The home improvement company scene is more competitive than ever. If you want your business to succeed, it's no longer enough to simply do a good job and prove your skills to your clients. The way people decide who to hire has changed, and if you don't keep up with the times, you risk getting left behind.
It's important to distinguish your business from other local contractors. And there is no better way to do so than hiring an SEO company for contractors to help you develop your online image. Read on to learn more about what SEO for contractors is, why it's useful, and how to choose the best local SEO company to help you with your internet presence.
What Is Search Engine Optimization?
Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the process of improving the visibility of your website on search engines. If your website is sufficiently optimized, it will be among the first search results people see when looking for information relevant to your field. That can have amazing benefits, as people usually don't scroll past the first page of Google when looking for information. If your business is easy to find online, it will drive more customers. Additionally, if you have a website that's optimized for search engines, it will make your company appear more reputable and trustworthy.
Why Is SEO Important for Small Business Owners?
Nowadays, people rely on the internet for everything, from deciding where to eat to which construction company to hire. If you don't have a website for your business, you're missing out on a lot of potential customers. Furthermore, it's no longer enough to simply have a website. If you don't update it regularly, your site will quickly be buried by the competitors that do.
Making sure your company is one of the first businesses people find when looking for a contractor is essential. That's where construction SEO can help. Depending on what business you own, you can choose general contractor SEO, home remodeling SEO, SEO for plumbers, and more. Additionally, it's important to work with a company that has experience in SEO for contractors.
Choosing a skilled local SEO company that works with small businesses in your area is crucial. They'll know how to approach search engine optimization for contractors and get your business to the next level.
How to Utilize SEO for Construction Companies?
Following the right SEO methods can be the best advertising for contractors. It can drive natural traffic to your website and improve your brand in the eyes of potential clients. However, if you don't do it right, you could be wasting your time and money. Here are the most important SEO contractor practices you should implement.
Market Your Business on Google Maps
Google Maps marketing is the most important tool for local businesses. It's the most common way clients find home repair companies in their area. If you don't have a Google My Business account, you should make one as soon as possible. It's free and easy to make, and it will optimize your visibility on Google Maps. You should include your business' name, hours of operation, and location. Additionally, it's smart to add a few pictures of your business or the work you've done. Doing so will make people more inclined to choose you over the competition, as they'll trust your expertise.
Want to learn more check out the 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea: A Deep Dive Into Google My Business
Optimize for Voice Search
Adapting your website for voice search use will ensure you're ahead of the competition. Voice search is becoming more common, and its use will expand in the next few years. It's important to optimize your website for the way people ask questions when speaking. The way people type is quite different from the way they speak. When typing, they are more likely to use shorter phrases. However, when speaking, people use longer phrases and a more conversational tone. Additionally, you should optimize voice search based on the information your clients are looking for. For example, if they ask about your company's working hours, the information should be readily available for them.
Create Content Related to Your Area of Expertise
If you don't update your business website often, you are missing out on a major part of SEO for contractors. It's smart to use your skills to your advantage. Creating content related to your business will make your potential clients trust you more. Additionally, it will drive more people to your website. People looking for information may stumble onto your blog and remember your company. Once they need contracting work, your business will be the first thing on their mind.
Optimize Your Website for Mobile Users
To be a competitor in local SEO, you need to optimize your website for mobile. People spend a lot more time on their phones than they do on the computer. Furthermore, nowadays people learn information on the go. That means they'll likely decide which business to visit based on which searches come up on their phone. If you optimize your website for mobile, it will be among the first searches people see when they look up contracting businesses. That will drive the customers to your company and result in more potential clients.
Why Hiring Local SEO Companies Is Your Best Option
Hiring a local American SEO company is the best way to ensure your website is visible on search engines. High-quality SEO for contractors improves the reputation of your business. Additionally, it drives new clientele to your firm. However, it's important to choose the right SEO company.
