You finally put up your brand-new website for your home service business. But your phone still isn’t ringing. When customers can’t find you online, you’re essentially putting money into a digital black hole. But there is a way out: learn about SEO and how to get new websites to rank naturally.
At On Purpose Media, we know the unique problems home service companies face when it comes to digital marketing. New websites often have trouble moving up in the search engine rankings. But when you know what to do, you can get past these problems and start getting more leads from your website.
Lay the Foundation
Before you start preparing for search engines, you need a solid foundation:
- Choose a reliable hosting provider: Your website needs to be fast and accessible. Look for providers with excellent uptime records and quick load times.
- Have a mobile-friendly design: With more people searching on mobile devices, your site must look great and work well on smartphones and tablets.
- Implement SSL certificate: This secures your site and boosts your ranking.
Have On-Page SEO Elements
On-page SEO is mandatory for new websites:
- Conduct keyword research: Focus on terms your potential customers are using, such as “emergency plumber in [your city]” or “24/7 HVAC repair.”
- Provide title tags, meta descriptions, and headers: Include your target keywords naturally in these elements.
- Create high-quality, relevant content: Write informative blog posts about common HVAC issues or plumbing emergencies.
- Use internal linking: Connect your pages logically to help both users and search engines navigate your site.
Technical SEO Essentials
Don’t overlook the technical aspects of SEO:
- Submit your sitemap to search engines: This helps Google and Bing understand your site structure.
- Improve page load speed: Compress images, minify code, and leverage browser caching to speed up your site.
- Ensure proper URL structure: Use descriptive, keyword-rich URLs for your pages.
Build Quality Backlinks
Backlinks are great for new websites to gain authority:
- Guest post on relevant sites: Write articles for home improvement blogs or local news sites.
- Create shareable content: Develop infographics about energy-saving tips or common electrical issues.
- Engage in online communities and forums: Offer helpful advice on platforms like Quora or Reddit.
- Use social media for content promotion: Share your blog posts and engage with your audience on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Focus on Local SEO
For home service businesses, local SEO is absolutely necessary:
- Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile listing: Include accurate business information and lots of photos.
- Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency across the web: Your business information should be identical everywhere it appears online.
- Encourage customer reviews: Positive reviews can significantly boost your local search visibility.
Create and Maintain a Content Strategy
Content is king in SEO:
- Develop a content calendar: Plan blog posts, videos, and other content in advance.
- Focus on long-form, in-depth content: Write detailed guides on topics like “Complete Home Electrical Safety Checklist” or “Annual HVAC Maintenance Tips.”
- Update and refresh existing content regularly: Keep your content current and relevant.
Leverage Social Signals
While not a direct ranking factor, social media can indirectly boost your SEO:
- Maintain active social media profiles: Regularly post updates, tips, and promotions.
- Encourage social sharing of your content: Make it easy for visitors to share your blog posts and other content.
- Engage with your audience on social platforms: Respond to comments and messages promptly.
Monitor and Analyze Performance
You can’t improve what you don’t measure:
- Set up Google Analytics: Track your website traffic and user behavior.
- Monitor key metrics: Keep an eye on organic traffic, bounce rate, and time on site.
- Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs for keyword tracking: See how your rankings improve over time.
Be Patient and Persistent
SEO is a marathon, not a sprint:
- SEO takes time: Don’t expect overnight results, especially for a new website.
- Regularly refine and improve your strategy: Use data to inform your decisions and make ongoing improvements.
- Stay updated with SEO trends and algorithm changes: The SEO landscape is always evolving, so keep learning.
Improve the Organic Ranking of Your New Website...Or Call Us
There is a lot to take in for your new site. Just remember, with the right tactics you’ll be up the search engine ranks in no time. Always make sure your visitors get something from your site.
With On Purpose Media you can implement organic ranking strategies to get more traffic to your site and leads. Contact us today to learn more about our business or to ask for a free consultation on your current strategy.
