When a homeowner in Surrey searches for "gutter cleaning near me", most of the calls go to the three businesses in the Google Maps results and the first few organic listings. This checklist covers the local SEO work that helps contractors and home service businesses earn those spots. Work through it in order: the first sections usually have the biggest impact.
1. Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile is often the biggest source of calls from Google.
- Claim and verify your profile
- Choose the most accurate primary category, then add relevant secondary categories
- Set your service areas to the cities you actually serve
- List every service with a short description
- Add real photos of your work, team and vehicles, and keep adding them
- Keep your hours accurate, including holidays
- Post updates, offers or recent projects regularly
- Answer questions and reply to every review
2. Name, address and phone consistency
Make sure your business name, address (if you show one) and phone number are written the same way everywhere: your website, Google, Facebook, Yelp and industry directories. Inconsistent details make it harder for Google to trust your information.
3. One page per service
A single "Services" page listing everything you do is hard to rank. Create a separate, detailed page for each main service, explaining the problem, how you solve it, what it includes, where you offer it and common questions. Each page should have a unique title tag and meta description.
4. Location pages, done properly
Pages for the cities you serve can help, but only if each one is genuinely useful and different. Mention the neighbourhoods you work in, local considerations and projects in that area. Copying the same page and swapping the city name can do more harm than good.
5. Reviews
Reviews influence both rankings and whether people call.
- Ask every happy customer, ideally right after the job
- Make it easy with a direct link to your review form
- Never buy reviews or offer rewards for them, which breaks Google's policies
- Reply to every review, positive or negative, professionally
6. Technical basics
- Your site loads fast on a phone
- Every page has one clear H1 heading
- Pages use descriptive titles and meta descriptions
- Your site has an XML sitemap submitted in Google Search Console
- Your business uses structured data (schema) so Google understands your services and area
- Images have descriptive alt text
- There are no broken links or duplicate versions of pages
7. Helpful content
Write articles that answer the questions customers ask before hiring you: costs, timing, materials, how to choose a contractor. Good content earns links, builds trust and gives Google more reasons to show your site.
8. Links and local mentions
Links from local sources such as suppliers, associations, sponsorships, community events and local news show Google that your business is real and relevant in your area. Avoid paid link schemes.
9. Track what matters
Watch the numbers that relate to revenue: calls and website clicks from your Google profile, form enquiries, and rankings for your main services in the cities you want to win. Check them monthly.
Want help with it?
This checklist is exactly what our local SEO service works through every month for contractors across Metro Vancouver. If your website needs a stronger foundation first, see our website design service.