SEO for trades that fills your diary with local jobs
When a pipe bursts or the lights go out, people grab their phone and call one of the first trades they see on Google. Our local SEO for trades puts your business there, so the calls come to you, not to a lead site or your competitors.
- Show up for "near me" searches
- Rank in the Google Maps 3-pack
- Stop paying for every lead
- Own your rankings and reviews
Or email info@lillianpurge.co.uk · Free audit, no obligation
- £350 a month
- No tie-in
- No setup fee
- Free website build
- Free audit first
SEO for tradespeople is different
Most SEO advice is written for online shops and big brands. Trades work differently. Your customers are local, they often need help today, and they decide in minutes, usually on a phone.
That changes what matters. A trade business doesn't need thousands of website visitors. It needs to appear for the handful of searches that mean "I need a plumber, an electrician or a roofer, near me, now", and then make it easy to call.
That's what local SEO for trades does. We get your business into the Google Maps 3-pack and the top results for the jobs you want, in the areas you cover, and make sure your profile and website turn those searches into calls.
The searches that bring in jobs
- emergency plumber near me
- electrician Milton Keynes
- boiler repair near me
- roofer near me
- EV charger installer
- loft conversion builders
- locksmith near me
- bathroom fitters near me
- tree surgeon Milton Keynes
Every one of these is someone ready to book. Rank for a few of them in your area and your phone rings.
Trades we work with
Local SEO works for any trade with customers nearby. Here's how it helps some of the trades we work with most.
Plumbers & heating engineers
Emergency leaks, boiler repairs, bathroom installs and landlord certificates. Searches spike in cold snaps, so you need to be visible before they happen.
Electricians
Rewires, fuse board upgrades, EV chargers, EICRs and emergency call-outs. A page for each service lets you rank for the work you actually want.
Roofers
Roof repairs, flat roofs, guttering and chimney work. Storm damage searches arrive in bursts, and the trades already ranking get the calls.
Builders
Extensions, loft conversions, garage conversions and renovations. High-value jobs where trust, photos and reviews win the enquiry.
Kitchen & bathroom fitters
Customers research for weeks before choosing. Strong project pages and reviews put you on the shortlist.
Landscapers & tree surgeons
Seasonal work that needs good visibility in spring and summer, plus year-round tree and fencing jobs.
Locksmiths
Almost entirely urgent "near me" searches made on a phone. The Maps 3-pack is everything.
Painters, plasterers & carpenters
Smaller jobs, high volume. Reviews and a clear service area turn searches into a steady stream of work.
Cleaners & pest control
Repeat customers and urgent call-outs. Local SEO builds a base of regular work you don't pay per lead for.
Local SEO for trades: what actually ranks
Google picks the trades it shows in Maps based on relevance, distance and prominence. In plain English: do you clearly do the job they searched for, do you cover their area, and do people trust you? Here's what that looks like for a trade business.
A Google Business Profile that's set up properly
Your profile is the single biggest factor for Maps rankings. That means the right primary category (for example "Plumber" rather than "Plumbing supply store"), every service listed, a clear service area, real opening hours including any emergency cover, and regular photos of your work. Most trade profiles we audit are missing at least half of this.
A page for every service you want to win
A single "Our services" page can't rank for boiler repairs, bathroom installs and leak detection all at once. A separate page for each main service, with real detail, photos and prices where you can share them, gives Google a clear match for each search and gives customers the answer they're looking for.
Reviews that mention the job and the area
Reviews are the deciding factor for most people choosing a trade, and they help you rank. A review that says "Fixed our boiler in Bletchley the same day" helps more than one that just says "Great job". We set you up with a simple way to ask every happy customer, and help you reply well. We never buy or fake reviews.
Trust signals customers look for
Show your accreditations clearly on your website and profile, such as Gas Safe, NICEIC, NAPIT, TrustMark or Which? Trusted Trader, along with your insurance, guarantees and years in business. These reassure customers and give Google and AI tools more reasons to trust you.
Consistent details everywhere
Your business name, phone number and address (or service area) should match on your website, Google, Facebook, Checkatrade, Yell and every other listing. Old numbers and different spellings confuse Google and cost you rankings.
A website built for a phone
Most trade searches happen on mobile. Your website needs to load fast, show your number at the top, and have a click-to-call button that's always in reach. A website that's slow or fiddly on a phone loses jobs even when it ranks.
Lead sites vs your own rankings
Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Bark and similar sites can be a good source of work, especially when you're starting out. But there are downsides, and many trades find themselves paying more each year for the same amount of work.
| Lead sites | Local SEO | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Per lead, per month or both | £350 a month, fixed |
| Competition | Jobs often sent to several trades | Customers call you directly |
| Who owns it | The platform owns the customer | You own your profile, reviews and website |
| When you stop paying | Leads stop straight away | Rankings keep working |
| Your brand | You're one listing among many | Customers remember your name |
The best approach for most trades is to keep any lead sites that work for you while your own rankings build, then rely on them less as more customers find you directly.
