Local search engine optimization (SEO) is a vital technique that helps contractors appear in local searches made by prospects in their region. For a contractor, learning local SEO strategies means captivating more targeted leads looking for the particular services they provide. This boosts a contractor’s revenue and relevance in their locality. As a contractor with a physical location, local SEO can help you target prospective clients looking for services or products within your proximity.
When you optimize for local search, your online visibility increases and positions you as a go-to expert in your specialty. With the help of the right local SEO techniques, you can establish a robust online presence, outgrow your competition, and capture a constant or stable stream of qualified leads. Discussed below are six local SEO tips for contractors.
1. Claim and optimize your Google My Business (GMB) listing
GMB listing enables you to manage your online presence and is prepared for local SEO. A well-optimized GMB profile enhances your visibility in local searches, which makes it easier for prospects to find and pick your services over those of other contractors. Google My Business provides numerous benefits to contractors, including:
- Improved local visibility: When prospects search for your services, a well-optimized GMB listing ascertains that your business prominently appears on Google Maps and search results
- Better local SEO strategies: Providing accurate, comprehensive information regarding your contracting business, including phone number, services offered, business hours, and address, allows Google to better understand and rank your contracting business in local SERPs. This means increased visibility and a higher likelihood of attracting local clients who are actively looking for your services
If you’re a home remodeler, having a fully optimized GMB listing is vital for local home remodeling SEO. To optimize your GMB listing, ensure the listing is comprehensive enough, use high-quality photos, and create a brief, compelling description highlighting your unique selling points and services.
2. Prioritize local keyword research
Local keyword research involves finding the phrases and words prospects type on search engines when searching for services like yours. This helps map out a technique that ensures your contracting business appears in local searches. Knowing the phrases and terms potential clients use to find contracting services within your locality allows you to tailor your offerings and content to those looking for your services, significantly boosting visibility. With the help of keyword research tools, you can get insights into keyword search volume, related search terms, and the level of competition.
The most effective local keywords for contractors should have lower competition and a good search volume. Upon identifying the right local keywords, ensure they’re naturally and strategically integrated into the different elements of your website (including titles, meta descriptions, headers, and throughout your site’s content) to boost local SEO and attract more targeted traffic.
3. Build high-quality backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites to yours and are a major ranking factor for search engines. Local SEO backlinks are vital for enhancing your site’s visibility and search engine rankings. Building quality backlinks for local SEO involves actively obtaining links from authoritative local sites whose businesses are similar or closely related to yours to increase your online presence in your target geographical area. When building local SEO backlinks for your contracting business, consider:
- Leveraging local business listings and directories. Ensure your Google My Business profile contains relevant links to your site, posts, and services to make the most of your local SEO strategies.
- Reaching out to local sites for backlink opportunities
- Writing guest blogs for local publications or blogs in exchange for links back to your website
- Since most companies offer sponsorship packages and may write about sponsors, sponsoring local events, community projects, and more can help you get backlinks
4. Create a mobile-friendly website
When it comes to local SEO strategies, optimizing your site for mobile is necessary for any contractor seeking to attract the attention of local clients. The advent of mobile devices, such as smartphones, means people depend heavily on these gadgets to find local contracting businesses. A mobile-optimized site is vital for every contractor because it ensures they aren’t missing out on profitable opportunities. A mobile-friendly site influences local SEO in various ways, including:
- Increased visibility: As mobile use keeps rising, the chance for visibility on local SERPs also increases. As such, a mobile responsive site allows you to reach more people
- Improved local rankings: The Google algorithm prioritizes mobile responsive sites in its SERPs. This means if you’re targeting local clients, a mobile-optimized website can help your contracting service website rank higher
- Better user experience: When a website is easy to navigate on mobile devices, visitors are likely to stay longer, minimizing bounce rates and boosting the likelihood of conversions
5. Create location landing pages
Location landing pages or geo-targeted pages are web pages optimized for specific regions. Local landing pages can help you appear in searches specific to your geographic area, whether you have multiple locations or just one. The pages usually inform search engines that your contracting services are available in a specific region and have authority there. The primary reason for creating local landing pages is to help prospective clients find you at their nearest location.
With a distinct landing page on your site covering every local area you serve, you’re telling search engines you have authority in those regions. With local landing pages, you can generate qualified leads for your contracting business, increasing conversion rates. Your location landing page should contain the following:
- Location keyword-optimized content
- An interactive location map to make it easier for those looking for contracting services to see exactly where you are and find directions to your location
- Social proof to show that your contracting business has a track record of success
6. Showcase customer reviews
Online reviews help contracting businesses to show up higher in SERPs. They showcase:
- Trust in your business and generate more clicks from prospects
- The quality and number of customer reviews your company receives are crucial for local search rankings. More positive reviews signal search engines that your contracting business is credible, resulting in higher rankings in local SERPs
- Detailed reviews that mention particular aspects of your contracting company can further boost your visibility
With reviews on different platforms, you can increase your local SEO strategies.
Endnote
Local SEO is vital for the success of your contracting business as it enables you to appear in local searches made by prospective clients in their regions. This drives traffic and conversion rates. Implementing local SEO tips for contractors, such as claiming your GMB listing, building backlinks, conducting keyword research, and creating a mobile responsive site, can help boost business growth.