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Beyond Your Website: How General Contractors Can Win with Off-Page SEO

By Dillon Yang
10 min read

Did you know nearly 97% of people use the web to find local services, like contracting? This means if you want more leads and customers for your general contracting business, you need to have a strong online presence.

Off-page SEO is one of the most important aspects of having a strong online presence.

In this blog post, we’ll cover the top off-page SEO strategies for general contractors. These strategies will help you improve your rankings, increase website visits, and ultimately drive more leads to your business.

Table of Contents

What Is Off-Page SEO?

In contrast to on-page SEO, off-page SEO refers to the actions taken outside of your website that improve its search engine rankings. This can include building backlinks, managing online business listings and reviews, and social media presence.

off-page seo diagram

Brand mentions, link building, citations, and more are all factors of off-page SEO.

These efforts ultimately help search engines recognize your website as a reputable and authoritative source, boosting your rankings. The higher you rank on search engines like Google, the more visible you are to your target audience.

Key Off-Page SEO Strategies for Boosting Contractor Visibility

Now that we understand the importance of off-page SEO for general contractors, let’s explore some specific strategies you can use to start improving your online presence.

These include:

Link Building

Spend time getting quality backlinks from sites related to your industry. This boosts your site’s authority and brings in quality traffic.

Local Citations

Get your business listed on local directories and platforms. Make sure your listings are consistent and accurate to improve local search visibility. This makes it easy for nearby clients to find you.

Genuine Online Reviews

Work on getting real reviews from customers. These reviews act as a trust signal for your quality of service.

Social Media Presence

Develop a strong strategy for social media. Engaging regularly with your audience can boost your brand and bring in leads.

Guest Blogging Opportunities

Look for chances to guest blog on well-known sites to share your expertise with a larger audience.

These strategies all help enlarge your online presence. By carefully implementing these methods, you’ll climb the search results. You’ll also build a digital presence that showcases your business as strong and reliable to future clients.

Let’s dig into each of these strategies further.

The Role of Link Building in Off-Page SEO

Backlinks are links that direct people from other sites to your website. Search engines use backlinks to determine the authority and credibility of your site. The more authoritative and relevant the sites that link to yours, the better it is for your own website’s rankings.

Developing a Diverse Backlink Portfolio for Contractors

To improve your link-building, you need to get links from authoritative sources in the construction industry, like:

  • Industry-specific websites that match your quality of work
  • Directories that help you stand out locally
  • Forums where your knowledge can engage others

A mix of backlinks shows search engines that your business is trustworthy and important.

Leveraging Local SEO and Citations

As a general contractor, you know your business needs a strong local presence. That’s where local search optimization is critical. Local SEO helps people find you in local searches, ensuring your NAP (name, address, phone number) is the same everywhere.

google business search results

Local SEO is all about showing up in Google’ Local Pack for nearby businesses.

Optimizing for Local Searches Through Citations

Picture your business popping up when someone nearby looks for what you offer—not your own website but a reputable directory that includes your company’s name and info. That’s the magic of local citations. They list your business’s details on different, well-established websites, helping you show up in local searches regardless of your own site’s ranking.

Places like local directories and social media act as signposts pointing people to you. By strategically placing your info online, you become more visible and credible locally.

Importance of Accurate NAP Consistency Across Web Directories

For local SEO to be effective, your NAP details must be correct everywhere. Any mistake might confuse both search engines and potential customers. Ensure consistency across local listings, social media, and your own website. This builds trust and legitimacy for both search engines and potential customers.

It’s important to regularly monitor and update your NAP information on all online platforms. This ensures any changes in contact details or addresses are reflected accurately, maintaining the credibility of your business.

Enhancing Contractor Reputation with Online Reviews

As a general contractor, your reputation is everything. Think back to the last time you searched for a product or service online. Did you check out reviews before making a decision?

The answer is likely yes, and the same goes for potential clients looking for a contractor.

LinkNow has gained a 4.7-star rating on Google after over 2,000 reviews, signifying to those looking for a web designer and online marketer that we have what it takes to achieve our clients’ goals and marketing objectives.

We help our clients achieve the same level of review quality with review generation services that help general contractors like you receive positive client reviews and build your online profile.

reviews on Google

LinkNow’s 4.7 star rating on Google comes from over 2,000 reviews.

Using Customer Testimonials and Reviews for Trust Building

Stories from happy clients make you credible and trustworthy. Ask satisfied customers to post their stories online. Their honest feedback acts as proof for others and makes people confident in picking your services. Sharing these stories shows you care about quality and making clients happy.

positive client testimonial

Showing your client’s testimonials on your website is an important trust signal.

To maximize the impact the effectiveness of customer reviews, make sure to:

  • Display testimonials prominently on your website and social media.
  • Respond to all reviews to show you value client feedback.
  • Embed customer stories in your marketing to show your impact.

What Should You Do if You’ve Received a Negative Review?

Sometimes, negative reviews happen. It’s important to handle them well and professionally. See these reviews as chances to improve and show you care about customer happiness.

You can handle negative reviews by:

  • Acknowledging and apologizing for any mistakes made
  • Providing a solution or offer to make it right
  • Taking the conversation offline, if necessary, by offering to discuss the issue further through a private message or phone call
  • Learning from the feedback and making changes to prevent similar issues in the future

Good management of online reviews and testimonials builds a strong reputation. It shows you stand for trust and quality. It also makes you more visible online, bringing more clients to you.

