Learn how to enhance your online visibility and gain more customers using these time-tested tips for successful local SEO for a home service company.
We live in an ultramodern age in which digital reigns supreme. From having video calls with loved ones continents away, to booking plane tickets and hotels, to ordering our meals for the day, we’ve become very reliant on the Internet and the wealth of information and services in the online world.
Even availing of home services has become an online task. Think about it – when you need a plumber, electrician, landscaper, or any other type of home service, there’s a high likelihood that you searched for one on Google or other search engines.
This is why it’s imperative to get your home service company to rank high in local search results. If you want to attract customers or help customers find your business online, you must supercharge your Local Search Engine Optimization (or simply Local SEO) game.
We’ve compiled a handy list of essential Local SEO tips to help your home services business outrank your competitors. Ready to bring in more customers to your doorstep—or rather, get to the doorstep of more customers? Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
Write Location-Specific, Keyword-Rich Content
First of all, if you want local customers to know about the home services you offer, your website must have location-specific pages.
Having pages that are tailored to each of the locations you serve will allow you to create customized content that can be targeted to people in that specific area who are searching for the home service that you provide. Each customized location-specific page should include keywords that are targeted to that location.
Besides landing pages, having location-based content in your blog articles, videos, and other online content can all help boost your Local SEO.
Make sure to conduct extensive keyword research to know the keywords related to home services that your target audience usually searches for in your area. Based on what you find, build a list of those keywords and develop content around them.
For example, let’s say that your business offers mold removal services, and you find that one of the top keywords in your city is “how to remove mold bronx apartment”. Based on this, you can write a blog article that shares DIY tips on removing mold and make sure to mention the popular types of materials in Bronx apartments that are prone to getting molds, and at the end, advise readers that if DIY methods fail, they can contact your business for professional mold removal.
Optimize Your Google Business Profile (previously Google My Business)
Your Google Business Profile is an indispensable element of your Local SEO campaign. If you haven’t done so, make sure to claim your Google Business Profile listing right away. Almost 50 percent of customers use Google to search for recommendations on what to buy. In addition to that, 3 in every 5 smartphone users get in touch with businesses using the call button in Google Business Profile.
Make sure that your listing has your most current and complete business details. The most important of these is your Name, Address, and Phone number—or NAP. Besides your NAP, you should likewise post your website, hours of operation, and customer reviews. All of these can help improve your Local SEO.
Local SEO experts likewise recommend that you fill in the other fields in Google Business Profile, such as your business categories, service and product pages, and more. Doing so will make it easier for prospects to find your website on the web.
Last but not least, Local SEO experts encourage publishing news and updates about your business to your listing as often as possible. These will not just relay valuable information (like upcoming sales and promotions) to your prospects and customers but can also help improve your Local Search ranking.
Be in as Many Online Business Directories as Possible
Even though your Google Business Profile is absolutely vital, many other online business directories can play a role in your Local SEO. Take a look and check if your home service business is listed on popular business directories such as Yelp, FourSquare, Best of the Web, Bing Places, Angie’s List, and HotFrog.
Make sure that your NAP is correct and consistent in all online listings of your business. Any difference can hurt your Local SEO ranking—yes, even something as simple as having your address contain ‘Street’ in one directory and ‘St.’ in another. Consistency and uniformity help search engines’ algorithms verify that it’s one and the same business listed across different sites, and the more listings your business has, the better.
Make Sure That Your Website is Optimized for Mobile
Every year, the number of users on mobile is growing, and so is the ratio of searches from mobile devices versus desktop. Google has clearly observed this, and that’s why it implemented mobile-first indexing for all websites beginning in September 2020.
Mobile-first indexing means that the search engine giant prioritizes every website’s mobile version in deciding that site’s search engine results page (SERP) ranking.
It takes less than a minute to check how mobile-friendly your site is. You can use Google Search Console’s Mobile-Friendly Test (it’s free) to check how your website fares. At the bare minimum, your website should be mobile-friendly; it’s even better if it’s responsive. This means that it adapts to whatever device a user uses to explore your website. A responsive website offers the best user experience and it may be a decisive factor for prospects who are still trying to decide whether to hire your home service business.
Suppose you find out that your website is not yet mobile-friendly. In that case, you can either have your IT or digital marketing team fix this issue, or hire a professional digital marketing agency like Zero Company to help you optimize your website for mobile.
Apply Schema Markup for Geographic Data
Sometimes called structured data, schema markup enables search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and Bing to understand your site’s content. Implementing schema markup will make it easier for search engines to index and crawl your website, which means they’ll appear in search results.
By incorporating schema markup into your website, you give search engines essential information about your business—such as your NAP and operating hours—in a format their algorithms can easily process.
Make sure to follow Google’s guidelines when incorporating structured data. If you’re unsure how to best implement schema markup, we recommend tapping SEO professionals like our digital marketing firm for expert help.
Ready to Use Local SEO to Become a Household Name in Your Area?
We’d love to help you on your way to becoming a trusted home service provider in your serviced areas. We take pride in having more than 20 solid years of experience in delivering reliable and effective online marketing services, including Local SEO, to a wide range of home service businesses.
Book a free consultation with Zero Company Performance Marketing’s friendly team today!
