SEO, it is also increasingly important to include localization keywords in your content, such as your general area of service, city, town, county, or state. For example, if you’re a contractor in Los Angeles, you might want to use the keywords “contractor in Los Angeles” or “Los Angeles contractor” or “best Orange County contractor” in your website’s content. You may also want to mention local neighborhoods or landmarks that help your company stand out. This could include things like “proudly serving the Santa Monica, Pasadena, and Beverly Hills areas.” This will help search engines understand both the geographic area in which you operate and the services you provide to those who live there.
In addition to location-related keywords, it’s important to use keywords that are related to the services you offer. For example, if you’re a plumber in Los Angeles, you might want to use keywords like “plumbing services Los Angeles,” “emergency plumbing repair,” “clogged toilet in Los Angeles,” and so on. When people search for these services, search engines will find your website easier and faster due to the inclusion of these keywords.
Ensure That You Have The Best Content
Next, it is absolutely critical to ensure that all of your website’s content is of high quality. Search engines prefer content that is informative, accurate, inviting, and well written. Make sure to use clear language and proper grammar throughout the content of your website. This will help to ensure that search engine algorithms recognize the quality of your content and reward you with higher search rankings. Optimizing your website for search engines is an ongoing process that requires you to keep it up to date and make sure it has the most recent information about your business. However, if done correctly, it can be a great way to make sure your small business is found online and that you receive a continual influx of new customers!
NAP stands for “Name, Address, and Phone Number.” This information is very important for your local SEO campaign to work. When it comes to local SEO, it’s imperative to ensure that your NAP is consistent across all of your online listings, including your website, your Google My Business listing, and any other directories or platforms you use. This includes your business on social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram.
Having inconsistent NAP information can confuse search engines and make it difficult for them to understand where your business is located and how to contact you. Not only does it confuse the search engine, but it can also be off-putting to potential customers and make them less likely to try to contact you. This means less business for you. To avoid this, make sure all your NAP information is accurate and consistent, and if you have multiple locations, make this clear, as well. Having multiple phone numbers or addresses listed can also confuse users, so make sure that you have a clear contact page or directory with all your necessary information. Also, if you list your NAP on your website or in a directory, be sure to include the area code for each of your phone numbers.
Building Backlinks Into Your Website
Backlinks are links to your website from other websites. They are mentions of you on other websites that direct customers to your site and assist search engines in recognizing you as legitimate, reputable, and trustworthy. They are one of the most important things search engines look at when deciding how to rank your site because they show that your site is important and useful. If your site has a lot of high-quality backlinks, search engines are more likely to see it as a reliable and authoritative source and therefore rank you higher, which will lead to further business inquiries for you.
To build backlinks, you’ll want to reach out to other local businesses and organizations and ask if they’d be willing to link to your site. You can also participate in local events or fairs, contribute to local blogs and forums, and provide helpful resources or information on your website about your products or services that others may want to link to. A mention by a local news station or newspaper that features you and that appears on their website and links to your site, for example, is a fantastic way to build your repertoire and help the search engine validate you. By leveraging your local network with contacts within your industry and providing quality content, you can build a strong foundation of backlinks for your website.
You can also use online tools, such as Google Analytics, to track the progress of your link-building efforts and recognize your improvements. There are several tools, like the one mentioned, available to help you track the number and quality of links pointing to your website. By using these tools, you can gain insight into which of your links are providing the most benefit, any new ones that may appear, and which already existing links need to be improved. Additionally, some of these tools can help you identify new link opportunities that you may not have considered before. As we are experts in utilizing these tools to their fullest potential, we are able to help you understand them and would love to work with you as you grow your business using them!
You may also consider utilizing your social media channels as another great way to build backlinks to your website. Use the power of social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, and more to start building relationships with others within your industry who might be interested in linking to your content. Try first by contacting other local influencers or members of your community or industry. They can feature you and tag you in their content to further your reach and also validate you for the search engine. You can also create content that other people will want to link to, such as blog posts and video tutorials of your product or service. You may want to take advantage of guest blogging opportunities, which allow you to provide valuable content on other sites in exchange for a link back to your site. Finally, don’t overlook the use of tools such as web directories (Yelp, Bing, etc.) and press releases.
Remember to keep track of your link-building progress. Monitor and keep an eye on the number and quality of links arriving, as well as the anchor text used in them. This will give you a better idea of how effective your efforts are, help you to recognize your progress, and make a plan for what needs to be done in the future.
Finally, it’s important to remember that link building should never replace quality content on your website. Create compelling content that speaks to your target audience, then use link-building to drive traffic. This way, you can ensure that you are providing a valuable service to both your readers and future potential customers.
How To Maintain Consistency with Your NAP
NAP is an abbreviation for Name, Address, and Phone Number, and it is critical to the success of your local SEO campaign. When it comes to local SEO, it’s critical to ensure that your NAP is consistent across all of your online listings, including your website, Google My Business listing, and any other directories or platforms you use.
Having inconsistent NAP information can confuse search engines and make it difficult for them to understand where your business is located and how to contact you. To avoid this, make sure all your NAP information is accurate and consistent, and if you have multiple locations, make this clear, as well. Having multiple phone numbers or addresses listed can also confuse users, so make sure that you have a clear contact page or directory with all your necessary information. Additionally, if you are displaying your NAP on your website or listings, make sure to include the specific area code for each of your phone numbers.
Make Your Site Easy to Navigate
Finally, ensure that your website is simple to use and that all of your pages have descriptive, keyword-rich titles. This will help both search engines and visitors understand what your site is about and where to find the information they’re looking for. Nobody, including search engines, likes it when the answer they are looking for is difficult to find. When designing and updating your website, make sure that it is easy to navigate and that answers are almost immediately available to users, as this increases the likelihood that they will book faster which means more business for you!
We do hope that this article helps you to understand why local Search Engine Optimization is so critical for your business and that you utilize this information to generate leads for yourself. If you need help, more information, or further assistance in taking any of these steps, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Arising Media. As mentioned, all things SEO are our passion and specialty, and we are happy to work with you and assist you!