Want to grow your landscaping business? Here’s how SEO can help:
- Boost visibility in local searches
- Get more qualified leads
- Become a trusted expert in your area
- Build credibility with potential customers
Key SEO strategies for landscapers:
Optimize your website
- Speed up load times
- Make it mobile-friendly
- Use local keywords
Claim your Google Business Profile
- Fill out all details
- Add photos of your work
- Respond to reviews
Create helpful content
- Seasonal lawn care tips
- Before/after project galleries
- Service pages with clear details
Build local partnerships
- Team up with related businesses
- Volunteer for community projects
- Join local business groups
Track your results
- Use Google Analytics and Search Console
- Monitor local rankings
- Adjust strategy based on data
SEO takes time, but it’s worth it. Most landscapers see big changes after 3-6 months of consistent effort.
SEO for Landscapers – Landscaping Marketing Tips for Landscaper and Lawn Care Pros
SEO Basics for Landscaping Companies
Want to grow your landscaping business? You need to be visible online. That’s where SEO comes in. Let’s dig into the essentials: building blocks, local search, and mobile-friendliness.
SEO Building Blocks
It all starts with keywords. These are what potential customers type when looking for landscaping services. For example:
- “landscaping companies near me” (60,500 monthly searches)
- “landscaping services near me” (33,100 monthly searches)
How to use these keywords effectively:
- Sprinkle them naturally throughout your website
- Create separate pages for each service you offer
- Pack those pages with info, FAQs, photos, and reviews
But don’t just stuff keywords everywhere. Your website should be viewed as a virtual sales rep capable of generating massive amounts of leads and sales for your landscaping company.
Why Local Search Matters
For landscapers, local SEO is a big deal. Here’s why:
- 97% of people look for local services online
- The top 3 local business results on Google get 44% of the clicks
- 85% of potential clients use the internet to find local businesses
To boost your local search game:
- Claim and beef up your Google Business Profile
- Keep your business info consistent across the web
- Get more reviews (and respond to them)
Making Your Site Mobile-Ready
Most people search on their phones now. So your website needs to look good on small screens. Google cares about this too.
Here’s how to make your site mobile-friendly:
- Use a design that adapts to different screen sizes
- Speed up your site (the average mobile page takes 27.3 seconds to load – aim to beat that)
- Make buttons and links easy to tap
- Use fonts that are easy to read on small screens
Website Technical Setup
Want your landscaping website to rank higher? It’s not just about pretty garden photos. You need to make your site fast, clear, and mobile-friendly. Here’s how:
Speed Up Your Site
Imagine a potential customer waiting for your site to load. If it takes too long, they’ll bounce. In fact, if your site takes over 3 seconds to load, you’re probably losing business.
Here’s how to speed things up:
- Shrink Your Images: Use tools like TinyPNG to compress images without losing quality. This can slash load times.
- Use Caching: Got WordPress? Install a caching plugin like WP Rocket. It can turbocharge your page speed without you touching any code.
- Cut Down HTTP Requests: Fewer page elements mean faster loading. Each image, script, and stylesheet is a separate server request.
- Try a CDN: A Content Delivery Network spreads your content across global servers. This means faster loading for visitors far from your main server.
Emma Johnson from Nerd For Tech puts it bluntly:
“Page loading speed can make or break your site and business.”
Add Schema Markup
Schema markup is like a cheat code for search engines. It helps them understand your site better. For landscapers, it’s great for showcasing services and location.
How to use it:
- LocalBusiness Schema: Tell search engines your hours, location, and services.
- Service Schema: Define each landscaping service. This helps Google potentially show your services in rich snippets.
- Review Schema: Got customer reviews? Add this schema to potentially get those star ratings in search results.
Martha van Berkel, CEO of Schema App, explains:
“Marking up services with structured data helps search engines understand what your business specializes in.”
Getting Found in Your Area
For landscapers, local search visibility is key. Let’s look at two strategies to boost your local presence: setting up your Google Business Profile and managing customer reviews.
Setting Up Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is your digital storefront. It’s often the first thing potential customers see when searching for landscaping services nearby. Here’s how to make it pop:
- Claim and verify your listing: Head to the Google Business Website and claim your business. Google will usually send a postcard with a verification code to your address.
- Complete your profile: Fill out every detail. Name, address, phone number, website, hours, services – the works. Complete profiles are way more likely to be seen as legit by customers.
- Pick the right categories: Go with “Landscaping Service” as your main category. Add others like “Lawn Care Service” or “Tree Service” if they fit.
