Do you need towing company search engine optimization?

From market research, it’s clear to see that there are thousands of towing companies in the US that don’t believe in towing company search engine optimization. Either these companies have no online presence at all, or their online presence is dismal, providing very little market visibility. But why? We’re well into the 2020s, into the digital age, and there are still towing business owners who don’t understand the value that towing company search engine optimization (SEO) delivers.

In this article, we’ll discuss why your towing company needs SEO regardless of the type of towing services you provide. We’ll talk about how Google Pages have replaced the Yellow Pages as the go-to source for information and how your website impacts your Google Page. And we’ll delve into what types of search engine optimization your towing company needs.

Do all towing companies need search engine optimization?

I suspect many towing company owners believe their business model doesn’t require a strong online presence. Maybe you’re in the repo business and get all your business directly from the bank. Or your towing company is the exclusive provider of parking enforcement for a large City. Well, even if you’re married to the bank repo manager or the mayor is your cousin, things can change. You may feel secure now, but the repo manager could lose her job, and you never know what turn of events might put you at odds with your cousin.

Unless your business is a Unicorn and your revenue is guaranteed by the government or some other secure “Cartel” for a decade or more, then you’re eventually going to need new customers at some point. So yes, all towing companies, regardless of the customers they serve, need search engine optimization. A steady stream of new customers is the lifeblood of any successful business. And, to get these customers, you’re going to need a strong online presence.

Search engine optimization or the phone book?

When I started my business, I quickly learned that until you had a display ad in the Yellow Pages phone book, you didn’t really have a business. It’s a kind of a foreign concept today, but the phone book was where everyone did their Googling for local businesses before Google existed. And if you didn’t have a display ad or at least a listing in the Yellow Pages portion of the phone book, you weren’t considered a legitimate business.

Well, the same rules apply today, but with Google. If you don’t have a Google Page (AKA Google Business Listing) where prospects can easily deduce that you’re really in the towing business, then they might see your business as a little sketchy and steer clear. So, the first step to becoming a real business is to get search engine optimized by creating, verifying, and optimizing your Google Page.

Anyone can create a Google Page. You just need a Google account, an address, and a phone number. To verify your Google Page, you’ll need to provide a video and prove that you operate at the address specified. The challenge is optimizing your Google Page. It’s not that it’s difficult to do, but it requires regular, disciplined attention.

How to search engine optimize your Google Page.

Once you have your Google Page verified, you need to optimize it by adding your logo, photos, and videos. Additionally, you’ll want to add updates on a regular basis. I suggest posting updates three to five times per week. Adding updates is easy, just take photos or videos of the businesses you visit, the cars you tow, and anything else towing-related, and post it as an update. You’ll want to add a link back to your website and say something about the image you’ve posted and how it relates to the services you provide. The key to adding updates is consistency. Again, post updates at least three to five times weekly…and never stop.

Another thing you should consistently seek is reviews. The good news is Google makes it easy to ask for reviews. Just click “Ask for reviews” on the front end of your Google Page and copy the link. This link goes straight to the reviews section of your Google Page, making it much easier for customers to follow through and write a review. Not only does Google love reviews, but the more reviews you get on a consistent basis, the higher your Google Page will show for towing-related searches.

You’ll also need to ensure all the information about your business is correct. Make sure your business name, category, address, phone number, hours, and services are all listed correctly.

Regarding the business name section (Don’t Stuff It!).

Ensure that you don’t stuff the name of your business with keywords. Google only allows the actual name of a business to appear in the business name section and can suspend your page if you don’t follow their guidelines. Changing your name from “Bill’s Towing” to “Bill’s car towing, truck towing, accident towing, and roadside assistance in Lubbock, Texas” will surely get you flagged and suspended.

Getting a verified Google Page is the first step to local search engine optimization. And posting regular updates and gathering five-star reviews consistently is the bare minimum for success. But if you really want to boost your Google Page and your visibility in your market, you need a properly optimized website.

Boost your Google Page with an optimized website.

Since we have created and optimized thousands of websites, it’s easy to see how a properly structured website boosts a Google Page. It’s like laying bricks. You start with a solid foundation and keep adding layers of brick and mortar and fill in the cracks until you have a fortress that can’t be conquered. When you do, Google takes notice and begins to present your website and, therefore, your Google Page in searches related to the keywords your website is optimized for.

Buy why would Google do this? Wouldn’t Google rather sell you ads instead of allowing your business to show up for free, organically?

Well, first, showing up organically isn’t free. Laying bricks is a lot of work. And second, the only reason Google has the space available to sell ads is because they are a trusted resource for information. Google isn’t giving you anything when they present your optimized website in search results. When you create and structure content properly, you are actually helping Google maintain its status as the go-to place for information.

By creating and organizing the information Google’s users are looking for, you are helping keep Google relevant. And once you’ve laid the foundation, you need to provide Google with a consistent stream of new content. Content that’s structured better than your competition. When you do it right, your website will appear on Google’s first page consistently – for dozens of keywords. And with your Google Page attached to your website, it’s going to be more visible as well. It’s as simple as that.

Of course, we’re talking about local SEO. SEO that’s location-based. So, if you tell Google that your business is in Baltimore and expect your website to show up in Frederick, Maryland, some 50 miles away, you’re going to be disappointed.

The bottom line is this if your website isn’t showing up on Google’s first page in your market for the keywords people are using to search for the services you provide, your website isn’t search engine optimized. If you need search engine optimization for your towing company website, contact us.