A Quick Guide to SEO for Contractors: Drive Growth and Generate Leads Locally
Updated: August 29, 2023
Published: July 6, 2023
Founder, Mura Digital
Today, one of the most effective strategies for local lead generation is through search engine optimization (SEO).
But what exactly is SEO, and why are the most successful contractors relying on it? This ‘quick and dirty’ guide will break down SEO for contractors, giving you all the tools you need to amplify your online visibility, reach more clients and grow your business.
Key Takeaways
SEO Importance: SEO is vital for contractors as it brings high-quality leads and offers cost-effectiveness compared to traditional advertising.
SEO Steps: Start with keyword research, then optimize your website and social media posts (On-page SEO), and finally focus on Local SEO, including Google My Business listing and reviews.
Google Reviews: Google Reviews play a crucial role in local SEO. Consistently securing reviews should be an automated part of a contractor’s sales process.
Understanding Local SEO
If you found this article, you probably already know why you need SEO, or Search Engine Optimization. It’s also important to understand how it works.
Put simply, SEO is the practice of optimizing your online content so that search engines like Google can easily find it. The ultimate goal is to appear on the first page of search results when users type in relevant keywords or phrases – in our case, anything related to the contracting business.
Why SEO is Crucial for Contractors
The Highest Quality Leads
Effective SEO helps contractors attract high-quality leads. These are individuals actively searching for the services you offer, making them more likely to convert into clients.
Cost-Effective Lead Generation
Unlike traditional advertising methods, SEO is cost-effective. Rather than paying for local, Facebook or Google ads, contractors can invest in SEO to boost organic traffic, providing a high return on investment in the long term. The best part of it all is that it gets more cost effective the longer you invest, unlike paying for ads.
How to get started with SEO as a Contractor
Step 1: Keyword Research
This is the initial step, something you only do once every couple years.
Understanding the keyword phrases potential clients are using when searching for your services online is crucial. Tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush can help identify popular search terms in your industry. We use both of these tools in-house at Mura Digital.
Step 2: On-page SEO
This next step is something that you need to keep in mind for both your website and social media posts going forward.
On-page SEO involves optimizing individual webpages on your website and making them attractive to both search engines and users. This includes using the appropriate keywords in your content, meta descriptions, headers, URL structures and even file names. Equal consideration should be placed on your social media posts as well.
Step 3: Local SEO
Local SEO is particularly crucial for contractors.
This last step is ongoing, forever. This is arguably the hardest part because once everything else is done, your results will solely rely on this: Collecting positive reviews on your Google Business Profile primarily and social media platforms secondarily.
Is that really all it takes? 3 steps to generating more leads?
Yes, but practicing SEO consistently is harder than it sounds.
Local SEO is pretty straightforward, it just takes time and consistency. The best way to stay consistent is to add SEO into your sales process.
Let me explain… Step 3 is where your consistency comes in.
Think of it this way… If you completed 100 projects but only have 1 Google Review, Google thinks you only completed 1 project and will adjust their algorithm accordingly when people search for your services.
The single most important aspect in local SEO after everything else is done correctly is your Google Reviews. The only way to get reviews is completing jobs. The best way to get new jobs is by having good local SEO. It’s a vicious, profitable sales cycle that feeds itself when done correctly.
How can I implement this into my business?
There’s many different ways to ask for reviews from current and past clients. The best way to collect these is to make them a mandatory part of your sales process. Especially starting out, you need to make sure every single client you have leaves a review.
At Mura Digital we specialize in helping contractors and small businesses design these types of processes, like with our Pay-As-You-Go SEO services.
Stay ahead of the competition by implementing a robust SEO for contractors and local service business strategy, designed and implemented by a skilled team.
Need help getting started? Contact us to schedule a free consultation and start optimizing your online presence for success.