You should be able to communicate effectively with them. If the company you're working with doesn't work with contractors often, they may not know what your business needs. Additionally, you should be able to trust the SEO firm you're working with completely. They should be able to implement SEO for contractors effectively, and you should see the results of their work.
The company you're working with has to know how to approach your target market. Furthermore, they should know which keywords to use and which social media strategies to use. Local SEO firms are the best choice for small companies. They usually work with local businesses already, and they'll know which SEO practices are the best.
Your contractor business is local, and you need to attract people within your service area.
At Cube Creative, we help contractors, and sub-contractors like you Attract, Engage, and Delight your customers online. This brings in more qualified leads to help you create customers for life.
Attract
You may or may not realize it, but times have changed - especially when it comes to consumer buying patterns. Today most consumers looking for contractors are 3/4 of the way through the buying journey before they reach out to talk to an actual person.
If we have a question, we go to the internet to "Google It." Chances are you came to his very page through a Google search or at least via a search engine.
The key to attracting more homeowners or property owners and getting higher quality leads is to provide answers to customer questions before they ask them. Utilize your website to discuss potential costs or compare products. For example, you may have a blog or article that looks at Brick vs. Vinyl vs. Wood siding.
Having relevant and related content about home building or remodeling helps attract visitors to your site form the search engines. Once there, we help engage potential customers.
Engage
Don't be afraid to be vulnerable and talk about what you don't do to engage your potential customers. For example, if you don't have an unlimited license, then be upfront and tell them. Also, don't portray yourself as a contractor that can build million-dollar homes. Nothing is worse for a prospect than realizing in the final hour that the person they hired or want to hire can't do it all. Listing what you offer and what someone can expect when contacting you to build trust.
Engaging also uses social proof via testimonials and reviews. Why? Take a look at these statistics:
- The average consumer reads 10 online reviews before making a purchase decision.
- 57% of consumers will only buy or use a business service if it has at least a 4-star rating.
- Purchase likelihood peaks when the average star rating of a product is between 4.2 and 4.5 stars on a five-star scale. —Power Reviews 2014: The Proven Power of Reviews From Reviews to Revenue (PDF)
- 88% of consumers trust user reviews as much as personal recommendations.
Delight
Long gone are the days where customers would stay loyal to a tradesman just for loyalty's sake or where you could rely solely on word of mouth and referrals.
Today's homeowners are used to immediate gratification with building services. The internet has put customers in the driver's seat and sparked an "I want it now" economy. They expect an immediate response to appointment requests and phone messages, a frictionless customer experience, and top-notch, next-day service.
By providing a great experience from the start, you create a plumbing customer for life, someone who will share their experience with others online and in person. Later you can use their information to market to them again to keep you on their mind if they have a future plumbing need.
Say hello to your new reality:
More than half of Americans have scrapped a planned purchase or transaction because of bad service, and 33 percent say they’ll consider switching companies after just a single instance of poor service.
Nearly 50 percent of customers say they’ve left a brand to which they were loyal to go to a competitor that is better at meeting their needs. Failing to stay relevant will accelerate the exit of even your most loyal customers.
Return On Investment (ROI)
Content marketing and Inbound marketing doesn’t happen overnight. We often equate it to running a marathon versus a sprint. The beauty of content marketing is that it should have a long-lasting effect if done correctly. If you are taking the time to answers prospects’ questions through your website, you may see returns from one post for years to come.
At Cube Creative, we know your business is unique, and you deserve a unique and customized plan for your business.
In addition to building out a 12-month content plan designed to attract search engine users, we also build in a few “quick wins” at the onset of your marketing campaign to jumpstart lead generation in the first few months.
SEO for contractors is an effective way to improve the success of your business. However, you should be careful when choosing an SEO company to work with. It's best to hire a local SEO company. Choose a reputable company that has worked with contractors before. If you're interested in SEO for contractors and you live in North Carolina, contact us now. We've been working with small construction companies for years and know what it takes to make them succeed. Call us for a consultation and experience our abilities for yourself.
