If you run a service business in the Greater Toronto Area - whether you're a plumber in Mississauga, an electrician in Brampton, or a contractor in Markham - local SEO is how customers find you online.
Here are five actionable tips you can implement today to improve your local search rankings.
1. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
This is the single most important thing you can do for local SEO. Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is what shows up in the “map pack” when someone searches for services in your area.
Action steps:
- Claim your profile at business.google.com
- Fill out every field completely
- Add photos of your work, team, and vehicles
- List all your service areas (you can add multiple GTA cities)
- Post updates weekly - Google rewards active profiles
2. Get Reviews (and Respond to Them)
Reviews are a major ranking factor for local search. More importantly, they're what convinces potential customers to call you instead of your competitor.
Action steps:
- Ask happy customers for reviews - most people will if you ask
- Make it easy with a direct link to your review page
- Respond to every review, positive or negative
- Never buy fake reviews - Google will penalize you
3. Include Location Keywords on Your Website
Your website needs to tell Google where you serve. This means including city and neighborhood names in your content naturally.
Action steps:
- Create service area pages for each major city you serve
- Include your service areas in your homepage content
- Use location-specific title tags (e.g., “Plumber in Mississauga”)
- Don't keyword stuff - write naturally
4. Build Local Citations
Citations are mentions of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) on other websites. Consistency is key - your information should be identical everywhere.
Action steps:
- List your business on Yelp, Yellow Pages, HomeStars
- Ensure your NAP is exactly the same everywhere
- Look for industry-specific directories
- Check for and fix any inconsistencies
5. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly and Fast
Most local searches happen on phones. If your website doesn't work well on mobile, you're losing customers and hurting your rankings.
Action steps:
- Test your site on Google's Mobile-Friendly Test
- Make sure buttons and text are easy to tap
- Enable click-to-call on your phone number
- Optimize images for faster loading
Start Today
You don't need to do everything at once. Start with your Google Business Profile - it's free and has the biggest impact. Then work through the other tips over time.
Need help with your local SEO? I offer SEO services specifically designed for GTA service businesses. Get in touch for a free consultation.