Social Media Marketing for General Contractors

Social media is a powerful marketing tool for general contractors. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn can help you reach more customers and showcase your work to a broader audience.

Here are some practical tips for successful social media engagement:

  • Showcase your top projects with quality photos and videos that show your skill and attention to detail.
  • Let your company’s unique personality shine in your posts. Share behind-the-scenes looks, customer reviews, and team highlights.
  • Always reply to comments and messages to appear friendly and reliable.
  • Engage with your followers using social media tools like polls. This can help you understand their preferences for home improvement.
  • Offer helpful content like maintenance advice or renovation tips. This makes your audience see you as a knowledgeable leader.
  • Use hashtags related to your area and services in your posts to make it easier for potential clients to find your posts.

By using social media well, you can connect with your audience on a personal level and build trust. This will make them more likely to choose you as their general contractor.

What is the biggest con of social media for off-page SEO? It’s time-consuming and labor-intensive. Many of the general contractors we serve outsource their social media management to our team to free up their own time and resources.

Content Marketing: A Foundational Pillar of Successful Off-Page SEO

Your content marketing strategy amplifies your business and brand. By regularly creating high-quality, informative content related to home improvement and general contracting, you can establish yourself as an authority in the industry.

Identifying Topics That Generate Interest and Backlinks

Finding the right topics is vital for contractors. Look at what your clients ask or what sparks conversation in forums. You should aim to create content that draws people in and encourages sharing. This will help you get backlinks naturally.

Some examples of content topics that could generate interest and backlinks include:

  • Educational articles on the latest building materials and methods
  • Do-it-yourself guides for small renovations
  • Case studies showcasing your success stories
  • Regulatory updates and what they mean for homeowners

Creating useful content your audience is searching for highlights your knowledge and makes people want to link to your site or share your content with their friends and family.

Exploring Guest Blogging Opportunities for Contractors

Aside from just writing content for your own website, you can also explore guest blogging opportunities. This means writing articles for other websites in the same industry with a link back to your site.

guest blogging diagram

Guest blogging provides referral traffic and authority for your website.

Guest blogging is a win-win situation for both parties involved as the host site gets fresh content and you gain a backlink to your site.

Where Can You Find Guest Blogging Opportunities?

The best way to find guest blogging opportunities is through networking and building relationships with other websites.

Here are some strategies you can use:

  • Look for popular and authoritative websites in the contractor industry and reach out to them directly.
  • Use online platforms that connect businesses with bloggers who are looking for guest post opportunities.
  • Join online communities or forums where professionals in your industry share information and ask if anyone is looking for guest bloggers.
  • Attend industry events and network with other professionals who may have their own blogs or connections to guest blogging opportunities.

Make sure to thoroughly research their guidelines and writing style before submitting a guest post proposal to another site.

Measuring the Impact of Content Marketing on Off-Page SEO Efforts

Once you have implemented the various methods discussed in this guide, it’s important to measure the impact of your content marketing efforts on your off-page SEO.

Key metrics to look out for when measuring the success of your content include:

  • Number of backlinks: Keep track of how many websites are linking back to your content. This shows that other websites find your content valuable and trustworthy.
  • Traffic from referral sources: Use Google Analytics or other web analytics tools to track the traffic coming to your website from referral sources such as guest posts, social media shares, and influencer collaborations.
  • Keyword rankings: Monitor your keyword rankings for both branded (mentions your company name) and non-branded (doesn’t mention your company name) terms. Your content should not only drive organic traffic but also help improve your rankings for targeted keywords.
  • Social media engagement: Keep an eye on the number of likes, shares, and comments your content receives on social media. This can indicate how well it’s resonating with your target audience.
  • Conversions: Ultimately, off-page SEO and content marketing aims to drive conversions. Keep track of how many leads or sales are generated from your content to measure its impact on your bottom line.

Make Your General Contracting Business Standout Online With Off-Page SEO

A strong off-page SEO plan includes link building, focusing on local SEO, managing online reputation, using social media, and collaborating on content. With these strategies, your contracting business can gain visibility and credibility, ultimately bringing in more customers.

However, success in off-page SEO isn’t about checking boxes and never revisiting them—it’s about keeping your strategy up to date with what customers want and what’s expected in your industry. By continually innovating and adding to your off-page connections, you’re not just after better visibility— you’re creating a stronger brand for your business.

Your off-page SEO should also go hand-in-hand with many other practices, including technical SEO, on-page optimization, and content marketing strategies.

Need Help With Your Off-Page SEO?

Off-page SEO may seem like a lot of work—and it is. However, the good news is that you don’t have to do it alone.

At LinkNow, we specialize in helping general contractors just like you build their online presence through off-page SEO and other digital marketing tactics. For over a decade, we’ve been successful in helping hundreds of general contractors boost their digital profiles and bring in qualified leads while avoiding common SEO mistakes.

Our team stays updated with the latest trends and best practices in off-page SEO so that we can help your business stay ahead of the competition.

Wondering about the next steps? Book a free, no-risk call with one of our digital marketing specialists to learn how we can help boost your general contracting business online.

Looking for further reading? Check out our ultimate guide to SEO for general contractors.