When people need a product or service, the first thing they usually do is fire up a search engine like Google.
But did you know that 75% of people never scroll past the first page of results?
If you aren’t on that first page, your auto care shop basically won’t exist to your local customers. Fortunately, there’s a way for your website to show up
exactly where it needs to be on Google search results: search engine optimization, also known as SEO.
SEO stands for search engine optimization. It’s the process of increasing traffic to your website by improving your search engine rankings. Without it,
your website is little more than a business card you mention to the guy behind you in line at the grocery store.
But if you optimize every page of your website for what your auto care customers are searching for, it’ll be easier for them to find you organically. That means when a potential customer searches online for the services you offer, you’ll show up on that first page.
Here are a few key steps to mastering your auto care shop SEO:
Remember: keyword research on your specific products and services is crucial for your SEO. Think about your most important products and services and highlight those in the content -- then, review local and regional competitors’ websites to see which keywords they utilize. For instance, if you run an oil change shop, your potential customers may search for: oil change near me, engine oil change, or nearby oil change shops. If you’re a mechanic, your customers may search for: body shop, auto body repair, car repair, vehicle maintenance, mechanic near me, etc.
For more information on the best keywords you can use for your auto care business website, check out this recent post from the Castrol Insider resource hub!
Auto care shops have a serious advantage over businesses in other industries: your only competition is other local auto care shops. You’ll never have to
worry about your potential customers taking their business to someone across the country like other retailers do.
Since beating the local competition is your number one objective, that means showing up on that first page of search results with high-quality SEO. Keep in mind: 81% of people perform online research before making a serious purchase.
And be sure to put a primary focus on Google’s results – after all, Google controls 90.1% of the total search engine market share.
By now, we hope it’s clear that strong local SEO is an integral part of any online marketing strategy for auto care businesses. At Castrol, we love helping small businesses in the auto care industry attract more customers and retain their current customers. For more helpful tips, guides, and other resources just like this one, check out the Castrol Insider resource hub!