- Add great photos: Show off your best work, your team, and your gear. Profiles with photos get more clicks and direction requests.
- Use posts and offers: Keep things fresh with updates, deals, or recent projects.
Think of your Google Business Profile as a virtual sales rep that can bring in tons of leads and sales for your landscaping company.
Managing Customer Reviews
Reviews are gold for local SEO. They sway potential customers and boost your search rankings. Here’s how to handle them:
- Ask for reviews: After finishing a job, ask happy customers to leave a review. Make it easy – give them a direct link to your Google review page.
- Respond quickly: Answer every review, good or bad. It shows you care about what customers think.
- Handle negative reviews like a pro: Got a bad review? Stay calm and offer to fix things offline. You might turn a negative into a positive.
- Show off reviews on your site: Put your best Google reviews on your website. It builds trust with potential customers.
- Use review tools: Think about using tools like Podium to make collecting and monitoring reviews easier.
Reviews can make a big difference. A BrightLocal study found that 86% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Most people read 2-10 reviews before deciding to use a business.
Take ALS Landscaping, for example. They’re on top of their review game with 125 reviews and a 4.9-star average. This makes them stand out in local searches and look more appealing to potential clients.
Writing Content That Works
Want to attract more customers to your landscaping business? Let’s talk about creating killer service pages and planning content that changes with the seasons.
Making Service Pages Better
Your service pages are like your digital storefront. Here’s how to make them pop:
- Be Clear and Detailed
Don’t just list services. Tell people what you do, why it matters, and what makes you special.
- Structure for Scanability
Use headers and bullet points. Why? Most folks skim web pages, not read every word.
- Show, Don’t Just Tell
Got great before-and-after pics? Use them! Nothing sells like seeing real results.
- Include Calls-to-Action (CTAs)
Tell visitors what to do next. Want a quote? Need to book? Make it easy.
- Optimize for SEO
Use keywords that make sense. If you’re in Austin, sprinkle in “Austin lawn care services” or “commercial landscaping in Austin, TX”.
Here’s a quick example:
Commercial Landscaping Maintenance Services
At [Your Company Name], we keep your property looking sharp all year. Here’s what we offer:
- Commercial Lawn Maintenance
- Aeration and Seeding
- Weed Control and Fertilizing
- Leaf Removal
- Hedge and Tree Trimming
- Irrigation System Management
We’ve transformed over 100 commercial properties in Austin, from 20-acre business parks to busy retail centers. Our team has planted over 1,000 trees, bushes, and hedges for commercial clients. No job’s too big.
[Request a Free Quote]Planning Content by Season
Landscaping needs change with the weather. Your content should too. Here’s the breakdown:
Spring (March-May): It’s revival time. Talk about:
- Bringing lawns back to life
- Fixing winter damage
- Best plants for spring color
Summer (June-August): Heat’s on. Cover:
- Drought-resistant landscaping
- Smart summer watering
- Battling summer pests
Fall (September-November): Winter prep time. Discuss:
- Fall aeration and overseeding
- Getting your landscape winter-ready
- Planting bulbs for spring blooms
Winter (December-February): Even when it’s cold, there’s plenty to say:
- Winter landscape design ideas
- Planning next year’s garden
- Caring for indoor plants
By matching your content to the seasons, you’re giving people what they need, when they need it. Plus, you’re showing you know your stuff all year round.
“The secret to success is tackling the right steps at the right time”, says a Scotts Lawn Care Expert. This goes for lawn care and your content strategy.
Building Trust Online
In today’s digital world, trust is everything for landscaping companies. It’s not just about your skills with plants and lawns. You need to show potential clients that you’re reliable and connected to your community. Let’s look at how you can build trust online through smart partnerships and local involvement.
Working with Other Businesses
Teaming up with local businesses isn’t just being friendly – it’s smart SEO. Here’s how to do it:
Partner Up for Mutual Benefits
Find businesses that complement yours. As a landscaper, you might team up with:
- Local garden centers
- Home improvement stores
- Real estate agencies
Take a page from Ruppert Landscape‘s book. They partnered with a church in Atlanta for a community project. They transformed the church grounds, putting in 800 hours of work and about $100,000 in resources. This kind of partnership helps the community and builds strong local ties.
Create Content Together
Work with your partners to make valuable content:
- Write guest posts for each other’s blogs
- Host joint webinars on home topics
- Run social media campaigns together
When you create content with partners, you’re not just sharing audiences – you’re building backlinks naturally. And guess what? Search engines love those backlinks.
