As a home services business, you know getting found locally online makes all the difference. Search engines are where potential customers go to find plumbers, electricians, roofers — you name it. However, mastering SEO can be complex, which is why many home services businesses turn to SEO agencies. But finding the right partner is key.
This guide will show you what factors to prioritize when picking a local SEO company. We focus on why teaming up with one specializing in home services, like Leadhub, gives you an edge.
What Do SEO Agencies Do?
The core function of an SEO agency remains the same: they help your website rank higher in search results. Leadhub is your all-in-one hub for marketing, which means our SEO team knows how to navigate search rnakings.
But for home services companies, there are added nuances to be aware of:
- Understanding local intent — Home services searches are often urgent (“emergency AC repair near me”). A good agency will tailor a strategy to capture that intent.
- Optimizing for location-based keywords — Ensure you show up for searches specific to your service area (AC repair Houston).
- Managing listings — Claim and optimize your presence on platforms like Google Business Profile and Yelp is crucial for local visibility.
- Generating targeted leads — Focus on keywords that signal a homeowner is ready to convert, not just browsing.
- Reputation management — Online reviews heavily impact home services businesses. A good agency can help you build and leverage positive reviews.
Viewing your business not just as a link on a search engine but as an entity with many layers and points of connection is essential for SEO success. Your SEO agency needs to capitalize on the many techniques that work together to show search engines you’re credible, helpful and worthwhile to rank.
How To Find A Good SEO Company (With Home Services Expertise)
Beyond some of the basic functions that all SEO teams should perform for your business, you should look for more specialized skills for your trades business. The following key points are particularly important when choosing a company for your home services business.
Experience And Results
Seek out an agency with a track record of success specifically within the home services sector. It can be extremely helpful to see examples of other trades businesses achieving success with your potential agency.
Their case studies are a great way to find this knowledge as well and should reflect an understanding of how to improve your local rankings. Local markets can be competitive – you need a company with strategies to keep you ahead.
Client Communication And Reviews
Look at reviews from other home services businesses for candid insights into the agency’s work style and results. While the reviews of other clients may only be an impression, they can be very telling of how the agency works with its clients.
Since problems can be urgent in the home services field, you want a responsive and reliable partner as well. Look for a team that understands the importance of a timely response and provides support when you need it.
You want a company that genuinely cares about helping your home services business grow. This is how you’ll get the most dedicated strategies and advice from your SEO team.
The Right Questions To Ask
Along with the standard questions, here are some tailored to finding a home services specialist:
- How do you handle local listings and reputation management?
- Can you share examples of how you’ve generated leads for similar businesses?
- How do you stay informed about changes in local SEO?
If your prospective agency can answer these with ease, they likely known what they’re doing. It’s a great way to start a conversation that gives you the answers you’re looking for about the agency in question.
SEO Red Flags To Avoid
If you’re truly looking for an SEO agency that provides real results and hard work, the answers aren’t always easy. Some people will try to make SEO look simple and easy to dominate, but be warned. There are a few red flags that will indicate someone is trying to manipulate you.
- Guaranteeing Top Rankings — No ethical SEO agency can promise #1 rankings overnight, especially in competitive home services markets. If their results sound too good to be true, they probably are.
- Black Hat Practices — Ask the agency if they use black hat practices like parasite SEO, aged domain schemes or if they engage in link-building schemes. A good agency will practice white hat SEO.
- Vague Pricing Or Contracts — You deserve transparency, especially as a company whose needs might fluctuate seasonally.
- Ownership Of Your Domain — If an agency refuses to give you ownership of your website domain, they may try to hold it hostage if you want to cancel services. Make sure the contract states you will have full ownership.
- Vanity Metrics — Ask the agency what data they include on their reports. All reports should have ranking and conversion data. Avoid agencies that lean heavily on vanity metrics like impressions and the number of clicks on a page. Make sure they track conversions as something important to your business, like a form submission or a phone call, not just a click.
- Avoid snake oil buzz phrases like “rankings overnight” “optimize for voice search” or “optimize for AI search.”
Let Us Lead The Way
The right local SEO company can transform your home services business entirely. By focusing on finding a partner with a deep understanding of your industry’s unique search landscape, you’ll gain a serious competitive advantage.
At Leadhub, we embody every trait we’ve outlined above. We hold great value in doing things the right way for the best results, and we’re dedicated to our clients’ successes. If you’re interested in gaining a true marketing partner to take your trades business to a new level, reach out for a discovery call with our team!
