As a freelance content creator, you might be looking to boost your own services or help your clients get more eyes on theirs.
Here’s where local SEO can be a big help, making you or your client’s services more visible in local search results.
Ever wondered how to show up on Google Maps when you don’t have a physical storefront? That’s where the idea of a service area business comes in—essentially, a business that operates without a brick-and-mortar location for customers to visit.
Luckily, Google provides a bunch of tools to help get your service area business noticed through SEO.
By leveraging these tools, you can significantly boost your online presence, making it easier for people who are already looking for services like yours to find you.
But besides setting up a Google business profile for service area businesses, what more can you do to stand out?
5 Tips to Do Local SEO for Service Area Businesses
Do keyword research
Ever wondered how your service area business can get noticed online?
It all comes down to local SEO and starting with the right keywords is key.
So, how do you find these local keywords?
Understand what your community is searching for. Think about the local dialect, what the community needs, and how they search for services your business provides.
Use tools like SEMrush, Google Trends, and Ahrefs to do keyword research and find the best ones to target.
Say you’re a plumber in New York; targeting “emergency plumbing services in New York” could really put you on the map.
PRO TIP: Once you’ve identified your golden keywords, don’t stop there. Tracking their performance is crucial. Why? It’s the best way to tell if your local SEO strategy is on the right track. Are more people finding your business when they search? That’s the goal.
Optimize Google Business Profile
List your business on Google Business Profile.
It’s a free tool that puts your business on the map, quite literally, on Google Maps and in local search results.
With a Google business profile, you can tell the world about your business.
Make sure to keep it updated – things like your name, what you do (that’s your business category), where you’re at, and how to reach you. This seriously boosts your visibility to your local audience on search engine results pages.
An up-to-date Google Business Profile improves your chances of showing up in the local listings.
Encourage reviews from local customers
Did you know that for service-area businesses (SABs), being close to customers isn’t as crucial as it is for storefronts? Here the important thing is appearing in local search results and having good reviews can help you a lot.
Not only Google will push you up, but ever noticed how often you’ve picked a business just because of its good reviews? Well…it’s the same for your customers.
So, encouraging your local community to leave reviews on Google is a good way of improving your local visibility.
Submit Business Citations
Submitting business citations can really make a difference in your local SEO efforts.
Keep Business citations consistent across reputable online directories because the more places your business is listed, the more seriously Google takes you.
And, if you don’t want to do this manually, check out BrightLocal’s citation-building service.
There you can create a free Citation Builder account, pick the sites to get listed on and they’ll do the rest. They’ll even clean up any messy citations and duplicates for you.
Optimize for Mobile Users
Did you know that making your website friendly for mobile users is crucial?
With nearly 60% of searches coming from mobile devices, especially local searches, your local business can’t afford to ignore this.
Your business serves real people who use their phones to find what they need.
First things first, here is what you should check:
- check that your site loads fast;
- Make sure the content adapts to any screen size;
To do so, you can use a free tool Google. You’ll only have to insert your website URL and the tool will analyze it in a matter of seconds.
After you’ve got the technical parts down, think about the content. Is it engaging and relevant to what users search for? Remember, your goal is to keep them interested and make your business listing stand out in search engines.
Do On page seo
It’s crucial to make sure each service page on your website speaks directly to your local communities.
Here’s how you can do on-page SEO:
- Instart your target keywords into the title, meta description, URL, first 100 words, and alt text;
- Create a mobile-friendly website;
- Internally link your content and services to improve your topical authority;
What are service area businesses?
Service-area businesses, like window cleaners, locksmiths, and plumbers, go directly to their customers instead of hosting them at a physical location.
Ever wondered why local SEO is crucial for them? It’s because local SEO helps these businesses show up in search results when someone nearby is looking for their services.
Unlike regular local businesses that have a storefront and welcome customers, service-area businesses often work in a broader area and might not even have a physical location for clients to visit.
For these businesses, being visible online is about more than just having a physical address; it’s about being found in the local search results for the wide area they serve.
They need to make sure their Google Business Profile is up to date, even if they’re not displaying an address publicly. This helps potential customers in their service area find them easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some examples of Service Area Businesses?
- Service area businesses operate in specific geographic areas, serving customers at their locations. Here are five examples:
- Appliance Repair – Professionals visit customer homes to repair appliances like refrigerators, washers, and dryers.
- Landscaping – Companies provide garden design, maintenance, and other outdoor services to homes and businesses.
- Plumbing – Plumbers offer services for fixing pipes, leaks, and installing sanitary fixtures at the customer’s premises.
- Electrical – Electricians work on electrical systems in homes and buildings, including wiring and repair.
- HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) – Specialists install, maintain, and repair HVAC systems to ensure indoor comfort.
Do service area businesses show up on Google Maps?
Yes, service area businesses (SABs) do show up on Google Maps. When searching for service-based businesses, such as plumbers, which are commonly SABs, these businesses will appear in map results.
This allows SABs to be visible to potential customers searching in their service areas, despite not having a fixed business location for customers to visit.
However, it’s important to note that service area locations may not display a specific location pin on Google Maps, which could impact how easily users find these businesses during a local map search.
Is SEO worth it for local businesses?
Given that 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine, it’s evident that a substantial number of potential customers are directed to your online business through SEO efforts.
What makes this particularly valuable is not merely the volume but also the quality of traffic.
SEO plays a pivotal role in drawing in visitors who have a genuine interest in what your business has to offer.
How many service areas can I add to Google My Business?
You can add up to 20 service areas to your Google My Business profile. These service areas can be determined by cities, postal codes, or other regions where your business operates.
