What "local SEO services" should mean for a plumber
Plenty of companies sell "SEO" to plumbers. Fewer explain what they actually do each month. Here's the checklist we'd use if we were hiring for our own plumbing business.
1. Google Business Profile management
The right category, services, service areas, photos and regular updates. Google says businesses with complete and accurate information are more likely to appear in local results.
2. Website pages that match how people search
A page for boiler repairs, one for bathrooms, one for leaks and emergencies, and pages for the towns you want. Titles and headings that say what you do and where.
3. Consistent business details everywhere
Your name, phone and area matching across directories. Google says it can learn about your business from mentions throughout the web, so mixed-up details work against you.
4. A review routine that follows the rules
A review link or QR code ready to send after every job. Google recommends this approach and says incentives for reviews are strictly prohibited.
5. Genuine local links
Links from merchants, local organisations and real local news. Google treats buying links that pass ranking credit as link spam, so a good service will tell you where every link came from.
6. Plain-English reporting
A short monthly note: what was done, where you appear in the map results for your main searches, and the calls and clicks your profile is bringing.
Questions Google suggests you ask any SEO
Google's own page on hiring an SEO suggests asking for examples of previous work, whether they follow Google's guidelines, what results they expect and in what timeframe, and how they'll communicate the changes they make. It also says that if someone guarantees first place, you should find someone else.
What you should provide in return
Even the best service needs a little from you. Expect to be asked for access to your Google Business Profile (as a manager, not by sharing your password), a few photos of recent jobs each month, a list of the jobs and towns you want more of, and a quick yes or no on new pages before they go live.
That's usually ten minutes a month. In return, you should never have to chase for updates or wonder what's been done.
One more thing to agree at the start: what counts as success. For most plumbers that's more calls and quote requests from the towns they want, not a ranking screenshot.
Warning signs
- No access to your Google Business Profile needed. (How will they improve it?)
- Bulk links with no named sources.
- Lots of town pages that read the same.
- Contracts that lock you in with no list of tasks.
Read more on our SEO for plumbers page.
Common questions
What do local SEO services for plumbers include?
A good service covers your Google Business Profile, service and town pages on your website, consistent listings, a review routine, genuine local links and a plain-English monthly report.
What should I ask before hiring an SEO for my plumbing business?
Google suggests asking for examples of previous work, whether they follow Google's guidelines, what results to expect and when, and how they'll share the changes they make.
Is it a red flag if an SEO guarantees rankings?
Yes. Google says that if someone guarantees their changes will get you first place, you should find someone else.