You can have the best cleaning service in town, but if potential customers can’t find you online, your business might as well be invisible. A strong online presence gives your business an edge in a competitive field. Here are the five reasons why your cleaning service isn’t ranking on Google and what you can do to change it.
Your Website is Too New
Google had a period when it did not rank new websites in the SERPs. It is commonly known as “Google Sandbox”. The period can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the circumstances. There is no common ground between SEO experts on whether Google does this, but it is believed that Google does this to prevent spam websites from ranking high in the search results.
If your website is newer and not ranking in Google search results, you can try a few tricks to get the site going. Build your website content with detailed service pages. Set up your Google Business Profile with complete information. Also, create a sitemap and submit it to the Google search console. It will help Google algorithm determine your business’s validity.
Start collecting customer reviews from your existing customers. Take pictures of your work and upload them to your Google Business Profile. Focus on targeting long-tail keywords with less competition while waiting for broader keyword recognition. It can help you gain traction in search results. Use this period to build a strong foundation for your cleaning service website.
The Content Doesn’t Match Customers Needs
Google aims to provide users with the most valuable results that match their search intent. Your content strategy should be planned to avoid common pitfalls that hurt your rankings. One common mistake is oversaturating your content with keywords. You must maintain a natural flow with organic placements. Avoid using generic service descriptions that could apply to any cleaning company. It can come off as duplicate or plagiarized content. It can plummet your SEO rankings in SERPs.
Your content should address specific customer concerns and questions. Provide clear answers to any issue that is plaguing your potential clients. Include detailed pricing information and clearly defined service areas to help potential customers make informed decisions. Write in a natural language that does not use too much technical jargon.
It is best not to rely on something other than stock photos. Document your actual work that showcases your capabilities. Include clear calls to action that guide potential customers toward booking your services.
Create service pages with detailed descriptions of your cleaning processes. You can walk potential clients through each step of your service. Include real before and after photos that demonstrate your attention to detail. Outline your service guarantees or warranties to increase trust. Include FAQs that address the most common questions potential clients have about cleaning businesses in your area. It will help your answer snippets appear in the “People Also Ask” section on the search result pages.
A clearly defined location page provides specific information about the neighborhoods you serve. Make a separate page with unique content for any other areas you serve.
Be transparent with your pricing. Mention additional service charges and minimum booking requirements to build clear expectations. Explain your booking deposit policies to avoid confusion during the service arrangement process. Keep your clients updated about the payment mode you accept. Your potential clients can make better judgments with the help of this information.
Your Website is Not Optimized
A poorly optimized website will have technical issues preventing it from ranking well in the SERPs. Unoptimized image files can slow down page loading. Compress the images on your website for faster load times. Steer clear of excessive plugins that create unnecessary bloat. Inadequate hosting plans or poor server response times can frustrate end users. You can implement browser caching or compress the backend codes to boost website performance.
The content of your web page must be easily readable on different devices. The formatting should be done so that the content is readable without zooming. Check each page to verify that pages scale appropriately for different screen sizes.
Clear page titles and headings that accurately describe your content are a solid start to ranking well in SERPs. Regularly check and fix any broken internal links. Also, maintain an updated sitemap for search engines. Create intuitive navigation that helps users find what they’re looking for quickly. Write unique meta descriptions for each page.
Add click-to-call functionality for phone numbers so your clients can call you without leaving the page. Do the same for emails or other hyperlinks you have added to the site.
Keep a clean URL structure to help search engines index your site properly. Doing so can help determine the relevance of a page to the search query. It can result in higher search ranking and better click-through rates.
Don’t compromise on security. Keep a valid SSL certificate to keep your and your client’s data safe during transit. It also adds a sheen of authenticity to your page.
You Are in a Competitive Market
Your cleaning service is likely competing with hundreds of other services vying for the same customers’ attention. It can be difficult to stand out in such a crowded marketplace. You can create a niche by focusing your services on specific client types. You may choose to work on high-end homes or focus more on commercial properties. Offer unique services that your competitors don’t provide. It will help to develop a distinctive brand identity that can help you capture your target market.
Communicate what makes your service different from others in your area. Build brand recognition through consistent messaging across all platforms. Showcase your team members and their expertise to humanize your brand. Share your company’s story in a way that connects with potential customers. All these tiny steps add up to build trust with your clients.
Invest time and resources in training your staff to maintain high standards consistently. Arm yourself with professional-grade equipment that delivers superior results. Premium cleaning products save you resources in the long run. Excellence in service delivery should be at the top of your list.
Follow up with the client after the service. Ask them to rate you on the website. Take negative criticism to improve your services continuously. Respond to the reviews professionally. It will help you earn valuable word-of-mouth referrals.
You Need to Up Your Local SEO Game
Follow good SEO practices to bump up your rank on Google SERPs. Your potential clients are likely making local searches for services similar to yours. Once you optimize your business for local search, search engines will display it prominently on SERPs.
Google displays these three types of ads in local search.
- Sponsored ads on top
- A local pack with maps on the second
- Organic search results on the third
Sponsored ads cost money, but local packs do not. It is a sweet spot to aim for to get high-quality leads for free. Make your Google Business Profile accurate. This free tool from Google is a powerful way to put your business on the map, literally and figuratively. A detailed profile has a better chance of appearing for the coveted second spot. Here is some information you should include in the business profile.
- Business NAP details
- Logo
- Operating hours
- Services offered
- Photos
- Website and social media links
- Service area
Choose a business category and subcategory that best describes your business. Try to get mentions of your business NAP on other websites or online directories. These local citations help search engines verify the legitimacy of your business and its location. There are online tools that help you automate the process of keeping your NAP information consistent across the web.
You should also use structured data or schema markup to help websites understand your website content better. It can help increase the chances of your business appearing in rich snippets. These informative boxes often show up at the top of the search results.
Identifying the right keywords for your content can boost your SEO efforts. It helps your business appear higher in search engine results and attract more relevant traffic.
Understand the difference between explicit and implicit local intent. Explicit local keywords directly specify a location, like “cleaning services in x city.” Implicit local intent does not point to a location but can support your local search. You can uncover these local keywords and use them according to their search volume or difficulty. Research your competitors’ local keywords to identify gaps where your rivals rank but you’re not. Just map those keywords on your website pages to attract local clientele.
These small efforts can result in an upswing in your ranking on Google SERPs. Leave nothing to chance. Audit your site regularly and note any issues in the bud to improve your rank. If you need help, you can speak to our experts at (203) 226-8795. Also, feel free to fill out our contact form or email us to rank your cleaning service better on Google search results.