Offer Expertise Exchanges
Trade your landscaping skills for other services. For example:
- Keep a local photographer’s garden nice in exchange for pro photos of your work
- Give lawn care tips for a real estate agent’s blog, and they can recommend you to new homeowners
These trades often lead to quality backlinks and referrals.
Getting Involved Locally
Local involvement is your secret weapon for building trust and boosting SEO. Here’s how:
Join Community Events
Get out there and be part of local events:
- Set up a booth at home and garden shows
- Sponsor local sports teams
- Join town clean-up days
Ruppert Landscape donates over $5 million and 5,000 hours each year to good causes. This kind of involvement builds goodwill and can get you local press coverage.
Volunteer Your Services
Use your landscaping skills to help local causes:
- Make a local park look better
- Help with a community garden
- Spruce up a school or nonprofit’s grounds
Phil Key, President of Ruppert Landscape, says:
“It is a great honor to receive this award as it helps raise visibility around the need that exists within our communities. It also highlights how the landscape industry is partnering with deserving people and charitable organizations to meet those needs.”
This kind of community service often gets positive press and social media mentions.
Join Local Business Groups
Become an active member of:
- Your local Chamber of Commerce
- Business improvement districts
- Professional landscaping associations
These memberships often come with listings and networking chances that can lead to backlinks and referrals.
Measuring and Improving Results
You’ve optimized your landscaping company’s online presence. Now, let’s see if it’s working. Here’s how to track your SEO progress and make it even better.
Setting Up Tracking Tools
You need two key tools to understand your SEO performance:
Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
GA4 shows you how people use your website. It’s free and packed with data. You can:
- See page views, bounce rates, and time on page
- Track how many leads come from your blog posts
- Find out where your visitors come from
Google Search Console (GSC)
GSC tells you how Google sees your site. It shows:
- How your pages perform in search results
- Which keywords you rank for
- Your average position in search results
Linking GA4 and GSC gives you the full picture. As SaaSpirin, a SaaS Content Marketing/SEO Agency, puts it:
“Combined with Google Analytics reports, Google Search Console allows you to see how your website is performing in search engines and how your visitors are interacting with your content.”
Pro Tip: Use CallRail to track phone calls. It works with GA4 and shows how many new customers call from your organic landing pages.
Watching Your Competition
Keeping tabs on other landscaping companies can give you an edge. Here’s how:
- Find Your Competitors
Use Rank Tracker to spot businesses ranking for your keywords. Focus on local ones.
- Study Their Content
Look at their blog posts, service pages, and website structure. Are they posting more than you? What topics do they cover?
- Check Their Backlinks
Ahrefs can show you where your competitors get backlinks. This can help you find new link-building chances.
- Track Their SERP Features
Are they in local pack results or featured snippets? Use this to guide your own efforts.
- Watch Their Social Media
While not directly SEO-related, social media can reveal their overall marketing strategy.
Don’t just copy your competitors. Learn from them and find ways to stand out.
As one SEO expert says:
“Competitors are not only a pain in the neck but also a great source of insights to improve your SEO strategies.”
Conclusion
SEO isn’t just a fancy term for landscaping companies – it’s a real game-changer. A solid SEO strategy can boost your online visibility, attract local customers, and grow your business.
Here’s what we’ve covered:
- Build a strong foundation
Make sure your website works well on mobile devices, loads fast, and uses the right schema markup. These technical bits matter for both users and search engines.
- Go local
For landscapers, local SEO is pure gold. Optimize your Google Business Profile, handle customer reviews, and use local keywords to stand out in your area.
- Create useful content
Keep your website fresh with seasonal content, service pages, and helpful blog posts. This boosts your SEO and shows off your landscaping know-how.
- Build online trust
Team up with other local businesses, join community events, and show off your work. These efforts can get you valuable backlinks and make you more visible locally.
- Keep an eye on things
Use tools like Google Analytics and Search Console to track how you’re doing. Watch your key metrics and be ready to tweak your strategy based on what you see.
SEO isn’t a quick fix – it takes time. As Nanette Taripe, a Demand Generation Technical SEO Specialist, says:
“SEO success isn’t measured by a single metric, but rather about how you’re achieving your business goals.”
You’ll usually start seeing big changes from your SEO work after three to six months. Don’t lose heart if you don’t see results right away. Keep at it, stay on top of SEO trends, and focus on giving your local customers what they need.