Local SEO for tradespeople: plumbers, electricians and builders

Why trades depend on local search

When a boiler breaks or a pipe bursts, people search on their phone and call one of the first businesses they see. The map results and the businesses with the most recent reviews take most of those calls. Directories and lead platforms help, but you pay for each lead and compete with everyone else listed there.

Set up as a service-area business

If you go to customers rather than receive them, hide your home address and set service areas instead: towns, districts or postcodes you actually cover. Keep it realistic. Listing a huge area does not make you rank everywhere; Google still favours businesses close to the searcher.

One page per service

A plumber who does boiler repairs, bathroom fitting and emergency call-outs should have a page for each. Explain what the job involves, typical timescales, rough prices where possible and the areas covered. Mention accreditations such as Gas Safe registration or NICEIC where relevant, with registration numbers customers can check.

Photos of real jobs

Before-and-after photos of your own work, your van and your team build more trust than any slogan. Add a few each month to your profile and your site.

Reviews after every job

Send a short text with a direct review link when the job is signed off. Ask customers to mention the work done and the area, for example "new boiler fitted in Chorlton". Reply to every review. See our guide to reviews.

Directories: use them, keep them consistent

Checkatrade, TrustATrader, Rated People, Yell and Bark can all bring work. What matters for SEO is that your business name, phone number and area are identical everywhere. Different numbers and old addresses confuse both Google and customers.

When to add Google Ads

SEO takes months. If you need calls now, Local Services Ads or search campaigns can fill the gap, limited to your area and your hours. Read Google Ads or local SEO to decide.