Search Engine Optimization Best Practices for Contractors
We’re going to break non-technical and technical SEO down into what matters for Remodelers and Home Builders so you can start increasing your search engine ranking potential. Let's get it done!
Jump to an Episode:
1. What is SEO?
2. Common Technical SEO Mistakes to Avoid
3. Do Keywords Matter Anymore?
4. How Often Should You Update Your Website?
6. How Do I Show Up on Google?
7. What Kind of Website Content is Good for SEO?
9. How to Build a Monthly SEO Action Plan
Episode 1: What is SEO and Why Should You Care?
April 30th, 2020 - Ft. Nicole Raymond
Welcome to the first episode of the Remodel Your SEO Podcast! In this episode we will briefly cover the three main types of SEO and how they are interconnected. We'll also address why SEO matters for you specifically.
Timestamps
0:13 - Introduction
1:12 - What is SEO?
1:55 - Technical SEO
2:14 - Local SEO
2:36 - Non-Technical SEO
3:34 - How the 3 Types of SEO Work are Connected
5:39 - Why SEO Matters to Home Builders and Remodelers
Episode 2: How to Avoid Common Technical SEO Mistakes on Your Website
May 7th, 2020 - Ft. Malachi Price
Episode 2 is all about what NOT to do on your website so that you don't unintentionally sabotage your search engine ranking potential.
It’s the little things that you do every time you upload project photos or publish new blogs onto your website, that may seem small but make a big difference for your search engine visibility and overall website health. So let’s dive in and address some common mistakes, and how to avoid them.
Timestamps
1:22 - The Most Common Issue on Contractor Websites
2:21 - Why Image Size Impacts Page Load Speed and Website Abandonment Rates
4:46 - Image Optimization Best Practices
6:39 - Tips for Adding "Alt Text" to Every Image
8:39 - Heading Structure: What Headings Are and How to Properly Use Them
11:28 - Case Study on How This Improves Your SEO
12:31- 404 Errors and 301 Redirects
Additional Resources
- Best Practices for Technical SEO on Your Website
- What size images should be for quick page load speeds
- From Google's Mouth: How Images are Used in Search
- GTMetrix.com Page Load Speed Tester
- ILoveImg.com and TinyPNG.com for Compressing Images
- Heading Structure Best Practices
Episode 3: Do Keywords Matter Anymore?
May 14th, 2020 - Ft. Danielle Russell
This episode is all about keywords; what they are, how search engines use them in 2020, plus specific strategies and tools you can use to implement a strategic content strategy, optimized for search engine ranking potential. Let's dive in:
Timestamps
0:33 - How to rank better using keywords?
1:20 - What are keywords?
2:10 - How the methodology for using keywords has changed.
3:05 - The history of Google algorithm updates and what that means for us now, in 2020.
> Google Panda
> Google Penguin
> Hummingbird
> Google Pigeon
> Mobile-geddon
> Google BERT
6:30 - How to research and use keywords the RIGHT way.
7:30 - Short Tail vs. Long Tail Keywords
9:00 - Typical Keyword Research Process
12:06 - Real Life Example of Keyword Research Process
14:11 - Speed Quiz / Summary
Additional Resources
- Keyword Research Tools
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Google Keyword Planner
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aHrefs
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SEMrush
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Answer the Public
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Google’s People Also Ask
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Reddit, Quora, and Industry Specific Forums like Houzz.
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- Example of how long tail keywords can turn into a content outline
Episode 4: How Often Should You Update Your Remodeling Website to Have Good SEO?
May 21st, 2020 - Ft. Nicole Raymond
Episode 4 is all about answering this question: “Is once a year often enough to update my remodeling website?”
The short answer is no. You should be updating your remodeling website more than once a year. But what do I mean when I say to "update" your website? And how can you fit that into your already too busy schedule? Let's dive in.
Timestamps
0:46 - What Does it Mean to "Update" Your Website?
2:43 - Why is Once a Year Not Enough?
5:32 - How to Implement Good Website Update Habits
6:36 - How Often You Should Update Your Website
7:37 - What Kind of Website Updates You Can Make Regularly
10:01 - Is This Going to Help Enough to Be Worthwhile?
11:35 - Case Study on How Purging "Fluffy" Content Improved Performance
Additional Resources
Episode 5: What Is Local SEO? The Ins, the Outs, and the Ups
May 28th, 2020 - Ft. Danielle Russell
Episode 5 digs into Local SEO, what it is and specific ways you can implement a local SEO strategy both in tandem and separately from your content marketing strategy.
Timestamps
0:11 - Introduction to Local SEO
1:13 - What is Google Pigeon?
2:34 - How does Google Pigeon work?
