Are you looking to take your contracting business to the next level? Want to attract more leads, close more deals, and build a thriving company? Then it's time to focus on Search Engine Results Page (SERP) management as a key part of your contractor marketing strategy.
In today's digital age, potential customers are searching online for the services you offer. They're typing in keywords related to their project, and browsing the search results to find a reputable contractor. If your business doesn't show up on the first page of those results, you could be missing out on a huge opportunity.
That's where SERP management comes in. By optimizing your website and online presence to rank higher in search results, you can get in front of more potential customers right when they're looking to hire a contractor. And with the right approach, you can turn those online searchers into loyal clients.
Understanding SERPs
First, let's break down what we mean by "Search Engine Results Page." When someone searches a keyword or phrase on Google or another search engine, they're taken to a page displaying the most relevant results. This is the SERP.
Typically, the SERP includes two types of results:
Organic search results - these are the unpaid listings that appear based on the search engine's algorithm. Factors like relevance, authority, and user engagement determine which pages rank highest.
Paid search results - these are the advertisements that appear at the top and bottom of the SERP. Advertisers bid on relevant keywords for their ads to show up.
As a contractor, you want your business to appear as high as possible in the organic search results for keywords related to your services. The higher you rank, the more likely potential customers are to click through to your website.
The Importance of SERP Management
Why does your SERP ranking matter so much? Consider these stats:
The top organic search result gets over 30% of clicks
75% of searchers never scroll past the first page of results
Leads from search engines have a 14.6% close rate, compared to just 1.7% from outbound marketing
In other words, if you're not actively managing your SERP presence, you're likely losing business to competitors who are. Effective contractor marketing today demands a focus on showing up in relevant search results.
Key Elements of Contractor SERP Management
So what goes into SERP management for contractors? There are a few key areas to focus on:
1. Keyword Optimization
To rank for relevant searches, you need to understand what keywords and phrases your ideal customers are using. Conduct keyword research to identify high-volume, low-competition terms related to your services. Then optimize your website's pages, including URLs, titles, headings, and content, to target those keywords.
2. On-Page SEO
Beyond keywords, your website needs to be structured in a way that search engines can easily crawl and understand. This includes using descriptive page titles and meta descriptions, header tags to organize content, alt text for images, and internal linking between pages.
3. Quality Content
Search engines prioritize pages with high-quality, relevant, valuable content. As a contractor, you can boost your SERP rankings by creating helpful blog posts, service pages, case studies, and other resources that showcase your expertise. Aim to create content that is in-depth, answers common questions, and includes relevant keywords naturally.
4. Local SEO
Many of the searches related to contracting services include local keywords, like "plumber near me" or "roofer in [city name]." To show up in these results, you need to optimize for local search. This includes claiming and optimizing your Google My Business listing, building local citations, and including your city/region in website content where appropriate.
5. Link Building
Search engines view backlinks from other reputable websites as a sign of authority and credibility. By building a strong backlink profile, you can improve your chances of ranking high in the SERPs. Tactics like guest posting, partnering with local organizations, and creating valuable content others want to link to can help boost your authority.
Measuring Your SERP Performance
As with any marketing strategy, tracking your results is key to long-term SERP management success. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to monitor your organic search traffic, keyword rankings, click-through rates, and more.
Some key metrics to track include:
Organic sessions - how many website visits are coming from organic search
Keyword rankings - what position your website pages rank for target keywords
Click-through rate - the percentage of searchers who click your listing in the SERPs
Conversion rate - what percentage of organic search traffic converts into leads/customers
Bounce rate - how many searchers leave your site after viewing just one page
By regularly reviewing this data, you can identify opportunities to optimize your SERP management strategy. Double down on what's working, and tweak or pivot what's not delivering the results you want.
SERP Management Tools and Resources
Managing your contractor SERP presence doesn't have to be overwhelming. There are many tools and resources available to streamline and automate much of the process, including:
Keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs
On-page optimization tools like Screaming Frog and Yoast SEO plugin
Local SEO tools like Yext, Brightlocal, and Whitespark
Analytics and tracking tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and SEMrush Position Tracking
With the help of these tools, you can streamline your contractor SERP management while still adhering to SEO best practices. But remember, no tool is a complete substitute for a solid strategy and consistent execution.
Partnering with a SERP Management Pro
If SERP management feels like more than you can handle on your own, consider partnering with a marketing agency that specializes in SEO for contractors. An experienced team can help you:
Identify the highest-value keyword opportunities
Optimize your website for search engines and users
Develop an effective content marketing strategy
Build your backlink profile and online authority
Monitor and report on your SERP performance
By trusting your SERP management to the experts, you can focus on what you do best—delivering top-notch contracting services to your clients. And with a solid search presence bringing a steady stream of leads to your door, you'll have more opportunity than ever to do what you love.
Start Boosting Your SERP Rankings Today
Ready to take control of your contractor SERP presence and get more leads from organic search? Start by auditing your current search performance, identifying quick wins, and mapping out a plan to improve your rankings over time.
Remember, SERP management is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. But with consistent effort and a commitment to SEO best practices, you can build a strong search presence that drives meaningful results for your business.
So what are you waiting for? It's time to dig into your SERP management strategy and start building an online presence that showcases your contracting expertise to the world. The leads, clients, and growth you've been looking for are just a few optimizations away!