Local SEO Tips for Garage Door Businesses: How to Rank Higher on Seach Engines & Get More Customers 

Everyone has the world at their fingertips and it can be easy for your garage door service business to go unnoticed online in competitive markets. That's why Action Industries is here with the basics to get your company in front of potential customers when they search “garage door service near me” or use similar queries on Google, Bing, and Apple Maps. Whether you’re new to digital marketing or looking for a quick refresher, our guide will help put you on the map!    

A Digital Presence is a Must         

If you want your business to reach the majority of consumers you need to have an online presence extending beyond your website. Sites like WordPress, Wix or Squarespace make it possible for anyone to create a website from scratch, but merely having a website isn't enough to make your business visible if a consumer types in “garage door repair.” You can either pay to have an advertisement appear near the top of the search results or format your website in a way that allows Google to feature it organically.  

Paid Ads  

Paid ads are a straightforward method for your business to be found in Google search results. Ads may be the first listings that show up in a search, and Google marks them as being sponsored. Running them for commonly searched keywords can cost you a pretty penny, however. Not to mention, customers click on paid ads a mere 5% of the time, opting to choose organic listings instead. For homeowners and business managers who are desperate to fix a broken garage door as quickly as possible, they will likely click the first result they see without bothering to glance at anything else, which means having your business in that coveted first search result is vital. The solution? SEO. 

SEO (Organic Search) 

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a strategic approach to tailor your website to be favored and picked up by a search engine’s algorithm so it is visible in search engine results. The more visible your business is near to top of the search results, the more likely your website is to be engaged with.  

How Does SEO Work?  

SEO can be intimidating for many, but it's easy to get the hang of and runs on relevancy and common sense. Search engines are designed to provide the most relevant content for a search query, so searching “garage door services 44149” provides results for local Strongsville, Ohio area businesses instead of installers in another region. Google decides what websites are “relevant” and helpful to a search based on several key factors:   

• Keyword Selection 
  • These are the words and phrases consumers type into Google’s search engine that Google scans the internet for, so it knows what websites are relevant to show. If you have a garage door installation business, make sure to have phrases on your site like “garage door installation,” “door installer,” and similar combinations so Google will know that your website is relevant to garage door search queries. Google’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Starter Guide is a great place to learn more on the topic! 
  • Also visit Google Search Console, which is a is a free tool that highlights which keywords are the most searched for on your website to better optimize your content with consumer queries, but don’t go overboard! Using excessive amounts of keywords (known as keyword stuffing) can actually have a negative impact on your SEO and make Google less likely to list your website in the top results. When it comes to SEO, it's more important to write good, informative content that puts customers first and lets keywords come about naturally in the text. 
• Web Page Content 
  • No consumer likes a thin website page lacking information they need to make a decision! Your website needs relevant information to inform your consumer of your physical location, hours of operation, and services offered. The addition of blog posts, helpful guides, and an informative “About Us” section describing a brief history of who you are all stand as great forms of additional content to fill out your web pages with relevant keywords and helpful information. 
  • Chat GPT and other artificial intelligence are a tempting way to get paragraphs of content in an instant to fill-in a website, but beware! Google isn’t fond of AI-written material and will be less likely to index and rank your page if it’s detected. AI can certainly be a starting point for content creation, but never a replacement for human experience and skill. 
• User Experience 
  • A consumer in a hurry to get their door fixed isn't going to wait around for a website to load or spend several minutes trying to find the company's phone number to contact them. If your website design and functionality is subpar, consumers will take their business elsewhere. That's why it's important to ensure a website will load quickly, looks aesthetically pleasing, and functions on both mobile phones, tablets and laptop/desktop computers. Checking how your website runs every so often on both desktops and mobile phones is a great way to catch any potential malfunctions that could be driving away traffic. You can easily check by plugging your website’s URL into PageSpeed! 
• Credibility 
  • Establishing that you are trustworthy can be a big factor in convincing homeowners and business owners to entrust their garage to you. There are multiple services online to help you set up a review section on your website where consumers can relate their experience with your company. Overtime, these reviews will establish credibility with potential customers while proving your legitimacy to Google. A legit website will rank higher on a search page.  
  • You can also respond to these reviews as well as customer questions on your website or Google business page. Promptly answering customer questions or engaging with a dissatisfied customer to make things right are both invaluable methods to secure a sale and keep customers coming back. An important thing to keep in mind is that your responses on the internet will be visible for everyone to see, so keep a professional tone when engaging with people so your business's reputation is not damaged. 
  • Your website should also display credibility badges, certifications, awards, and any other notable accomplishments your business has so customers know they are interacting with a legitimate and trustworthy site. This is particularly important for websites that handle sensitive information or financial transactions. Certificates help verify a website's identity and encrypt communication to keep your customers safe. Displaying credentials also verifies that your website is owned and operated by you and not a similar-sounding copycat.

While search engine optimization may seem complicated and overwhelming at first, at its core SEO is all about connecting searchers with relevant information and making that experience the best it can be by showing well-constructed websites that are easy to navigate and help solve a problem. If you maintain your website and stay active by responding to consumer questions or reviews you are already on track to have a good baseline for organic rankings, though there is always room for improvement if you want to get especially competitive to climb to the top for domination around garage door related keywords. 

Google Business Profile 

Registering, claiming and verifying a Google business profile listing is another crucial step to boost SEO. The account will have your business featured on local Google Maps searches, often with your address, hours, services, reviews and other valuable information located on the right side of a Google search, as seen below.  

Not only is registering free, but it also allows you to upload photos and videos to showcase your business. It also provides behind the scenes analytics to help you monitor and track engagement with your listing. You can also engage with your customers to boost your online reputation via responding to reviews and questions.  

Apple Maps 

Listing your business on Apple Maps will create additional exposure for your business due to its large user base for driving directions and seamless integration with iOS devices, which can your local presence online. 

Having a functioning, quality website plays a crucial role in ensuring that your business is seen by potential customers when they go online to find a garage door service company. With a little work now, your website can become a great source to drive new leads, repeat business and keep your trucks on the road.  

If you're ready to take further action in marketing your business online, check out other best practices articles on social media engagement!