Why Every Construction Business NEEDS a Google Business Profile (GBP)
Google Business Profile (previously known as Google My Business) is an essential online profile for every business. If you are not sure what a GBP is, you need to listen up. This is FREE to set up and if you have not set it up yet, you are missing opportunities. With a staggering 90% of online searches happening on Google, people are increasingly calling a business from its Business Profile contact details and sometimes not bothering to click thru to the website. Top Benefits of a Google Business Profile It’s completely FREE! What are you waiting for? Ethel start the car!!!! Provides a great BOOST for Online Visibility. GBP listings often appear on the first page of local search results. This is particularly important for ‘near me’ searches where people are looking for nearby businesses. If you are looking to get enquiries from a geographic area (that is, you are a local trade or service provider, as opposed to a global seller of say shoes or clothing), Provides a great first impressions to potential customers. They get to see a snapshot of your business, including contact details, without needing to visit your website. Google Reviews are part of your profile. Getting reviews and responding to reviews is an ESSENTIAL ingredient in a strong online presence. Reviews are very powerful in building trust with potential clients and are valuable social proof for your business. Your GBP profile displays up-to-date and relevant details about your business. You can use it to showcase services, projects and to provide updates on holiday closures, opening hours and special offers. Kickstarting Your Google Business Profile Good news! Setting up your GBP is straightforward, though there a few steps involved. First step is to sign up. You then need to get VERIFIED. This is simply a process whereby Google verifies that you a real business at a real business address (there is an option to hide business address if you are based at home). The Key Steps to Setting up Your Google Business Profile Sign up for a Business Profile – Google explains how to create your account. This is where you add your essential info such as business address, business hours and category: https://support.google.com/business/answer/10514137?hl=en Once you have created your account, go ahead and add photos relevant to your business and your business logo. Double-check that all your business name and contact details are accurate. It is essential these details are correct, or you will fail at the next step. Editing your information after verification can lead to suspension so, please ensure that you are happy with your details before proceeding. Request verification from Google. You MUST do this before Google will show your business n Maps or Search results. There are several methods provided by Google that you can choose from such as email verification, phone verification or verification by postcard (avoid this option as it can be very slow!). Once verified you can proceed to embed your Google Maps profile on your website (this is not difficult). Ask your best clients for reviews to get you started. Respond to all reviews, both the Good and the Bad (I know, the bad ones hurt, just try to collect more good ones!). Hot Tips for Google Business Profile SEO Ensure that you use the following keywords on your profile to optimise the Google searchability of your GBP profile: The keywords that your website is aiming to rank for. This should be between 5 and 10 keywords. The key services that you provide, using the search terms customers would use e.g. don’t say you provide ‘painting’ as a service, when a google search is more likely to be ‘house painter near me’. The areas that you service. If you are targeting specific suburbs or regions, ensure these are listed, even if you are not physically located in that area. Need Assistance setting up your Google Business Profile? For personalised guidance on setting up your Google Business Profile, please contact us, we are standng by to help. Get In Touch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Your Website *Phone *What are your current challenges, concerns or questions we can help with? Submit Edit Template Edit Template
Google Searchability for Your Construction Business
What Is Google Searchability? Google searchability refers to the ease with which users can find your website when typing relevant queries into the Google search bar. It encompasses a multitude of factors, including keyword relevance, website structure, and user experience, all of which contribute to your site’s ranking on Google’s Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). Why Google Searchability Is Vital for Business 1 – Increased Traffic An optimized site means higher rankings, leading to more visibility and increased organic traffic. 2 – Credibility A high ranking on Google’s search results adds an air of authority to your business, making it more likely for users to trust your services. 3 – Competitive Advantage Improving your Google searchability helps you outshine competitors, making you a go-to choice for potential customers. Leveraging Google Search Console for Searchability Google Search Console is an invaluable tool for enhancing Google searchability. This free service provides insights into how Google views your site, alerting you to any errors and offering suggestions for improvements. How to Improve Google Searchability 1 – Keyword Optimization The first step to improving Google searchability is identifying and integrating the right keywords. These are the terms your potential customers are using to find services or products like yours. 2 – Quality Content One of the best ways to improve your Google searchability is to produce high-quality, SEO-optimized content that answers the queries your target audience is asking. This not only helps with searchability but also establishes you as an authority in your field. 3 – Site Structure and Navigation An easily navigable website with a clear structure is not just user-friendly; it’s also search engine friendly. Proper headings, an XML sitemap, and internal linking can significantly boost your site’s Google searchability. 4 – Mobile-Friendliness With more than half of all web traffic coming from mobile devices, Google has made mobile-friendliness an important ranking factor. Make sure your site is optimised for mobile users to improve its searchability. Harnessing the Power of Google Search Trends Understanding what your potential customers are searching for is crucial. Google Search Trends can offer insights into trending keywords and topics in your industry, which can be integrated into your content for higher searchability. Decoding How Google Search Engine Works To boost your Google searchability, you need to grasp how Google’s search engine algorithms work. Over 200 factors, such as domain age, backlinks and content quality, influence your website’s SERP ranking. Google Search with Voice The rise of voice search is changing the SEO landscape. Optimise for voice search by focusing on natural language queries and long-tail keywords to tap into this growing trend. Why Isn’t Google Search Showing My Website? If your website isn’t showing up in Google search results, several factors could be responsible. These could range from: Your site might be new and not yet indexed. You could have technical issues like ‘noindex’ tags blocking search engines. Low-quality content or bad SEO practices might have gotten your site penalized. Absence of SEO on your site. Google Search Console can provide diagnostic tools to help you identify and resolve these issues. Analytics and Monitoring for Continuous Improvement The journey to optimal Google searchability is ongoing. Tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console can provide invaluable data to help you fine-tune your strategies for better SERP performance. Summary Enhancing your Google searchability is not a one-time task but a continuous effort that involves adapting to new technologies, algorithms, and user behaviours. From leveraging Google Search Console and Google Search Trends to understanding the many aspects of Google’s search engine and embracing new trends like voice search, each factor plays a critical role in your online visibility. Investing in professional SEO services can give you the edge you need to make your website a true traffic magnet. If your goal is to dominate Google search and turn your website into a traffic-attracting machine, start focusing on improving your Google searchability today. Send an EnquiryAre you ready to 10x your enquiries? Let’s get started. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Your Website *Phone *What are your current challenges, concerns or questions we can help with? Submit Edit Template Edit Template
How much does SEO cost?
