Search engine optimization sounds like a job for a specialist. For a local trade business it comes down to three things. Do them properly, keep them up, and you have done most of what an agency would bill you for.
- Your listing matters more than your website for "near me" searches.
- A page for every town and every service gives search engines a reason to show you there.
- Fresh reviews and fresh job photos keep you near the top.
Win 1: a complete listing that matches your site
Your Google and Bing listings are what most people see first. Fill in every field: services, hours, service area, photos. Then check that the name, phone number and hours match your website exactly. Search engines trust businesses whose details agree everywhere.
The common failure is that hours change and the listing does not. Koira keeps your listings in step with your site.
Win 2: a page for every town and every service
If you work in four towns, a site with one home page only tells search engines about one of them. A short page for each town, and one for each service, gives you a chance to show up for "roofer in Valrico" as well as "roofer in Brandon".
The pages do not need to be long. They need to say what you do there, show a job you did there, and make it easy to call or book.
Win 3: recent reviews and recent work
A listing with reviews from this month looks alive. One with the last review from two years ago does not. Ask after every paid job. Post a finished job with photos once a month. Both tell search engines, and neighbors, that you are still in business and still busy.
What to leave alone
Keyword tools, backlink packages and monthly reports full of charts. If the three wins above are in place, those add little. If they are not, those do not fix it.
