Real Quick there are actually 2 ways to enjoy this blog:
1. Watch this YouTube video:
2. Continue Reading this blog (includes bonus content not available anywhere else)
Staying ahead of your competition in the remodeling and general contracting industry gets increasingly complex each year. With more businesses entering the market and constant updates to Google’s algorithms, you need to stay on top of the latest SEO strategies.
In this guide, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of the latest white-hat SEO tactics to ensure that your remodeling business stays at the forefront of organic search results.
The Basics: What is Local SEO and Why is it Important?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a fundamental part of every successful digital marketing strategy. Specifically, SEO aims to improve your website’s positioning on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) to attract more unpaid traffic (i.e., free leads for your remodeling services).
For remodelers and general contractors, focusing on Local SEO is essential for enhancing organic rankings, increasing website traffic, and generating more leads without investing in paid advertisements.
Why does ranking matter?
Around 75% of search engine users never scroll past the first page of Google results. Therefore, if you’re on the second page, you’re practically invisible.
Local SEO is particularly beneficial for home service-based businesses like remodeling companies. It allows you to compete effectively with larger national brands by focusing on local search queries.
Why Local SEO Works for Small Businesses
Google prioritizes local search results. This means that even if large franchises like HomeAdvisor have high domain authority, they can’t match the Local SEO effectiveness of a smaller, locally focused remodeling company.
1) Keyword Research: Identifying Customer Search Terms
The most critical onsite SEO factor is your website’s content. It must be relevant and provide value to what your potential clients are looking for in remodeling services.
Think of your content as a billboard. You wouldn’t place a billboard on an empty road; you’d want it where everyone can see it. Similarly, your content needs to match the terms that potential clients are typing into search engines.
Local SEO Strategies for Remodelers
Here are some key SEO strategies tailored for remodelers and general contractors:
- Local Keywords: Use specific local terms in your content, meta descriptions, and titles. For example, if you specialize in kitchen remodeling in Austin, terms like “Austin Kitchen Remodeling” or “Best General Contractor in Austin” should be strategically placed throughout your site.
- Google My Business: Claim and optimize your Google My Business profile. Ensure that your business name, address, and phone number are consistent across all platforms. Add quality photos of your projects and encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews.
- On-Page SEO: Optimize each page on your website with relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and titles. Don’t forget to use header tags and alt text for images.
- High-Quality Backlinks: Link-building is a double-edged sword. While beneficial if done correctly, poor link-building can hurt your rankings. Focus on obtaining backlinks from reputable, industry-related websites.
- Regular Content Updates: Keep your website fresh by regularly updating your blog with valuable content that addresses questions and challenges your potential clients might have.
- Technical SEO: Ensure that your website loads quickly, is mobile-friendly, and is free from broken links or errors. Slow or poorly functioning websites can negatively impact your SEO rankings.
By implementing these Local SEO strategies, you can effectively compete in the remodeling and general contracting industry, even against larger national competitors.
Ready to Boost Your SEO?
SEO is a long-term strategy, but the results are well worth the effort. If you’re unsure where to start, Remodeler Digital is here to assist you in all things digital marketing. From content strategy to technical SEO, we’ve got you covered to ensure your remodeling business is well-positioned for success.
Before you start optimizing even a single page on your remodeling company’s website, it’s crucial to have a well-defined strategy. In terms of SEO, this strategy begins with conducting thorough keyword research.
Think of keyword research as the equivalent of placing a billboard on a busy road rather than an empty one. You want to make sure that the terms you’re trying to rank for on Google have substantial search volume. Search volume represents the number of people searching for a specific term in a given location over a particular time period.
Pro Tip: Generally speaking, the higher the search volume a term has, the more challenging it is to rank for that term.
Identifying the Right Keywords
Choosing the right keywords requires not only creativity but also an in-depth understanding of the remodeling and general contracting industry. Consider the following when selecting keywords:
- Terms with high search volume
- Terms with low keyword difficulty
- Short-tail terms (1-3 words)
- Terms that convert – Put yourself in the shoes of your ideal customer
After you’ve compiled a list of high-value terms, you can start identifying long-tail search phrases.
For example:
- Vague questions: “How do I remodel my kitchen?”
- Specific questions: “Best materials for kitchen countertops.”
- Localized keywords: “Remodeling contractors near me” or “Remodeling contractors in [City, State].”
Remember, long-tail keywords account for more than half of all Google searches. Use them to your advantage.
Writing Content Around Customer-centric Terms
When creating content, it’s essential to focus on keywords that your potential customers are actually searching for online. For example, writing content around the term “kitchen remodeler” could garner 200% more impressions than using “residential renovation expert.”
Pro Tip: Keep in mind that Google’s understanding of your remodeling business is entirely based on the content on your website. To rank for the services you offer and the locations you serve, you need to explicitly write about them.
