1. Set Up (and Fully Optimize) Your Google Business Profile

This is a must. Your Google Business Profile is what shows up in Maps and local search results when someone types in “HVAC near me” or “electrician in [your town].”

How to do it:

• Claim and verify your listing

• Add service categories, business hours, and service area

• Upload real photos of your work

• Post updates weekly and respond to reviews

Pro Tip: Ask every happy client to leave a Google review—it’s one of the fastest ways to boost your ranking.

2. Focus on Local SEO for Your Website

Your site needs to tell Google where you work and what you do, clearly and consistently.

Tips for better local SEO:

• Use specific town names on your homepage, service pages, and meta descriptions

• Create a dedicated service page for each offering (e.g., “Boiler Repair in Huntington” vs. a generic “Services” page)

• Include your location in your title tags and headers

• Add a map and full address in your footer

Pro Tip: Mention landmarks or neighborhoods people actually search for, like “Plumbing Services near Port Jefferson Station.”

3. Start a Blog That Answers Real Questions

In 2025, helpful content still rules. A blog gives you a chance to show up when people search for answers like:

• “Why is my circuit breaker tripping?”

• “How to prep your AC for summer on Long Island”

Why it matters:

• Google favors fresh, helpful content

• It positions you as the expert

• It drives traffic to your site long after it's posted

Pro Tip: Write one blog post a month using real questions your customers ask you on the job.

4. Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly and Fast

Over 60% of local searches happen on phones. If your site loads slowly or is hard to navigate, people (and Google) will bounce.

Quick wins:

• Use a clean layout with large buttons

• Make sure your phone number is clickable

• Test your site on mobile and run it through Google’s PageSpeed Insights

Pro Tip: A fast, mobile-friendly site also helps you convert more visitors into calls.

5. Build Local Backlinks

Backlinks are links from other websites to yours. When they come from trusted, local sources, they boost your credibility in Google’s eyes.

Easy local backlink ideas:

• Get listed in directories like your town’s Chamber of Commerce, local business networks, and trade associations

• Offer a quote for a local news article

• Partner with nearby businesses and ask them to link to your site

Pro Tip: Quality matters more than quantity—focus on relevant, reputable local sites.

6. Keep Reviews Flowing (and Respond to All of Them)

Google reviews are one of the top ranking factors in local search. More reviews = more trust = higher rankings.

Tips to get more reviews:

• Send a follow-up text or email after each job

• Make it easy—include a direct link to your review page

• Respond to every review, good or bad, with professionalism

Pro Tip: New reviews show Google you’re active and relevant—aim for 2–4 per month.

7. Use AI Tools to Find and Fix SEO Issues

In 2025, there’s no excuse for not knowing what’s holding your site back. Free and paid AI tools can scan your site and show you exactly what to fix.

Tools worth trying:

• Google Search Console – find out what you rank for and where you're missing opportunities

• Ubersuggest – get keyword ideas and competitor insights

• Surfer SEO or PageOptimizer Pro – AI tools that tell you how to improve each page for search engines

Pro Tip: At Storyseller, we use AI tools to audit tradesmen’s sites and remove the stuff that’s quietly dragging them down in rankings.

Getting to the first page of Google isn’t about tricking the system—it’s about building trust, offering value, and showing up consistently. For tradesmen on Long Island, that means blending smart SEO with a strong local presence and steady reviews.

If you're ready to get serious about your online visibility, Storyseller is here to help you build a site (and a strategy) that gets you noticed—and gets your phone ringing.

Let’s build your Google game plan.