Our SEO for trades process
- Free audit. We check how you rank for your main jobs in your area, review your Business Profile and website, and look at the trades beating you.
- Pick the jobs you want. We focus on the searches that bring profitable work, not just any traffic. A roofer might want flat roofs and repairs, not gutter cleaning.
- Fix your Business Profile. Categories, services, service area, photos, products and Q&A set up to win those searches.
- Build or improve your website. A fast, mobile-first site with a page for each main service and clear calls to action. The website build is free with the package.
- Reviews and listings. A simple review system, plus your details cleaned up and listed on trusted UK directories.
- Keep it active. Google posts, photos of recent jobs, and 2 posts a week on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
- Report every month. Where you rank, how many people found you, and how many called, messaged or asked for directions.
Websites we've built for local businesses
A few of the fast, mobile-first sites we've built and look after, each designed to turn searches into calls:
- Jamie the PlumberPlumbing and heating
- Ely MotorsGarage, servicing and MOTs
- Chesham BarbersBarbershop
- OSCO LondonOnline shop
Where we work
Many of our trade clients are based in and around Milton Keynes, Bedford and Northampton, but local SEO for trades works the same wherever you are. The package targets one area, the town or patch where you want more work. If you're in MK, see our local SEO Milton Keynes service for how we approach the city, or meet our MK SEO experts.
SEO for trades for £350 a month
Everything a trade business needs to win local jobs from Google, in one fixed monthly fee. No setup fee, no tie-in.
The £350 Local package
The full bundle for one target area, handled by one team.
- Free website build
- Local SEO campaign for your target area
- Google Maps & Business Profile management
- Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn at 2 posts a week each
- AI optimisation for ChatGPT and AI Overviews
- Website management and ongoing upkeep
- Monthly reporting on your local visibility
Monthly, with no tie-in. No setup fee. Every package starts with a free audit.
Our guarantee: if your website traffic hasn't grown after a 12-month campaign, we'll keep working for free until it does. Traffic is measured using Google Analytics and other reporting platforms. Applies where the client approves content and allows agreed changes to the site.
Get a free SEO audit for your trade
Tell us what you do and where you work. We'll show you where you rank, who's getting the jobs you're missing, and what it would take to change that.
Request your free audit
We'll reply within one working day. No spam, no hard sell.
What you'll get
- Where you rank for your main jobs in your area
- A check of your Google Business Profile and reviews
- The trades beating you, and why
- The three changes that would bring in the most work
- Honest advice, with no pressure to sign up
- Call Sam01234 958802 · 07908 629039
- Emailinfo@lillianpurge.co.uk
- WhatsAppMessage 07908 629039
SEO for trades FAQs
Is SEO worth it for tradespeople?
For most trades, yes. People searching "plumber near me" or "electrician Milton Keynes" need someone now, so ranking for those searches brings in calls and booked jobs. Unlike paid leads, the rankings you build keep working month after month without paying for every enquiry.
Is SEO better than Checkatrade, MyBuilder or Bark?
They do different jobs. Lead sites can bring quick work, but you pay for each lead or a membership, and the same job is often sent to several trades. Local SEO builds your own rankings, reviews and website, so customers come straight to you. Many trades use both while their SEO builds up, then rely less on paid leads over time.
How long does SEO take for a trade business?
Fixing a Google Business Profile can bring results within weeks. Ranking for your main trade and town usually takes three to six months, sometimes longer in very competitive trades. We'll give you an honest timeline in your free audit.
I work from home. Can I still rank in Google Maps?
Yes. Most trades are service-area businesses. You can hide your home address and set the towns and areas you cover instead. We'll set this up properly so you stay within Google's rules.
Do I need a website if I already have a Facebook page?
A Facebook page helps, but it won't rank well on Google for your services, and you don't control it. A fast website with a page for each service gives Google far more to rank. A website is included free with our package, so it doesn't cost you extra.
Which trades do you work with?
Plumbers, heating and gas engineers, electricians, roofers, builders, plasterers, carpenters, kitchen and bathroom fitters, painters and decorators, landscapers, tree surgeons, locksmiths, cleaners, pest control and more. If you have local customers, local SEO works the same way.
Do you only work with trades in Milton Keynes?
Many of our trade clients are in and around Milton Keynes, but the package works for any trade business targeting one town or area. Tell us where you work and we'll check the search demand there before you commit to anything.
How much does SEO for trades cost?
£350 a month with no setup fee and no tie-in. That covers local SEO, Google Maps and Business Profile management, social media, AI optimisation, website management, monthly reporting and a free website build.
Related services and guides
Local SEO Milton Keynes
How we get Milton Keynes businesses into the Google Maps 3-pack and keep them there.
See the service →How to get more Google reviews
Find your review link, when and how to ask, and what breaks Google's rules.
Read the guide →SEO vs Google Ads
Which brings in more jobs for your money, and when to use each.
Read the guide →Ready for more local jobs?
Local SEO, Google Maps, social media and a free website build for trades. £350 a month, no tie-in, starting with a free audit.