Start by evaluating the range of services you offer. People usually have more than one way to search for a specific service. We recommend using Google Trends to compare popular short-tail search terms. Make sure to filter by country and state to get data specific to your target audience.
Next, compile a list of long-tail terms related to services you offer and what customers frequently request. Some examples might include:
- Kitchen remodeling
- Bathroom renovation
- Home additions before selling a property
These answers will provide invaluable insights that can help you create specific, “niche-focused” terms.
Note that even if you rank well for smaller, niche projects like “kitchen cabinet refacing,” this will contribute to higher organic rankings for broader, more competitive terms like “remodeling contractor near me.”
Create a Dedicated Page or Blog Post for Each Term
Once you’ve identified the high-value keywords and long-tail search phrases, it’s beneficial to create a dedicated page or blog post for each of these terms. By doing so, you’re not only boosting your site’s content but also making it easier for Google to index your site for these specific keywords. This strategy significantly improves your chances of ranking higher in search results.
The focus is to provide content that serves the needs and answers the questions of your potential customers. This approach will help you establish authority in your field, enhance user experience, and increase your organic rankings.
By following these guidelines and tips, you’re well on your way to implementing a successful SEO strategy for your remodeling company or general contracting business. Remodeler Digital is here to assist you in fine-tuning your SEO game, ensuring you stand out in the competitive market.
Outsmarting competing remodeling companies or general contractors gets more challenging every year. Google’s continuously updating algorithms make yesterday’s SEO strategies potentially obsolete today. But don’t worry; this comprehensive guide will walk you through white-hat SEO tactics that can help your remodeling business climb the ranks in organic search.
The First Step: Creating Dedicated Pages for Target Keywords
Before you start optimizing any part of your website, it’s crucial to have a well-thought-out strategy, starting with keyword research. Once you identify the short-tail and long-tail keywords relevant to your industry, create dedicated pages focusing on these terms.
Moreover, consider developing location-specific pages for the areas you serve. This will increase your chances of ranking in local searches, even if your business doesn’t physically operate in those locales.
For each type of remodeling service you offer—be it bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, or home extensions—create a unique page and enrich it with relevant project photos.
2) Structuring Your Content for Optimal Ranking
The saying “Content is King” is particularly relevant in SEO. Google uses algorithms to discern the purpose of a webpage and positions it in search results accordingly.
How Does Google Do This?
Google employs bots that constantly scan your website. The more focused and relevant your content, the higher the likelihood you’ll outperform your competitors in search rankings.
To do this effectively, each page on your website should be crafted to rank for 1-2 primary keywords. Think of each page like a chapter in a book; it should have a specific focus that relates to the overall theme (your business services).
Formatting Your Content
Correct formatting is essential for favorable Google rankings. Here’s how to ensure your content is both human-readable and bot-friendly:
- Use shorter paragraphs to make the text easier to read.
- Make use of H1, H2, and H3 header tags appropriately. Ensure that each page has only one H1 tag.
- Integrate relevant keywords naturally into your titles, body content, and image meta tags.
Additionally, consider creating videos that provide valuable insights into the remodeling process, tips for homeowners, or showcases of completed projects. Upload these videos to YouTube and embed them on your website.
Local SEO Strategies: Think Global, Act Local
Local SEO involves adapting standard SEO best practices to focus on local search intent. Always sprinkle geographical location information throughout your content, headings, and meta tags. Tailor your content to solve the problems and meet the needs of your local market.
For Example:
Instead of generic content headings, use localized versions to appeal to specific markets. Replace generic painting business examples like “House Colors That Look Great in Sarasota” or “Repainting After a Hail Storm in Bloomington, IN” with remodeling-focused headings such as:
- “Top Kitchen Remodel Trends in Sarasota”
- “Rebuilding After a Natural Disaster in Bloomington, IN”
By applying these advanced SEO tactics tailored specifically for remodeling companies and general contractors, you’re setting the stage for a highly effective SEO strategy. With Remodeler Digital as your guide, you can outperform the competition even as the digital landscape continually evolves.
Advanced SEO Strategies for Remodeling Companies by Remodeler Digital
3) Blog Posts: Complement Your Strategy with Quality Content
Having a blog enables you to extend your digital footprint and establish your remodeling company as a local authority. Since you’ve already developed a keyword strategy, you can leverage those keywords to create unique, targeted blog posts.
Address Questions Frequently Asked by Your Clients
For instance, you may often get calls asking about the cost of remodeling a kitchen in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Since people are asking you directly, they’re also likely searching for this information online.
While you can’t give an exact quote without seeing the project, you can certainly write a blog post titled “How Much Does It Cost to Remodel a Kitchen in Atlanta, Georgia?” This approach helps you capture online leads who are in the research phase of their remodeling project.
