How to use SEO and website optimization to drive site traffic and land more leads

What’s the first thing you do when you’re looking for a new pizza place in your area? Researching to buy a new car? Trying to find a neighborhood plumber?

Our guess is you turn to Google. And if you do, you’re not alone.

81% of online shoppers start with a Google search, according to Hubspot. In the last two years, searches for “____ near me” have grown 900%. If clients near you are searching for a construction professional, you better believe you want to appear in their search and that’s where SEO, or search engine optimization, comes in.

At Buildertrend, we’re committed to your success. Did you know that we offer website design, SEO assistance and lead generation services? Well, it’s true! To get you the lowdown on SEO and the services we offer, we checked in with Mike Stein, a member of our Web Services team.

Hey, Mike! Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do here at Buildertrend.

I work on the Web Services team, and I help our clients out with their SEO. My role with the Web Services team is to help our front-end developers as well as our clients identify technical issues and inefficiencies in their websites. I am focused on analyzing website data and identifying areas for opportunity. I help our clients to better understand their website traffic. My goal is to help clients target their specific audience or demographic and better their website content for qualified leads.

Wow, that sounds like a lot! So, why is SEO important?

SEO is a collection of multiple strategies that can help you to increase your online exposure and aid in lead generation by helping you to appear higher in search engines like Google. These strategies not only benefit your business and online exposure but provides site users with a much more pleasant experience.

When SEO is executed properly it results in increased traffic and user engagement, which should ultimately result in more sales. SEO is relatively cost effective – any time or money invested should result in long-term results that outweigh any initial financial or time investments. SEO helps you to target your desired audience within your local area, which results in helping you to get quality site traffic and qualified leads.

What SEO tips do you have for users looking to drive more traffic and gain more leads?

There are several free and cost-effective SEO strategies you can take advantage of to help drive traffic to your website.

• Make sure your website is secure
• Make sure your website is mobile friendly
• Use keyword research and take advantage of free online keyword tools
• Blog regularly and keep your content up to date and relevant
• Promote blog articles and content on your social media
• Make sure to take advantage of internal linking
• Run speed tests and make sure your website is fully optimized
• Incorporate call to actions on your website to increase user engagement
• Offer free items (i.e. free PDF, free estimate, free initial consolation call, etc.)

Why is it important for users to optimize their SEO, especially right now when business may be slower?

Although some of you may be unable to perform work right now, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be using SEO. During this time, it is important that you stay in front of prospective clients. Many of you may be finding yourselves with additional free time and it’s important that you capitalize on this opportunity and invest in your company’s online presence. The initial investment now in your SEO will continue to benefit your company during the pandemic and beyond.

It comes as no surprise that internet traffic has almost doubled during this pandemic. Having a strong online presence and landing a spot on the first page of search engines has never been more important. If you aren’t ranking on the first page of a search engine, there is a good chance that potential clients won’t find you, which could cost you several prospective projects. SEO is always important regardless of the pandemic, but it is extremely important that you stay in front of prospective clients during this time and offer them fresh and relevant content. If you invest in your website’s SEO now, it will continue to benefit your company.

So, can you tell us more about the SEO and website services offered here at Buildertrend?

Through our Website Services, we are able to help you design and build a unique website catered to your specific and unique needs. We can manage every aspect of your website for you – from development to hosting to continued updates and maintenance.

For those of you who prefer a more hands-on approach, we offer you the ability to add content and update your website on your own in a simple and intuitive way. We offer ongoing support, trainings and development at no additional cost, similar to our approach with the Buildertrend platform.

Included with our Website Services is website hosting, optimized mobile designs, Buildertrend integrations, keyword research and more.

Can clients add a lead generation form to their website?

The lead generation form is a free service that any Buildertrend client can use, regardless of whether-or-not you have a website with us. All you have to do is reach out to us, and we will add the contact form to your website. Once the contact form has been added to your site, and potential clients fill it out, the information will be automatically added and organized into the leads section of your Buildertrend account. You can also add a Buildertrend login box to your website at no additional cost. This makes it easier for you to log in to your Buildertrend account.

Get the most from your online presence

Now is the perfect time to take another look at your company website and make sure it’s optimized for growth. Give us a call to learn more. We’re always standing by and ready to help!

If you’re considering Buildertrend and want to learn more about all of the top-notch features and services we have to offer, schedule a demo today!

About The Author

Chelsea Cole Chelsea Cole is a senior content marketing specialist at Buildertrend