Google is one of, if not the most, important tools a local contracting business like you, can utilize. Its free, most people use it, and is where you’ll be getting most of your leads. Showing up on google, however, can be a slow burn. But it doesn’t have to be!

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If you’re from West Virginia, you know that most businesses here rely on word of mouth; it’s convenient, it works, and it creates community! You may also find that most businesses use a Facebook page. This is more effective and I have seen it work in action within the Facebook pages I’m in, but its still trapped behind a platform that most people don’t use when they’re searching for something.

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While these two strategies work, if your goal is to scale, you’ll want to adopt these two systems:

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A Good Website with Strong SEO

A website makes you look professional. I see companies who do amazing work, get 5-star reviews on Facebook, but they’re hidden from thousands of prospects that may be living right next door!

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I also see local businesses with a website, but its either lacking information, or outdated. If this is the case, it may be harder to rank on google. Its important to have up to date information and that information should be informational and help the searcher find what they need.

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Let’s start with an example. My name is Todd, and I want to remodel my kitchen. I will probably start googling.

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“Kitchen renovation cost”

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“Kitchen renovation companies”

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“Kitchen renovation near me"

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To better rank, you’ll need to address these search queries, whether its answering a question or providing a solution to the searcher’s intent. In this case, we should probably provide a section in our website about the cost of a kitchen renovation, what all goes into it, and areas you serve.

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“Where can I find what people are searching?” you may ask. Well, there exist multiple tools to help you find what people are searching in your area. Some require a paid subscription, and there are some that are more basic, but free.

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For starting out, I recommend Google’s Keyword Planner. You’ll need to setup a Google Ads account, but once you do, its free to use.

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A Well Maintained Google My Business Account

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