4) The Importance of Links: Internal, Outbound, and Backlinks
Types of Links
- Internal Link
- Outbound Link
- Backlink
Think of your remodeling company’s website as a pyramid of buckets, where the top bucket is full of water. Internal links are like holes that distribute this “water,” representing the SEO value, to other buckets or pages. The more internal links a page has, the more “SEO weight” it holds.
While internal links are important for site navigation, you should use outbound links more judiciously. They can leak “SEO weight” to other domains. The exception might be links to your social profiles, or authoritative citations. Use the `rel=”nofollow”` attribute for such links to avoid diluting your site’s SEO value.
Backlinks are usually the most valuable and challenging to acquire. Google considers backlinks as a sign of authority. One high-quality backlink can outweigh a hundred low-quality ones.
Criteria for Good Backlinks
- Relevance: Does the link relate to your content?
- Authority: Is the linking site trustworthy?
- Placement: Where is the link placed in the content?
- Traffic: How much traffic does the site get?
Building backlinks often requires relationship-building and outreach, which is why many remodeling companies collaborate with an SEO agency like Remodeler Digital to expedite this process.
Guest Blogs
You can also contribute guest blog posts to relevant sites in the home improvement industry to earn quality backlinks and establish mutual rapport.
Building Offsite Authority
Once your site is optimized, it’s time to work on building offsite authority. Citations, references, and online reviews are critical for this.
Low-Hanging Offsite SEO Tactics
- Google Business Profile: Optimize your profile for better visibility.
- Local Directories: Your local chamber of commerce and other community sites often have directories where you can list your remodeling business.
- Citations: Use consistent Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) information across all platforms, including Yellow Pages and Apple Maps.
- Customer Reviews: Automatically email a review link to satisfied customers to build online credibility.
By adopting these strategies tailored specifically for remodeling companies, you set the foundation for a robust SEO strategy. As you execute these tactics, you’ll improve both your on-page and off-page SEO, positioning your remodeling business for greater online success.
Build up backlinks to your home page from other local sites of authority such as hardware stores, home improvement centers, DIY sites, etc. It takes some networking as well as research to boost your offsite authority. However, it’s well worth the effort to outsmart and outrank other local remodeling companies. Incorporating these tactics will provide an edge over the competition for a more profitable.
5) Improve User Experience
Easy navigation and fast-loading pages improve SEO. However, there are a few more tricks to help improve your visitor experience. So while you focus on all the technical aspects for SEO, you can’t lose sight of your visitors’ needs. Here are some of the elements that make a website pleasurable to visit:
- Easy-to-use navigation that helps visitors find what they need quickly
- Clear titles and headings that inform them about the content
- Scannable sub-headings and bullet points for easy answers
- Well-written meta descriptions
- Links to relevant information throughout your website
- Contact, calls to action, or quote buttons on every page
All of these details enhance the user experience. When you intuitively answer prospect questions, you empower them to make immediate decisions, like requesting a quote. A complicated site increases your bounce rate and adversely impacts your site’s ranking.
Local SEO Facts & Numbers
We’ve been in this space for some time, so let’s look at some statistics to understand why Local SEO is so crucial for your remodeling website:
- Nearly 50% of All Searches Include Local Content: According to Google, 46% of all searches have location-based queries. For remodeling companies, this means potential clients are looking for services close to home.
- Local SEO Achieves Tangible Results for General Contractors: HubSpot’s 2022 data shows that 72% of consumers with local intent visit stores within five miles. This can substantially improve your visibility and business growth.
- Millennials as a Market: Millennials are increasingly lucrative to target, particularly as they buy property and start families. For remodeling companies, this means more revenue streams from an emerging market. 42% of Millennials searching locally online will eventually visit or contact the location.
Online Review Facts
Securing positive testimonials and reviews is an excellent way to optimize your remodeling website for search engines. Around 88% of customers depend on these reviews before committing to a local business.
Local SEO is Preferred for General Contractors
Most businesses engaging in local SEO witness positive results within months. About 79% of companies see Local SEO as a worthwhile investment channel.
Importance of Google Business Profile
Google Maps is a versatile tool used by millions daily. Claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business or GMB) is an integral part of local SEO.
Chat GPT: Predictions for the Future of Local SEO
AI technology like Chat GPT by OpenAI has limitations in SEO applications, as it can result in penalties. However, it can be useful in Meta Ads, print marketing, and video tutorial scripts.
As the internet matures, Local SEO will remain a potent marketing strategy, especially for the professional remodeling industry. Mobile devices continue to lead in local searches, making mobile experience optimization crucial.
Don’t Fall Behind
Currently, 58% of local businesses aren’t investing in Local SEO. Imagine the advantage you could have by investing in this straightforward lead generation strategy.
For the best results, choose an SEO agency familiar with your industry’s standards. If you’re looking for a top-tier General Contractor SEO Firm, look no further than Remodeler Digital. Our remodeling websites consistently outrank even the largest national competitors. Book a free strategy call today to see if you might be a good fit!
