Let me tell you a story that might sound familiar. Last year, I met Mike, a fantastic plumber who could fix a leaky pipe blindfolded (though I wouldn’t recommend it for insurance reasons). Despite being the MacGyver of plumbing, Mike’s website was sitting somewhere on page 8 of Google – where websites go to collect digital dust. “I’m great at fixing pipes,” he told me, “but this internet stuff? It’s like trying to unclog a drain with a feather duster.”
That’s exactly why I started Local PowerUp, and why I’m sharing these battle-tested strategies that have helped countless local businesses like Mike’s climb from the depths of Google’s results to the promised land of page one. And yes, Mike’s now ranking #2 for “emergency plumber” in his area (right below a certain national chain that shall remain nameless – we’re coming for you, Big Plumbing!).
1. Google My Business: Your Digital Storefront (That You Might Have Forgotten About)
Remember that time you tried finding a restaurant and Google showed you a closed pizza place from 1987? That’s exactly what your potential customers feel when your Google My Business profile shows your summer hours… and it’s February.
Quick story: One of our clients at Local PowerUp, Tom, runs a pressure washing business. His GMB profile showed his business was closed on weekends (it wasn’t), and he couldn’t figure out why he kept getting angry Monday calls about not answering weekend inquiries. Oops! After updating his profile:
- His weekend calls increased by 40%
- He started appearing in the “local pack” (those three magical business listings at the top)
- He finally stopped getting those angry Monday calls (though his mother still calls to complain about his not visiting enough)
2. On-Page SEO: Because “Best Handyman Near Me” Won’t Magically Appear in Your Website’s Code
Think of on-page SEO like dressing for a job interview. Sure, you could show up in your favorite Hawaiian shirt (no judgment), but it might not send the right message. Your website needs to dress appropriately for Google’s algorithms.
Let’s dive deep into the crucial elements (and yes, this is the “nerdy” part, but stick with me):
Title Tags: Your Website’s Handshake
Every page needs a unique title tag that’s:
- 50-60 characters long
- Includes your main keyword at the beginning
- Features your location for local services
- Actually describes what’s on the page
Bad example: “Pressure Washing Services – Best Pressure Washing” Good example: “Professional Pressure Washing Services in Atlanta | Local PowerUp”
Meta Descriptions: Your Elevator Pitch
Think of these as your 155-character sales pitch:
- Include a call to action
- Mention your unique selling point
- Use natural language
- Include your primary keyword
Bad example: “Pressure washing services. We wash pressure. Best pressure washer.” Good example: “Transform your home’s exterior with our professional pressure washing services in Atlanta. Free quotes, same-day service available. Licensed & insured.”
Header Tags: Your Content’s Road Map
Think of these like chapters in a book:
- H1: Your main title (use only one per page)
- H2: Major sections
- H3: Subsections
- H4-H6: Further breakdowns if needed
Structure them like this (this is just an example so don’t get all grammarly on me if you see something wrong):
H1: Professional Pressure Washing in Wilmington NC
H2: Wilmignton's Best Exterior Cleaning
H3: House Washing
H3: Driveway Cleaning
H2: Commercial Pressure Washing in the Wilmington Area
H3: Building Washing
H3: Parking Lot CleaningAlt Text: Because Google Can’t See Your Pretty Pictures
Every image needs alt text that:
- Describes what’s in the image
- Includes relevant keywords naturally
- Helps visually impaired users understand your content
Bad example: “IMG3342982.jpg” Good example: “Professional pressure washing of two-story brick house in Atlanta”
3. Building Local Citations: Your Digital Paper Trail
Remember playing “Where’s Waldo?” Citations are like that, except you want your business to be found everywhere. So…. I guess it’s really not like “Where’s Waldo?” at all. Well okay then anyway, the point is the more places your business is listed (consistently), the more Google trusts you’re not just three kids in a trench coat pretending to be a pressure washing company.
Here’s your golden ticket – the top 20 citation sites every home service business should be on. Also, click here for a cool list that’s organized by industry:
- Google My Business
- Bing Places
- Yelp
- Yellow Pages
- Better Business Bureau
- Angi (formerly Angie’s List)
- HomeAdvisor
- Thumbtack
- Nextdoor
- Facebook Business
- Apple Maps
- Foursquare
- Superpages
- Brownbook
- Localeze
- Chamber of Commerce
- Judy’s Book
- Merchant Circle
- Citysearch
- Local.com
Pro tip from the Local PowerUp team: Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are consistent everywhere (NAP). “Joe’s Pressure Washing” and “Joseph’s Professional Pressure Washing Services LLC” are not the same thing in Google’s eyes, even if both businesses are just you and your truck named Betty.
NAP consistency is really important for all search engines; so make sure your NAP is accurate and consistent on the entire internet.
4. Blog Content: Because “How to Clean Your Own Driveway” Articles Actually Get You More Pressure Washing Jobs
Here’s a paradox: writing articles about DIY pressure washing actually brings in more business. Why? Because when someone reads your article about cleaning their driveway, tries it, and ends up with their fence looking like it was attacked by a water cannon, guess who they’re calling? (Spoiler: It’s you, the helpful expert who tried to save them money.)
Real story: Tom, our pressure washing specialist, wrote a blog post titled “5 Simple Pressure Washing Mistakes to Avoid.” It became his biggest source of leads because:
- People read the article; and some even tried the DIY approach
- When they realized professional equipment and experience makes a difference, they called the helpful expert who wrote the article
- They also appreciated his honesty in trying to save them money first and that he wasn’t greasy and salesmany in his approach. He seemed to want to help them; not sell them. Your customers can feel the difference.
Also, you can just really drill down on specialized keywords with blog posts and rank for keywords you might not rank for on your normal service pages. I can attest to this with my Christmas Lights Installation website. I had blog posts specific to a really nice neighborhood nearby and also to a cool, coastal town a little South of me…. in both instances my website did not rank in those locations; but I had blog posts that did. They ranked in the top three organic results and I have made thousands and thousands of dollars because I wrote a couple blog posts. NICE!!!
Conclusion: Your Turn to Shine
Remember Mike the plumber? His website now brings in so many leads that he had to hire two new plumbers. Tom’s pressure washing business? He’s booked two months in advance.
Your business could be next.
At Local PowerUp, we’ve seen it all – from websites that looked like they were built during the dial-up era to businesses trying to rank for “best pressure washer in America” when they only serve three blocks in Toledo. We can help you avoid these pitfalls and build a digital presence that actually brings in customers.
Ready to stop hiding on page 8 of Google? Let’s talk about getting you where you belong – right at the top, where your customers can actually find you.
Contact Local PowerUp today, and let’s start your journey to digital visibility. No Hawaiian shirts required (but we won’t judge if that’s your thing).