3:31 - Specific Ways to Implement a Local SEO Strategy
8:04 - Local Citations and What to Do if You Move Locations
10:39 - Tools and Automation Tools to Improve Your Local SEO
11:27 - Customer Reviews and How They Impact Your Local SEO
Additional Resources
- About Google Pigeon
- Optimizing Your Google My Business Profile
- Local Search Ranking Factors
- Local Search Data Providers
- Local Search Ecosystem
- Local Citation Cleanup Tool
- How to Respond to Fake or Negative Reviews
Episode 6: How Do I Get My Business to Show Up on Google?
June 4th, 2020 - Ft. Spencer Powell
If we had a nickel every time we were asked "How do I rank #1 in Google?" or "How can I get people to find me in Google?" well, we'd have a lot of nickels. In all seriousness, though, for better or for worse, the internet, and Google specifically, is now the lifeblood for many companies to generate business. So today let's talk about how you can get your business to show up and rank higher in Google searches.
Timestamps
1:04 - The Crux of Ranking on Google
1:23 - Why Should You Think About Your Competitors Online?
2:39 - What is a Website's Domain Authority?
4:47 - How Does Your Physical Location Impact Search Ranking Potential?
6:10 - Specific Ways to Move the Needle for Your Domain Authority
9:00 - The Two-Pronged Approach for Making Google Happy
11:50 - How Promotional Traffic Impacts SEO Ranking Potential
13:30 - Types of Content You Can Use to Improve SEO
18:05 - Promoting Content to Impact Search Ranking Potential
Resources:
- Case Study: How to Use Conversion Offers Other Than a "Contact Us" Form
- Case Study: Using Facebook Ads to "Jumpstart" Your Organic Ranking Potential
Episode 7: What Kind of Website Content is Good for SEO?
June 11th, 2020 - Ft. Steven Fielding
Content is king - we've been preaching it for years, but what topics are highest performing so that you can rank higher on Google? Steven and Danielle break down very specific types of website pages, blog topics, and premium lead capture content ideas that will launch your contractor business into more and higher ranking positions. Without further ado, here are the types of website content that is good for SEO:
Timestamps
0:52 - What content topics for blogs & website pages are highest performing?
1:50 - Core website pages topics to include on your contractor website.
3:30 - Blog topics to talk about as a home builder, remodeler, and contractor.
7:32 - Your mindset when writing new website content.
8:24 - What is TOFU content?
10:14 - What is MOFU content?
12:29 - What is BOFU content?
14:38 - How does content relate to SEO and how to the 3 types work in tandem?
16:02 - Using internal and backlinking strategies to improve SEO.
19:21 - Is it okay to purchase backlinks?
20:24 - How can you get rid of poor backlinks?
22:14 - Summary
Episode 8: Do Reviews Matter for SEO?
June 18th, 2020 - Ft. Malachi Price
By now you have probably realized that reviews — good ones and, especially, bad ones — affect your sales as a contractor. But did you know they also affect your search engine ranking potential? Here are some tips on using reviews as a way to launch your website's ranking, and collecting and responding to reviews.
Timestamps
0:24 - Reviews as a needle mover for sales
1:24 - Reviews as a needle mover for search engine ranking potential
3:20 - How contractors can collect reviews
5:10 - How to respond to reviews
- When responding to bad reviews remember "APA" - Acknowledge, Personalize, and Address
6:28 - Spencer Powell on responding to negative reviews
10:58 - Summary
Additional Resources
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How to generate one click links for clients to leave a Google review
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Episode 74: FAQs About Auto Posting, Website Value, & Bad Reviews
Episode 9: How to Build a Monthly SEO Action Plan
June 25th, 2020 - Ft. Steven Fielding
So now you realize why SEO matters to your contractor business — but where to begin? The task of kick starting your SEO may seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be if you start with these quick wins, and then work through this Three Phase SEO Plan.
Timestamps
0:58 - Why It's Barely Worth Having a Website Without Basic SEO
1:40 - SEO Quick Wins
6:05 - How to Start Taking Steps Toward Better SEO (in 3 Phases)
7:34 - Phase 1: Get into a New Groove (a Few Questions to Ask Yourself)
9:06 - Phase 2: Clean up Past Content
12:53 - Phase 3: Hit the Accelerator with Promotion
15:42 - Continue Learning and Kick Start Your SEO with Builder Funnel Academy
Additional Resources
- Builder Funnel Academy
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Purchase an OV SSL Certificate
- Organization Validated (OV) is Recommended
- Run a Citation Cleanup through Moz Local
- Setup Your Site in Google Search Console
- SEO Checklist
Got SEO Questions?
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