SEO for Tradesmen: How to Get Found on Google in Your Local Area

If you run a trade business—like roofing, plumbing, electrical, or building—getting found on Google in your local area is one of the best ways to get steady enquiries and grow your customer base.

This guide explains how Local SEO works and the steps you can take to make sure your business shows up when people search for services like “electrician near me” or “roof repairs in [your town]”.

📍 What is Local SEO?

Local SEO is a type of search engine optimisation that helps your business appear in Google when someone nearby searches for your services.

For example:

“boiler repairs in Leeds”
“emergency plumber near me”
“flat roofing in Newcastle”

With good local SEO, your business will show up in the map pack (the top 3 results under the map) and higher in the standard search results.

🧱 5 Key Steps to Get Found Locally on Google

1. Claim & Optimise Your Google Business Profile

This is your local listing—and it’s the most important step.

✅ Make sure your profile includes:

Your exact business name, address, and phone number (NAP)
Business hours and website link
A detailed description of your services
Photos of recent work and your team
Up-to-date service areas

Encourage happy customers to leave reviews—these help with rankings and trust.

2. Add Local Keywords to Your Website

Use keywords that include your service and location.

Examples:

“roof repair in Coventry”
“bathroom fitter in Hull”
“24-hour electrician in Reading"

✅ Add these to:

Page titles and headings
Service descriptions
Image alt text
Meta descriptions

This tells Google what you do and where you do it.

3. Create Service Area Pages

If you cover multiple towns or cities, make a separate page for each location.

Example:

/plumbing-services-manchester
/roof-repairs-york
/emergency-electrician-sheffield

Each page should include:

Services you offer in that location
Local keywords
Real photos and case studies, if possible

4. Get Local Backlinks

Links from local websites help build your authority in Google’s eyes.

Good sources include:

Local directories (Yell, Checkatrade, TrustATrader)
Trade associations
Local blogs or news sites
Suppliers or partners who can link back to you

Make sure your business info is consistent across all listings (NAP).

5. Build Reviews & Reputation

Google reviews boost trust and can improve your rankings.

Tips:

Ask for a review after every completed job
Send a direct link to make it easy for clients
Respond to every review (even the bad ones)

Reviews show Google (and potential customers) that you’re active, reliable, and trusted in your area.

⚠️ Common Mistakes That Hurt Local SEO

Using a fake business address
Not updating your Google Business Profile
Missing or duplicated contact info across platforms
Ignoring mobile users—your site must work well on phones
Stuffing keywords instead of writing naturally

🛠️ Tools to Help You with Local SEO

Google Business Profile Manager – Manage your listing
Google Search Console – Track how your site performs
Ubersuggest – Find local keyword ideas
BrightLocal – Great tool for local SEO audits and tracking

📈 Final Thoughts: Be Seen Where it Matters

Local SEO isn’t about gaming the system—it’s about being the best result for people near you who need your service.

If you want to grow your trade business this year, getting found on Google in your local area is one of the smartest moves you can make.

🚀 Let Us Help You Rank Locally

At Slinghot Marketing, we help tradesmen across the UK get found online, rank higher in Google, and turn website visits into real leads.

👉 Get in touch and let’s chat about how we can help your business grow.