Local SEO Service Area Business (SAB)

What is a Service Area Business (SAB)?

A Service Area Business (SAB) is a business that operates primarily by traveling to its customers’ locations to provide services. They don’t typically serve customers at their physical business address, or they may not even have a storefront accessible to the public.

Examples of SABs include:

• Plumbers
• Electricians
• Mobile dog groomers
• House cleaners
• Landscapers
• Caterers
• Tutors
• Home healthcare providers

Local SEO for SABs

Local SEO for SABs is crucial because these businesses rely on being found by customers searching for services in their specific geographic areas. However, SABs face unique challenges in local SEO compared to businesses with physical storefronts:

• Hiding Business Address: Google My Business (GMB) guidelines for SABs require hiding the physical business address if it’s not a location where customers are served.
• Defining Service Areas: SABs need to accurately define their service areas in their GMB profile and other online directories to target the right customers.
• Building Local Relevance: Without a prominent physical location, SABs need to focus on building local relevance through other means, such as local citations, online reviews, and content marketing.

Optimizing Your Google My Business (GMB) Profile

Google My Business (GMB) is the foundation of local SEO for any business, including SABs. Here’s how to optimize your GMB profile as an SAB:

1. Select “Service Area Business” during setup or edit your existing profile.
2. Hide your business address.
3. Specify your service areas. You can define service areas by:
   • City or postal code: Select specific cities or postal codes within your service area.
   • Radius: Define a radius around your business location (even if hidden).
4. Choose relevant categories. Select GMB categories that accurately reflect the services you offer.
5. Add photos and videos. Showcase your work, team, and equipment through high-quality visuals.
6. Encourage customer reviews. Online reviews are a powerful ranking factor for local SEO.
7. Complete all relevant sections of your GMB profile, including your business description, hours of operation, and contact information.

Building Local Citations

Local citations are online mentions of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) on other websites. They help establish your business’s legitimacy and authority in your service areas.

Focus on building citations on:

• Industry-specific directories: Find directories relevant to your industry.
• General business directories: Submit your business to major directories like Yelp, Bing Places, and Apple Maps.
• Local directories: List your business on directories specific to your service areas.
• Data aggregators: Ensure your NAP data is accurate on data aggregators like Localeze and Infogroup.

Content Marketing for SABs

Content marketing can be a powerful tool for SABs to build local relevance and attract customers.

Consider creating content that:

• Targets local keywords: Research keywords that people in your service areas use to find businesses like yours.
• Provides valuable information: Create blog posts, articles, or videos that answer common questions or address local issues related to your services.
• Showcases your expertise: Demonstrate your knowledge and experience through case studies, testimonials, and expert guides.
• Promotes your service areas: Mention your service areas naturally within your content.

Website Analytics and Reporting

Website analytics and reporting are essential for measuring the success of your local SEO efforts.

Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track:

• Website traffic: Monitor the number of visitors coming to your website from local searches.
• Keyword rankings: Track your rankings for relevant local keywords.
• GMB insights: Analyze your GMB profile’s performance, including views, clicks, and calls.
• Conversion rates: Measure how many website visitors are converting into leads or customers.

Conclusion

By implementing these local SEO strategies, service area businesses can effectively target customers in their desired service areas, increase their online visibility, and ultimately drive more business. Remember to focus on optimizing your GMB profile, building local citations, and creating relevant content that showcases your expertise and addresses the needs of your target audience. Don’t forget to track your progress using website analytics and reporting to ensure your efforts are paying off.