Contracting and trades-based businesses are highly competitive. Pricing, quality and experience all play a role in finding paying customers for consistent profitability and growth. In some cases, it’s a matter of which company a customer stumbles across first.
Investing in SEO efforts can help your contracting company secure more traffic and more paying customers. Here are five signs it’s time to get some SEO help and how to find a reliable SEO specialist.
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Local Competition Is Getting More Business
One of the most telling signs that you need SEO assistance is when your local competition is performing better than you. Of course, several factors could be contributing to their success, but if their local SEO is better, they’ll naturally get more “walk-in” traffic online.
Local SEO pertains to how search engines rank companies within a targeted geographic location. In this instance, someone in your area who searches for “contractors” or “contracting companies near me” would see results close to them, rather than a thousand miles away.
According to the digital growth experts at Redesign, there’s a common misconception that SEO is for global ranking purposes. However, there are many things a small business can do to improve local rankings and compete directly within its target market.
Have someone search for “contractors” in your area. If your business isn’t in the top three or doesn’t show at all, it’s time to get some help.
Your Web Traffic Is Low
Another way to gauge if it’s time for some SEO work is by looking at your web traffic analytics. If your website traffic is low or doesn’t show signs of continuous growth over an extended period, it’s time to hire an SEO specialist.
It’s estimated that 85% of consumers now conduct research online before making a purchase. Whether your target demographic is learning about your business from search or word-of-mouth, there should still be evidence of research via your website.
If your website doesn’t seem to be gaining much traction, consider reaching out to an SEO specialist to help.
You’re Spending Too Much on Paid Ads
Paid ads have a time and place and can be incredibly effective when implemented correctly. However, paid ads are often a short-term strategy, whereas SEO is a long-term growth strategy.
If you’re spending too much on paid ads and seeing minimal results, it’s time to pivot. Implementing a strong foundation for SEO will help you attract more customers over time for a better return on your investment.
Y0u Have a Small Team
There’s nothing an SEO agency can do for you that you can’t do yourself. However, it takes knowledge, time, tools and dedication to see results. For most companies, big or small, handling SEO efforts in-house isn’t reasonable. If your contracting company has a small team, then outsourcing is your best option for success.
You’re Ready To Scale and Grow
Another compelling reason to invest in SEO is to explore new growth opportunities. If you have bold goals for expanding your contracting business and reaching new levels of success, an SEO strategy can help you capture warm leads to enter your sales pipeline.
Investing in SEO can help you reach more customers over time, making it a critical part of a customer acquisition strategy. Consider reaching out to a specialist to see how they can help you reach a wider audience and contribute to your growth.
Tips for Choosing an SEO Specialist
When you look for an SEO specialist, look for someone with proven results. As mentioned previously, there’s no secret sauce to SEO; just strategic improvements based on knowledge and experience. In other words, the specialist you choose should be transparent about their process and reporting scheme.
Avoid working with anyone who guarantees a number one spot or focuses solely on high-traffic keywords. Even the best SEO agencies would struggle to accomplish a number one spot for a high-traffic keyword in competition with major global companies. Ask for referrals and testimonials to find the right SEO expert to help your contracting company thrive.
