The SEO Tools We Use to Help Tradesmen Rank on Google

Good SEO isn’t guesswork. It’s built on research, testing, and tools that show what’s really happening behind the scenes.

At Slingshot, we use a full stack of professional-grade SEO software to get our clients ranking higher on Google. These tools aren’t cheap. They’re often too complex or costly for tradesmen to use themselves. But we rely on them daily to bring in more leads for roofers, builders, electricians, and other trades across the UK.

Here’s a breakdown of the core SEO tools we use, why they matter, and how they help your trade business grow.

1. Semrush: Keyword Research, Tracking and Site Health

This is our main tool. Semrush is used by top SEO agencies across the world. For good reason.

We use it to:

• Find the right search terms (like “loft conversion Blackpool”)

• Track keyword rankings over time

• See what your competitors are doing

• Audit your site for errors or issues

• 
  

The full version costs around £100 to £300 per month depending on your needs. We use the high-end plan so we can access detailed data across all our clients.

This is what powers step-by-step advice in your SEO strategy. It helps us show real improvements month after month.

2. Google Keyword Planner: Search Volume From Google Itself

Keyword Planner is part of Google Ads. It gives us insight into how many people are searching for specific terms in your area.

We use this alongside Semrush to double-check volumes and make sure we’re going after the right traffic. For example, it might show that 1,600 people a month search for “emergency electrician in Leeds” but only 20 search for “electrical specialist”.

Tools like this help us avoid what we’ve seen go wrong with poor SEO, such as targeting keywords no one’s actually searching for.

3. Google Search Console: See What Google Sees

Search Console is Google’s own platform for showing how your website appears in search results.

We use it to:

• Track which keywords people are finding you through

• See if any pages have issues or errors

• Monitor clicks, impressions, and performance over time

  
  

Most tradesmen don’t even know this tool exists. But it’s essential for spotting problems before they cost you leads. It’s also one of the ways we gather real examples from the trade on how SEO actually performs.

4. Wix: Website Builder Built for Speed and SEO

All of our client websites are built using Wix. That’s because it’s fast, secure, mobile-friendly, and easy for us to manage long term.

But we don’t use it the way most DIY users do. We customise everything, from code-level SEO settings to content structure and on-page elements, to make sure it ranks properly and converts leads.

We also connect your site to Google tools, update it regularly, and build it with a clear focus on what gets found online. That’s a big part of why the results speak for themselves with our service.

5. Google Analytics (GA4): See What’s Working

GA4 is the latest version of Google Analytics. It tracks what people do when they visit your site.

We use it to:

• See where your traffic comes from

• Measure which pages generate enquiries

• Identify what’s working and what needs improving

  
  

This allows us to continually refine your site and SEO. It also stops guesswork. We’re not just ranking you for vanity terms, but for search terms that convert into actual jobs.

These insights are what allow us to provide tools we rely on every day to make smarter marketing decisions.

6. AI Tools: Fast Research, Carefully Reviewed

We also use premium AI tools like ChatGPT to speed up research, especially when we’re creating content for specialist trades.

You’re the expert at what you do. We won’t pretend we know more about boilers, resin driveways, or structural timber than you do. What we can do is gather information quickly, identify the key questions your customers are asking, and shape content that answers those clearly.

But every blog, page, or ad we create is manually reviewed and rewritten by a real person. We go over everything with a fine-tooth comb to make sure it’s accurate, useful, and clear. Nothing is copy-pasted or left unchecked.

This balance helps us publish more high-quality content, more often. And content that brings in the value of SEO over time.

Why We Don’t Recommend DIY SEO

All of the tools listed above are powerful. But most come with steep learning curves, monthly costs, and a risk of getting it wrong if you’re not sure what to do with the data.

Even if you tried to replicate our setup yourself, you’d be looking at well over £450 per month just in software costs. That doesn’t include the time needed to learn how to use it all properly, write content, build pages, or track results.

DIY SEO often leads to wasted time, poor targeting, or even ranking drops if changes are made incorrectly. That’s why we often speak to tradesmen who’ve tried to do it themselves, or paid someone cheap, and didn’t see results. If that sounds familiar, you’ll understand what we’ve seen go wrong in the past.

SEO is like any trade. The right tools matter. But it’s the person using them that makes the difference.

Final Thought

We don’t just say we do SEO. We prove it, every month, with real data and real results. The tools above are what we use to get tradesmen onto page one. More importantly, they help bring in more calls, more quotes, and more control over your work.

Want to see how it all fits together? You might also be interested in the results speak for themselves or learning how simple tips that actually work can improve your visibility from day one.