How Much Does SEO Cost? A Guide for Businesses in Australia If you run a small business in Australia, you’ve likely heard about Search Engine Optimization (SEO). But determining how much SEO should cost can feel like navigating a maze. Here’s an article to demystify those costs for you and provide guidance based on industry best practices often discussed on platforms like SEMrush. Why is SEO Essential for Small Businesses? Before diving into costs, it’s crucial to understand the value SEO brings. When done correctly, SEO can increase your website’s visibility on search engines, driving more quality traffic to your site and ultimately leading to more clients. For some industries like construction where word-of-mouth also plays a significant role, SEO helps bolster your online reputation as well. What Does Basic SEO Involve? Platforms like SEMrush recommend basic SEO services such as keyword research, on-page SEO changes, and optimizing meta descriptions. These services are ESSENTIAL and the bare minimum you need to do to your website so that Google can read it properly. You might expect to pay between $1,000 to $3,000 per month in Australia. Prices can fluctuate depending on the complexity of your website and the level of competition in your industry. What About Comprehensive SEO Strategies? More advanced SEO strategies might include services such as content creation, technical SEO, and backlinking strategies. These plans can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 per month. These tactics are aimed at sustainable growth and are recommended for those seeking long term business growth. Can Offshore Services Provide a Cheaper Alternative? While offshore services may promise low costs, they also come with their own sets of risks, such as: Quality Concerns: Low prices often mean low quality, which could ultimately hurt your site’s ranking. Communication Barriers: Language differences could lead to misunderstandings and poorly executed strategies. Accountability: It’s often more difficult to hold offshore agencies accountable for results, something that platforms like SEMrush frequently caution against. It is not uncommon for offshore companies or individuals to stop replying to emails or to have significant internet outages in their region, thus bring instability and unreliability into your service. Are Big Agencies the Answer? Though large agencies offer comprehensive solutions and have a reputation for expertise, they may not be the best fit for small businesses: Cost: These agencies often have higher overhead costs, which can get passed on to you. Impersonal Service: Bigger agencies often have many clients to manage, which could mean less personalised attention for your business. If you do not want to be treated like just a ‘number’ then avoid. Generic Strategies: Large agencies might use a one-size-fits-all approach, which is usually not the best for niche industries like construction. In my experience, the wheels also turn very slowly. What I mean by this, is that they often only spend a small slice of time on your website per month and as such the traffic growth can take quite a while to kick in. Lack of Reporting: clients report that they do not know what is being done from month to month and feel like they are not getting good ‘bang for their buck’. Often once the initial few months of work is done, these agencies lean back and collect their monthly fee and perform just an hour or so of work. This will NEVER happen with MRS Bloggs. At Mrs Bloggs you get a montly run-sheet of all the work that has taken place, and a plan for the upcoming month. Every single month. What to Look For in an Ideal SEO Partner? SEMrush, AhRefs and other major SEO software platforms recommend looking for local SEO Agencies that provide the following: Customisable Plans: Choose an agency or small business that offers tailor-made solutions. Mrs Bloggs works with you to determine which services you need to attract customers to and tailors your SEO plan to attract your ideals customers to your business. Transparent Reporting: You should have access to regular reports and updates on your SEO campaign. Mrs Bloggs provides monthly reports of work completed, work planned and tracks your progress for you. With Mrs Bloggs you are guided every step of the way, safe in the knowledge your website is in good hands. Expertise in Your Industry: An agency with experience in the construction sector would be beneficial. Mrs Blogg has 15 years construction experience, 30 years IT experience, 20 years of technical writing skills and is a HIA Award Winning business manager at the WA and National level (and also a HIA Awards judge of over 10 yeaers). I love the construction sector, I love working with people in construction and I love helping people in construction improve and grow their businesses. Conclusion SEO is an investment that can deliver significant returns if done right. While the costs may vary, understanding what you are paying for can go a long way. It’s crucial to avoid going too cheap with offshore services or too broad with large agencies. Instead, look for a balanced, expert solution that suits your business needs. With MRS Bloggs, we build solid relationships with our clients and work hand-in-hand to help you achieve online business growth with a tailored and sustainable strategy. We know what we are doing. We know construction. We love the tech world and we love SEO. We look forward to becoming your trusted partner in construction. Get In Touch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Your Website *Phone *What are your current challenges, concerns or questions we can help with? Submit Edit Template Edit Template
