Local Search for Trades

maps seo for trades

Get more local calls and jobs by owning the map pack — Google Maps optimisation for plumbers, electricians, builders and tradies.

Most customers search "plumber near me" or "emergency electrician [suburb]" and click a map listing. Maps SEO (Google Business Profile + local signals) is the fastest way for trades to turn searches into booked jobs.

How Maps SEO Works Get Started Now

+60%

More calls from Maps

Top 3

Visible in the Map Pack

Local Trust

Customer trust & instant credibility

Predictable Leads

More booked jobs week-to-week

In this guide

Why Maps SEO matters for trades How Maps SEO works Optimization checklist Photos, reviews & posts Landing pages & local schema Real trades case study Costs & ROI FAQ

Why Maps SEO is essential for tradespeople

For trades (plumbers, electricians, builders, painters, locksmiths), most customers use local intent searches — e.g., "emergency plumber near me" or "electrician in Fairfield". Google shows a Map Pack (three local listings + map) above organic results for these queries. Ranking in that Map Pack dramatically increases calls, click-to-directions and booked jobs.

Higher visibility: Map listings appear at the top of search results on mobile and desktop.
Immediate trust: Reviews, photos and accurate hours build trust fast — customers call without visiting the site.
Local intent -> higher conversion: Users clicking a map result are often ready to buy or book a job.

Quick fact: Trades businesses that appear in the top 3 Map Pack see up to 3x more inbound calls vs. those only ranking organically.

How Maps SEO actually works (the short version)

Google Business Profile

Your GBP (previously GMB) listing is the single most important signal for Maps. Complete profile = higher chance to show.

Reviews & Reputation

Quantity, recency and responses to reviews are strong ranking and trust signals for local search.

Local Citations & Links

Consistent NAP (name, address, phone) and quality local links reinforce your business's authority in a suburb.

The ranking trifecta for Map Pack visibility

Relevance — Does your business match the search intent (e.g., "emergency plumber")?
Proximity — How close are you to the searcher’s location?
Prominence — Reviews, links, citations and on-page signals that show you’re a trusted local provider.

Maps SEO is about maximising these three elements across your Google Business Profile, website, and local web presence.

Practical Maps SEO checklist for trades — follow this step-by-step

1. Claim and verify your Google Business Profile

Make sure your business name, primary category (e.g., Plumber), address, and phone match your website exactly. Use local phone (landline or mobile) and verify by postcard or phone immediately.

2. Choose the right categories and services

Use specific categories and list your services (e.g., Burst Pipe Repair, Gas Fitting). Add service-area suburbs if you’re mobile.

3. Use local, keyword-rich descriptions

Write a clear business description including your trade, primary suburb, and common service terms people search for. Example: "Emergency plumber servicing Parramatta, Auburn and surrounding suburbs."

4. Add high-quality photos and service shots

Show before/after, van shots, uniforms and completed jobs. Geo-tag images and include captions that mention suburb names for extra local signal.

5. Collect and manage reviews

Request reviews after jobs, respond promptly (thank, correct issues), and encourage customers to mention service type and suburb in their review.

6. Consistent NAP & local citations

Ensure your business name, address and phone are identical across directories (Yellow Pages, TrueLocal, local council lists). Inconsistencies confuse Google and lower rankings.

7. Local landing pages & schema

Create a service page per suburb you serve and add LocalBusiness schema with openingHours, geo-coordinates and service areas. This helps Google tie your site to local queries.

Pro tip: Small, regular actions (weekly review asks, monthly photo uploads, and keeping hours/current offers updated) compound into big local rank gains.

Photos, posts & Google features that convert

Maps listing features like photos, Google Posts, Q&A and services are conversion tools. Use them to showcase work and answer common doubts before customers call.

Photos: 8–12 high-quality images (van, staff, jobs)
Posts: Weekly posts with specials or same-day service updates
Q&A: Seed useful questions (e.g., "Do you offer emergency after-hours?") and answer them publicly
Services: List your main job types with short descriptions

Review strategy for trades

Reviews are social proof and ranking signals. Make asking simple and systemised:

Ask immediately after a positive onsite job (SMS or email link to review)
Provide a short template customers can copy (keeps review text honest but helpful)
Respond to every review — thank positive customers, offer quick resolution for negatives
Highlight 4–5 review snippets on your website landing pages for each suburb

Local landing pages & schema — tie your site to the map

Creating targeted local pages and adding LocalBusiness schema are technical but high-impact steps. Each page should target a suburb and include the same NAP, service details, testimonials from local customers and a call-to-action.

Local schema essentials

@type: LocalBusiness or specific (Plumber, Electrician)
address, geo (latitude/longitude), telephone
openingHours, priceRange, areaServed
aggregateRating where applicable (from reviews)

Case study — Local plumber: 3 suburbs, 60 days

What we did

Verified and optimised Google Business Profile
Created 3 suburb landing pages with LocalBusiness schema
Weekly review requests and photo uploads
Built consistent citations across 12 local directories

Results (60 days)

Map Pack entries: from 0 suburbs to Top 3 in 2 suburbs
Phone calls: +72% month-over-month
Booked jobs: +45% (mostly emergency callouts)
Review growth: +28 five-star reviews (improved prominence)

Key takeaway: Focused Maps SEO (GBP + local pages + reviews) can produce measurable leads within weeks — perfect for trades who want faster ROI than waiting for organic SEO alone.

Costs & value: What trades should expect

Maps SEO isn't necessarily expensive — it's about consistent actions. You can:

DIY: Spend time doing weekly review asks and managing GBP (time cost ~2–4 hrs/week)
Use a managed service: For predictable cost and faster results, choose a pro-managed local SEO plan.

Why Congero works for tradies

Congero builds and manages local-optimised websites and Google Business Profiles for trades — live fast, maintain easily, and get unlimited updates via text.

GBP setup & optimisation included
Local landing pages and schema implemented
Unlimited updates via WhatsApp/text — change opening hours, add photos, post specials in minutes
All-inclusive $49/month: hosting, domain, SSL, analytics and ongoing optimisation

Value example: If a single emergency call converts to a $250 job, gaining 6 extra calls/month from Maps coverage pays for the entire monthly service many times over.

Ready to own the map pack in your suburbs?

Get a local-optimised site, GBP setup and review strategy that brings consistent calls. Congero specialises in trades — fast builds, unlimited updates, and local SEO that works.

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Frequently asked questions

How long until I see results in Google Maps?

You can see initial improvements in 2–8 weeks (reviews, photos, citation fixes). Achieving consistent top-3 Map Pack rankings across multiple suburbs typically takes 1–3 months depending on competition.

Do I need a physical address to appear in Maps?

If you work from home or a van, you can set a service area in Google Business Profile and hide your exact address. Service-area businesses can still rank locally for suburbs they serve.

How many reviews do I need to rank locally?

There’s no magic number — quality and recency matter. For competitive suburbs, aim for 20+ recent positive reviews and a high response rate. For less competitive areas, fewer reviews can still be enough if other signals are strong.

Can I manage reviews and posts myself?

Yes — but consistency matters. Many tradies prefer a managed approach so they can focus on jobs while a local SEO process handles review requests, posting and tracking.

Will a new website help my Maps ranking?

Yes — a fast, local-optimised site with clear NAP, service pages per suburb and LocalBusiness schema reinforces your GBP and helps Google associate your domain with local queries.

Start getting local jobs from Maps — fast

Congero helps tradies launch local-optimised websites and Google Business Profiles quickly, with unlimited updates via text and full local SEO included.