If you're a tradesman trying to get more local work, SEO might sound confusing or even unnecessary. But showing up on Google when someone searches for your service can make the difference between a quiet week and a full diary. The good news? You don’t need to be a marketing expert to get started. These simple SEO tips will help you get found more often by the right customers.

Whether you're a roofer, plumber, landscaper or electrician, these steps apply to you.

1. Start with Your Website

Your website is your shop front. It should be clear, professional, and built to load quickly on phones. Google prefers sites that are fast, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate.

If your current site looks dated or doesn’t show well on mobile, it could be holding you back. A well-optimised website is the foundation of all your SEO efforts.

2. Use the Right Keywords

Think about what your ideal customers type into Google. It won’t be “domestic electrical solutions”. It'll be more like “emergency electrician in Hull” or “fence repair near me”.

We use keyword research tools to find exactly what people are searching for. These terms get added naturally across your site, especially in headings and page titles.

3. Make a Page for Each Service

Don’t list everything on a single page. Break it out. Have one page for rewiring, another for fuse box upgrades, another for EV charger installs.

This tells Google you’re an expert in each service, not just a generalist. Plus, you’ll show up for more specific searches, which often lead to better leads.

We’ve seen this work time and time again. The results speak for themselves.

4. Create Location Pages for the Areas You Serve

If you want to win work in three towns, don’t rely on a single “Areas We Cover” list. Write a proper page for each location.

Include details about recent jobs, the kind of work you do there, and why local homeowners choose you. It helps Google understand where to rank you.

This tip is one of the most common things tradesmen overlook.

5. Write Helpful Blog Posts

SEO isn't just about service pages. Blog posts help answer common questions and build trust. For example:

• “How much does a new driveway cost in [your county]?”

• “What to look for when hiring a roofer in [your town]”

  
  

These posts show Google that your site is active and relevant. They also help you show up for searches made by people at the early stage of choosing a tradesman.

Check out our other post on how SEO brings in real leads to see how this fits into a full strategy.

6. Improve Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (the one that shows in Google Maps) is essential. Make sure:

• Your business name, address and phone number are correct

• You upload real photos of your work

• You regularly ask happy clients for reviews

This is a big part of local SEO, and one we always handle for our clients.

7. Add Internal Links to Other Pages on Your Site

Let’s say you have a page about rewiring and another about fuse boxes. Add a sentence which can act as an anchor point between the pages.

This helps Google understand the structure of your site and keeps visitors on your site longer.

We mention this in our post on step-by-step SEO because it’s a small trick that works. See? We just did it there.

8. Track What’s Working (and What Isn’t)

If you’re not tracking traffic, rankings, or phone calls, you’re flying blind.

We use tools like Google Analytics and Search Console to monitor what’s working and where there’s room to grow. These tools are free. But using them well is a different story.

In fact, a lot of the SEO tools we use are paid tools you’re unlikely to invest in for one site. But they help us spot every opportunity.

9. Don’t Copy Content

Avoid copying text from other sites – even if it’s a manufacturer or trade body.

Google doesn’t like duplicate content. Write everything in your own words. Or get an expert (like us) to do it for you.

This is one of the most common SEO mistakes we see from new clients.

10. Keep Improving

SEO is not a one-and-done job. Google updates its rankings all the time. Your competitors change their sites. And your services might evolve too.

Small monthly improvements, like writing a new blog or refreshing an old page, can make a big difference over time.

These tips are all part of a solid plan. But if you want to avoid wasting time or money, it helps to work with someone who does this every day. As we explain in our SEO myth-busting post, you don’t need hundreds of pages or a big brand to compete. You just need to do things the right way.

Want Results Without Doing It All Yourself?

At Slingshot Marketing, we handle all of this for you. We’ve helped over 100 trades businesses rank on page one and get more local work – with simple, honest SEO that actually delivers.

From choosing the right keywords to building a fast website and getting reviews, we take care of it all. We even show you what’s working, month by month.

If you want to stop relying on word of mouth and start winning more jobs from Google, SEO is the smart move. And we’re the team to make it happen.